| So your summer was fantastic. Your garden | | | | next time. |
| was the envy of your neighbors. Your tomatoes | | | | Autumn is the time for taking your root |
| were big, red, juicy and perfect straight off the | | | | vegetables so you can look forward to many |
| vine. Your beans were so good, even your kids | | | | months of delicious hot soups and stews, made |
| ate them. And you can even see that you have | | | | with your fresh carrots, parsnips, or swede. |
| some pumpkins coming that will be perfect for | | | | Your potatoes all need to be dug up and stored in |
| Halloween. | | | | paper bags or cardboard boxes. Check for holes |
| So you think you can put up your feet and relax? | | | | and blemishes and eat those ones first. |
| Not just yet, green thumb. You still have a few | | | | And don't neglect your flower garden as well. It |
| tasks to do before the cold winds of winter blow | | | | doesn't offer any rest for the conscientious |
| in. | | | | gardener either. Less hardy plants can be brought |
| First, you have to get all of your harvesting done. | | | | into your greenhouse for protection against the |
| Most allotments are harvested in the autumn | | | | cold, and the ones to large to move might be |
| months. The hardier fruits such as plums, apples | | | | wrapped in several layers of fleecy material. You |
| and pears are ready, and your softer fruits and | | | | can build a simple wire frame around your |
| berries need to be brought in before the birds eat | | | | bananas or palms and stuff it with straw. Keep |
| them all. Your less hardy crops such as figs and | | | | them covered and dry with a ventilated |
| grapes need picking before the frost happens. A | | | | waterproof bag. |
| solid frost can spoil them. | | | | And even though you want your garden area |
| Broccoli, cabbage, and sprouts are all getting | | | | looking tidy and neat, don't forget about your |
| ready for harvesting, and the pepper family | | | | wildlife. You can leave berry and seed producing |
| needs picking. Eat them green if you like them | | | | plants untouched until spring so that the birds and |
| that way, or hang them upside down in a | | | | animals can finish them off. And try to keep your |
| greenhouse to keep them ripening for a bit longer. | | | | local bees and other helpful insects around your |
| Even your late tomatoes will ripen in this way too | | | | property as well, so they can help you out again |
| if you want to try it. | | | | in the spring. They need a place to ride out the |
| Keep harvesting your beans or they'll simply stop | | | | winter too. |
| producing more pods. Dig their roots into the soil | | | | Your fall gardening tasks will take up some of |
| either now or in the spring, and take advantage | | | | your time, but you will be rewarded for doing |
| of the nitrogen that they've taken in while | | | | them. All of the effort that you put in now will |
| growing. Brassicas will really flourish in that area | | | | pay dividends to you next year. |