The Year of the …………

I am told that it is the Chinese Year of the Wooden Dragon. For gardeners like me in southern England, it has been the Year of the Slug-maybe less scary than a dragon, but still an unwelcome visitor. In our area it was wet on most days from October 2023 to May 2024, and the winter was not particularly cold. Ideal for these hungry slimy creatures to survive, breed and go on the rampage. Small wriggly ones and big fat slimy browny-orange ones. They are also very sly. They hide from view in daytime and sneak out after dusk to do their nasty work. Battalions of then attacked the usual targets: lettuces, greens, and most seedlings. There are even reports of them eating chilli peppers. I had the bright idea of planting some lupins, a flower which I like. I was told afterwards that these plants are one of the favourites of slugs. These prized plants were all eaten before coming into flower. Not a good decision for me this year. We are now in October, a time to reflect on the gardening seasons. Despite the weather and the slugs, my veg patch and polytunnel did quite well. Good crops of peas and beans of all kinds-enough to freeze some. An awful year for courgettes: too cold and wet in early summer for them. But squashes did well in my polytunnel: see photo. There is also a photo of my broad bean row. Potatoes grown in the veg patch did not do well but ones grown in tubs were excellent. Strawberries were poor but blackcurrants and gooseberries were super. They liked all the rain, and appreciated the sun in July. After two good years for apples, this season is very poor. Many apples seem to have rotted on the trees. Work in the garden is not yet finished, as it is now the season for picking up fallen leaves. Tomorrow I have garlic cloves to plant, and next month I will be sowing broad bean seeds. I have also put in some more bulbs. Planting is always a time of hope, especially in autumn, with the hope of seeing green shoots in late winter and early spring.

Let us hope that next year will see less slug damage and that the plants will thrive.

Post Views : 75