SLUSHED OUT OF THE GARDEN

Pleasant days and an enjoyable gardening year made me believe I could carry on gardening in spite of the season.

I had simply forgotten the extent to which shorter days limit the time available in which to do anything.

At the beginning of November a few wet days were not enough to keep me off the soil. But now the soil has been thoroughly drenched and I have to keep off it. Walking on soil or lawn now, compacts the ground. Attempting to work it with rake or cultivator turns it to a sticky slush.

Greenhouse gardeners will no doubt still be happily pottering around and fussing over tender flowers and seedlings.

Even so I believe that given a dry spell I could spread some garden compost over the surface outdoors, and while standing on a pathway, lightly work it in using a garden fork.

Indeed I used this to plant 30 Shallots. The variety Grisselle is planted in Mid October to December before the ground freezes. It gets a head start on the Shallot varieties that are normally planted in Spring.

I've been buying a few shrubs and perennials. A recent purchase included Corylus avellana 'Contorta - Red Majestic'. I got this one at a reduced price from a Focus DIY closing down sale. Nevertheless, it reminded me how expensive these outlets can be for plant purchases.

THE DISMAL ALIENS

The ladybird is a highly valuable insect for controlling aphids. Unfortunately it is being overrun by another beetle. This is the dismal truth of the Harlequin Beetle Harmonia axyridis. Following introduction into America in 1988 it has now become more widespread there than ordinary Ladybirds. Now it is advancing rapidly through the U.K.

The Harlequin was originally introduced for its voracious appetite for eating aphids and so protecting crops. But things have got out of hand. If its success continues it could result in a reduction in biological diversity i.e. the number of different types of insect that we have in our gardens. That is not good.

Plans are being made to control it e.g. by using insect attractants to lure the Harlequin into a trap. I recommend that gardeners learn to distinguish the Harlequin from normal Ladybirds. see the Harlequin Survey. It seems only right to keep a keen eye open for them and destroy them where they are found. Anything to halt their advance must be good.

...and FLAT WORMS
The New Zealand Flatworm, Arthurdendyus triangulatus, is another alien, first found in 1963 in Northern Ireland. It has probably traveled among potted plants and now exists throughout the U.K. Other reports suggest that eggs may travel in stone filled field drains.

This Flatworm eats our own native earthworm. In some areas this alone is blamed for causing poor field drainage and waterlogging - a devastating result.

As organic gardeners we need be more responsible custodians of our environment.

AUTUMN RASPBERRY GOLD LOVES COLD

My autumn Raspberry 'All Gold', described earlier, has come into fullness this week.

Although I've been getting Raspberries for over 2 months, they are much better now. They are firmer, they stand better, free of molds, and taste good. The colder weather is doing them good.

A month ago I was waiting for the calyx (i.e. the leafy appendiges beneath the fruit) to curl back to indicate the fruit was ripe and good to eat. The space between ripeness and decay was quite short. I've had very few in recent weeks. But I had noticed that there were many green fruit yet to ripen.

Well now they are swelling to become fat jucy fruits that remain good on the branch, but eventually, they are just too big and good not to be picked.

Don't forget - you can add your comments on any of my notices. Thanks for reading.