How To Tackle The Big Autumn Garden Clean Up Challenge

My Autumn Garden Clean Up

If you find this time of year overwhelming, please don't despair. It can look like a lot, but if you break it down into zones and do a little and often, in no time, you will have managed the whole garden.

Now, if you have a great compost system, this stuff is gold. Load it up, cover it, and leave it to do its thing so that come spring, you will have plenty of compost.

But if you don't, no need to panic.

I would suggest that as you clear a garden bed, you can do the same as the compost: pile it onto your cleared bed, cover with grass clippings, and come spring, all you have to do is spread it out over the bed and be one step ahead on all that spring prep.

Something New This Autumn

Now I'm trying something new this autumn. I have tried it before but didn't really commit.

Winter planting can be tough here in Central Otago because of those hard frosts and the potentially long foggy days, but I figured what's there to lose—a couple of seedlings and some time, nothing really.

So as I clear some of the beds, firstly the corn bed, I add in compost and some fresh vegetable mix before I plant out the seedlings. I have got in some rocket, spinach, and hearty lettuces.

The brassicas have gone in, but I have put them under netting because the white cabbage butterflies are still around. I have trenched in leeks, which is a new veggie for me. I may have got them in too late, but we'll see how we go. I have also got in Cavolo Nero and Kohlrabi, which is my favorite veggie.

My expectations for this coming winter are mixed because of how this summer has been. I'm really unsure as to the outcome, but not much I can do about it.

A Glasshouse Bust

The glasshouse has been a bust this season, but that seems par for the course for this summer.

I planted 6 cucumbers, and only 2 survived. All the chillies and capsicums have not thrived, and I may have 1 chilli if I'm lucky.

I tried out a couple of cherry tomatoes in the glasshouse, and though they grew well, the fruit has not really ripened, whereas the ones outside have done well, if slowly. That does tell me that the soil was probably lacking in or had an abundance of something, I think nitrogen, which helps with growth. But the lack of sun this summer is why the fruit hasn't ripened.

In April, I'll tidy up the glasshouse and plant a green crop, which I'll incorporate into the soil in early September to enrich it further.

The next phase in the orchard is almost underway. The apple and plum trees are nearly ripe. We've planted three types of apples: the Royal Gala is nearly ready, followed by the Braeburn, and lastly, a cooking apple whose name escapes me, but it's ideal for freezing.

Let's Talk Plums

We have two plums in the orchard: my personal favourite, Omega, which is done and in the freezer, ready for when I have the time to do something with it. The other is the Elephant Heart, which we planted as a pollinator for the Omega, but in the end, it's turned into a firm favourite.

If you are looking for a great eating plum that also turns into a great baking and dessert plum, the Elephant Heart is an excellent choice.

The last of the summer-loving vegetables are still around, not thriving, but still present.

I've just managed to get some roast tomato sauce into the freezer, and the courgettes have started producing again after nearly a month without even flowering.

The tomatoes are still receiving a weekly feed, but after last week's frost, I'm hoping the remaining fruit will ripen soon. If not, I'll remove the bunches and hang them in the garden shed to hopefully ripen.

Meanwhile, I've removed as many leaves as possible to expose the fruit to the sun. I estimate I have about three more

weeks with the tomatoes before I need to consider removing them.

I've talked to several gardeners this summer, and every single one has mentioned it has been a challenging season. So, if you've faced difficulties this summer, remember you're not alone, and we should be grateful for what we've managed to grow.

Appreciate the fact that it happened, not that it wasn't perfect.