How Do You Spend The Winter Months?

[Bigmallly]

As they are fast approaching, I just wondered what everyone does to pass those miserable few months we get. I spend a bit of time making up seed sheets & seed tapes. Any tips what else can be done or what you do.

[Thelma Sanders]

Aside from regularly sorting the seed boxes and making/changing allotment plans - I do patchworking and the usual painting and decorating.

[sparrow100]

This year I am going to sew felt decorations for my special winter tree and paint empty (blown) eggs for Easter. I dimly remember fixing the fishing line loops was horribly fiddly.

Oh and re-drawing my allotment plan for the umpteenth time.

[Baldy]

Might finally get back in to fishing.
Like to grow a few things overwinter to at least get me to walk up to the plot from time to time. I've got a slug trebuchet to sort out up there... 10 ft isn't enough distance to stop the slugs coming back...

[Tripmeup]

Walk out and admire/scratch my head (delete as appropriate) whilst looking at my garlic and winter onions..
Otherwise relax and enjoy the winter cosy downtime..and some cycling..

[cptncrackoff]

Mostly fishing!
Although this winter, I'm going to move the asparagus (I know you're not meant to!).
..move at least one blueberry plant...
...move the rhubarb...
...move the strawberry bed..
..bit of work on the fun hut..

It'll be spring by the time I get all that done!

[veggiechicken]

I just wondered what everyone does to pass those miserable few months we get..

What miserable few months? There's no such thing as a miserable month, just a miserable person

Through the dark evenings I will not be miserable because I'll be planning for spring and playing with seeds.

Happiness is seed-shaped................roll on November, I'm ready for you


VC scuttles off to her gwely singing (off key) "For I'm only a cock-eyed octopus.............."
Nos da!

[Small pumpkin]

I'll be doing the same as lots of you. Seed sorting, planning & re planning, fishing. I'm sure there are other things. But the important stuff is listed.

[craftymarie]

I'm super busy with work right up until Christmas. September to year end is my busiest time. After that time I can relax more and enjoy doing some crafts like crochet and making cushions and other bits and pieces for the home. I'm really looking forward to some quiet months to catch up on some reading as well.

No doubt, like others, I'll be planning stuff for the garden and seeing how early I can start seeds off. And I'm hoping for some snow this winter. We had nothing this year and barely any snowfall in recent years - very disappointing. A big freeze this year would be nice, not to disrupt anyone else or cause issues, just in our garden and park across the road. Fill it with snow please Santa

[Mrs Bee]

Granddaughter minding 4 days a week as usual, and embroidering, quilling,

tidying cook books, craft materials, preserving cupboards, kitchen cupboards and winter/spring cleaning.

Making my Christmas cake to leave time for it to mature.
Planning the planting, organising the other half to do the long list of jobs that have been put on hold because of harvesting.

And it is the time I like to make Christmas decorations for the following year.

Making marmalade.

Edit.. I usually make my Christmas cake in January.

[Nannysally99]

I tend to hibernate as a rule, but as I must now take more excersise I will be seen out walking wrapped up like a yeti woman lol.
I too, am going to try and do home made seed tape. I had that special offer from Suttons and they worked out great, especially for carrots.
What tape and glue do you use BM?
Seed sorting, multiple times, going back through the gardening diary to see what not to do, and then trying to remember that when it comes to Spring again.
Oh, and there is Chrismad isn't there ............

[Cadalot]

I will be working on the allotment in everything but rain, I have the ground covered so it will be exposed and dug and weeded bit by bit so the winter is the time for me to get as much building and infrastructure done on my plots as possible.

Awaiting a delivery of woodchips for paths and manure for the beds, although based on what we have had in the past I may fill the rest of my Dalek army with it to mature and rot down. I have one greenhouse to clear of rubbish ready for next year and another whos based needs to be raised using all the stones and bits of concrete I have extracted so far from the ground before I can build it and I really need that to happen before March

Already started printing out labels for new plants that I will be growing next year so it's all about getting ready for next year.

[Guest]

I have no idea what I actually do and where my time goes It is only most of Dec I don't tend to spend time in the garden - although my Gardening New Year starts on Boxing Day when I start tidying and working beds in the veg patch.

In the cold months I edge the lawns (it is the only time they look neat and last), clean down patio and paths as they get green and slippy, winter prune, top dress fruit trees. Now till mid Nov. I am saving and bagging seeds to give and swap as well as doing preserves. I also get to think about whether I am grafting any trees and chatting peeps up for scions and buying rootstocks. If I am lucky I might get some winter reading in - I have a shelf of unread books. There are lots of crafty things I would like to learn /do, realistically I might get a bit of tatting in. On fine days I always have creocoting to do, couple of coups that could do with some tlc, gravel to put down in veg patch. Rainy days when I get in the garage I still have the rest of my beehive to put together, some scaffold benches I would like to do, my tin ants, some more crooks for labels, some scaffold board cut outs......

I would like to push myself to do a bit more winter windowsill growing - pea shoots, microgreens and bean sprouting (I do seem to shut off a bit in winter)
Seed sowing will start again in Jan. Cut off for buying/ swapping seeds is Feb 14th.
There is always cleaning and tidying the house. Dec is lots of cooking/ baking. This year there is sweet making for gifts. Wreath making and some willow weaving.

There is a chance we will be getting a dog. Life is hectic anyway so getting a dog isn't a real issue. There are several birthdays in there. Looking after my family and daily routines. Speech therapy sessions and homework. Various days out.

The list is endless but if it doesn't get done it doesn't matter (well most of it anyway)
Reading all that I sound like my Brother who never stays still. That def. sounds worse than it is.

[bramble]

Norfolkgrey, I think youre going to need a long, long winter.

[Guest]

^^^LOL, what I really want to do is just hibernate!