Mixed feelings about autumn.

[Suky]

Does anyone else have the mixed feelings I have about the end of the season?
I have just emptied the greenhouse (and filled the compost bin) and I am sad that this growing season is more or less over but full of anticipation for the year to come and all the planning for the 'perfect' growing year to come. Yes, alright, I know, 'perfect' ain't likely
I am really torn between leaving the beans up for 'just one more picking' and taking them down to move the new raspberry canes in.
Am I alone or are you all as daft as me?

[buzzingtalk]

No I am the same - I am trying to figure out what to do with my little 'garden' of pot plants and veg. I am half torn between ripping the tomatos down now and making green tom chutney, and moving the chillis all indoors for ripening and prep for overwintering. However this would leave the back of our house looking significantly different and it would be sad to see it all go - I'd like to plant more stuff but i just don't know what!

[rustylady]

I think we're all the same really. It's more or less the end of the growing year, but there is still plenty of stuff to harvest (specially if you go foraging)

[Shadylane]

I dunno I still have loads to down down t'lotment. I've spuds to dig up and onions to put in (put the garlic in today). Muck to spread cloches/netting thingies to build. Come December I shall start sowing again so I don't find that anything is really ending - it never ends

[buzzingtalk]

I forage more than I garden! But I don't really have a garden so that goes to show

I'm currently foraging for mushrooms (pleanty out there! and excellent weather for it too at the minute), rosehip, last of the blackberries and keeping my eye out for nuts

[solway cropper]

I'm with Shadylane in thinking that it never ends. I can't find enough space to plant out the overwintering onions due to all the stuff that's still growing. Until last year I was a bit of a seasonal gardener and had a mostly bare plot in winter but now I'm determined that the hungry gap isn't going to happen round here. I have 14 different types of veg still growing outside, some in containers which I can bring into the greenhouse when the weather gets really cold. After I cleaned out the remaining toms and peppers last week I moved in some containers with lettuce and spring onions so the greenhouse never gets empty either.

[Suky]

I still have lots growing but it's the clearing away of the summer crops, the end of the fresh beans (lots in the freezer tho') and the general slowing down makes me sad.
Then I get out the seed catalogues and the garden plan, order enough for 2 or 3 allotments and then get real and reduce the order. Like I said, mixed feelings.

[Shadylane]

The end of summer is always sad but when you never really get one it makes it easier It's getting chilly up here now so to be honest I'm over summer salads and getting into the mood for stew

[Liza]

I had a mostly bare plot last winter and it looked quite depressing but this year I am going to plant up as much as possible and fill gaps with green manures, I think that will make me feel a bit better during the coming months.

Although autumn is not quite here yet, still picking runners. Has been 20c most days and weekend looks the same.

[Two_Sheds]

I had a mostly bare plot last winter and it looked quite depressing but this year I am going to plant up as much as possible

Snadger will be proud

I've never understood why people think bare soil is a good thing; it's just an invitation for weeds to move in. One of the old boys is forever hoeing his plot (now 50% bare soil) and grumbling about it - within a week it's covered in weeds again.

[Glutton4...]

Snadger will be proud

I've never understood why people think bare soil is a good thing; it's just an invitation for weeds to move in. One of the old boys is forever hoeing his plot (now 50% bare soil) and grumbling about it - within a week it's covered in weeds again.

Give the old Fella some of your cardboard, ya meanie!

[chris]

Autumn s my favourite season! I love it!!

Going for cold, but sunny walks crunchin over leaves (dodging dog poo), the lighting for photos, run up to Christmas etc!!

[haza1981]

I have a lot of weeds to deal with as I have not been down much due to weather. Need a sunny weekend to get down and get sorted. Still some tom's left for picking.

It's hard to be motivated in the cold.