This seems to be the first week we have started to feel the cold whilst working in the gardens, and late autumn is really upon us. The rainfall for October was 106.6mm, a fair amount which mostly seemed to arrive just when you are busy outdoors! So it was at the dismantling of the planter at the Re-rooting exhibition, and by the time we had transferred it to Cheriton we were soaked. A big ‘thank you’ to Erica for using her car to transport the planter, and all the time she spent helping.
The rain does come in handy when you are planting beds however, and the broad beans are in their new homes, as well as some of the garlic, with more to be planted out next week. Some tulips and daffodils for spring colour got planted in some of our large pots, the hedge got a trimming, and we are starting to cut back many of the perennial plants in the flower garden. One of our volunteers decided the banana tree should be wrapped up for the winter, and time will tell if it needed it or not!
Even though we are into November, we are seeing the brassicas still being eaten by new hatchings of caterpillars – unbelievable! The kale bed was looking somewhat diminished and it became clear that it was under attack from pigeons as the leaves were showing the tell-tale signs where the flesh of the leaves is stripped leaving the main veins behind, and so it will be sensible to start netting all the brassicas before they disappear. On Saturday it was noticed that there were a great many ladybirds around too, possibly making their last searches for food before they find suitable crevices to hibernate for the winter.
Some of our volunteers love the community garden WhatsApp groups, and have been sharing pictures of what they have made using some of our produce, as well as recipe ideas. A couple of the pictures are featured below. It is always interesting to see what different people come up with.
It is with great excitement that we can now mention a project initiated by the Sandgate Parish Council for the Sandgate Park off Military Road, and Fremantle Park, in Fremantle Road. To commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) our community is being asked to help plant an orchard of 12 trees within each park mentioned, on Saturday 13th November at 2pm in Sandgate Park, and Sunday 14th November at 2pm in Fremantle Park. * We will be planting apple trees, pear, cherry, plum, and cob nut, so if you would like to come along and be a part of this community event, then contact us, Sandgate Community Garden, through our social media platforms, via email sandgatecg@gmail.com or text Leonie on 07840138308.
[ * UPDATE 11/11/2021: The Fruit trees will not be available from the supplier for this weekend, so the planting is postponed until further notice. Thanks to all those that said they would help, and we’ll update again when we have the trees!]
Many hands make light work, and before we know it we will be enjoying and sharing the fruit from the trees hopefully for several years to come, so get in touch and be involved.
What’s next?
- Finish planting the beans, garlic and onions
- Continue the bulb planting
- Net the brassicas
- Weed along the wall
- Plant the orchards!
Caterpillars still hatching in November Autumn salad Green tomato chutney Cosmos flowers still hanging on in there
