Gardening: Make the most of mild weather before winter

In the Garden

British summertime is still here for another two weeks and meteorological winter is still six weeks away. This means there is still plenty of mild weather to be creating beds and plans for next season. 

With this in mind, and also trying to find the gardeners' nirvana of having successional colour, it’s an idea to be looking at what plant flowers and when. The ideal is to have flowers overlapping almost like a one in, one out door policy. 

Dornonicums, or leopard's bane, a herbaceous perennial, can start you off, a member of the sunflower family that will be out by early spring and keep producing their small yellow flowers until summer starts to heat up. 

Lupins will be out in early summer and will overlap nicely. As they are legumes they like full sun and free draining soil and don’t need too much in the way of nutrients. 

Irises of all persuasions will be in bloom alongside or after lupins and who in their right mind dislikes a deep hyacinth and yellow iris. Although the genre typically thrives in a moist environment, there are so many varieties, you can choose one for specific conditions including shade and drier areas. ‘Lord of June’ is a national favourite it seems. Alternatively try planting a day lily like ‘My Melinda’, a beautiful but resilient perennial. 

Delphinium ‘Blue Butterfly’ fits in a similar category as a popular national plant that will follow as the iris tires. Phlox ‘Starlight’ and then Helenium ‘autumnale’ will take you right through to this time next year. Only this week Ive cut back this Helenium and it was still holding some colour after being transplanted temporarily. 

All these are ideal right now thanks to being able to buy them from basically any horticultural supplier. They can all be dropped in now in the right places and form strong roots for next year. As long as they are protected from slugs and snails your plan will come to fruition. 

If you don’t want to venture out for whatever reason, plant some Sweet peas indoors for early flowering. Better still get a younger member of the family into gardening and do it for you. 

On the Plot

Even though it's mid-October there are still outdoor tomatoes ripening on the vine but these will only have two weeks left of extended sunlight. (Notice I did n’t say ‘sunshine’ just in case). Dispose of the dead foliage rather than allow it to rot in the ground. This will help to prevent tomato diseases next year. 

Slide out the pea and bean sticks from their holes in the ground and save for use next year. Burn the dried foliage but leave the roots in place to add nutrients to the soil ready to plant brassicas. They will need that nitrogen to produce their own leaves and impressive heads. 

Think about putting a cold frame to good use through the colder months. If you don’t have one try and rig something up with retired glass doors or get one for next to nothing from a second hand site. They really are a godsend. Parsley can be pricked out here and kept warm ready to keep you supplied all next year. 

Take cuttings of blackcurrants and gooseberries now, cut on an angle above a bud and a flat one below a bud. Push into soft ground in a sheltered position angle end down. The winter conditions will do the rest but make sure they don’t fruit next year and they'll keep you in niche fruit for years. 

Many people seem to be projecting the notion that it’s doom and gloom until next March. The truth is far from that with more bright days than frozen and damp ones. Even frozen ones are enjoyable in their own way. Try and tune into what the seasons offer and you'll be healthier for it.