By Isle of Wight Observer
Don’t you just love the Great British weather!
We’ve spent the last couple of months struggling to get into the low 20s Celsius, well below seasonal norms and now, just as we enter the Autumn, we see temperatures reaching 30 Celsius!
Although as gardeners we are never happy with the weather, in general, these last few weeks have been pretty good for growing. So much so, that our Island’s flower shows have been very well supported. Reports from the shows have indicated a surge in entries from exhibitors which is so lovely to hear.
Brighstone Horticultural Society, on October 7, will bring our show season to a close. But as one season ends, we will all start to look and plan for the next. It seems a long way off, but now is the time to start sourcing your spring bulbs ready to bring some well-needed colour to your gardens. Daffodil bulbs, hyacinths and more will be available in the garden centres and the earlier you can get them planted the better. However, don’t rush to plant tulips as these are better planted in November.
With many plants beginning to look tired, it’s a good time to start having a tidy-up. You can also try saving some seeds from some of your annuals and take cuttings from perennials. Roses can be pruned lightly once the flowers have faded.
Many of our vegetables and fruit are still producing a wonderful harvest, so keep picking. We’ve had a mix of rainfall and sunshine so things like runner beans, courgettes and marrows should still be producing delicious results.
Tomatoes and cucumbers should still be producing a bumper harvest and we’ve still got plenty of sunshine ahead to help ripen them. However, as the next few weeks progress any unripe tomatoes can be used to make chutney.
Obviously, I can’t write my article in September without mentioning dahlias. This is the month where they shine, when everything else in the garden is looking tired. Remove spent blooms to encourage the next flush and these will continue to flower until we get a frost.
Happy gardening and I’ll be back again next month!