The recent very hot weather did a good job of ripening most of my green tomatoes and they are now all picked and the used plants put out to compost. All in all I have been pleased with growing salad crops and vegetables in pots and will certainly experiment further next year.
But, where are we with the weather? Last week we experienced the hottest temperatures ever recorded for the time of year and we are now having snow forecasted for the end of the month with the possibility of temperatures down to -20C. Just in case the weather people are right I have collected the pots with tender plants together ready to move them into a sheltered place at the first sign of really cold weather. The most vulnerable of all, such as a lemon scented leaf geranium, a French lavender and the mint bush, will be over wintered indoors. Having lost a much beloved black bamboo last year I will be extra careful this time. If you haven’t already done so try to lift any tender bulbs this week. Having dug them out of the ground spread the bulbs out on sheets of newspaper and leave to dry in a sheltered place for about ten days. Before storing in a dry, frost-free place clean off any dried soil and grade into sizes. Penstemons are great favourites and some varieties are more tender than others. You can give them some protection by leaving on the dying foliage until you see the new growth breaking through next spring. But to be sure of plants for the following year why not take some cuttings? This also applies to other plants that may be at risk.
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