As autumn gives way to winter, Maggie Baldwin offers her November gardening advice, with tips on protecting tender plants, pruning roses, and keeping colour and life in the garden through the colder months.
Now is a great time to plant Amaryllis, which typically bloom six to eight weeks after planting
The end of September saw the Thetford Garden and Allotment Club hold its AGM. The Chairperson is Yvonne Rout, and a new Treasurer has been appointed together with a Deputy Chair, Show Secretary and a Membership Secretary. There have been some resignations from the Committee so there are vacant places if anyone is interested and new members are always welcome.
The weather has been very changeable and as I write the temperature over two days has varied nearly ten degrees. This month can be a time to have a good tidy up around the garden or on the plot. Tender perennials such as pelargoniums and fuchsias can be moved to a frost-free greenhouse or a cool room with plenty of light. Lower light levels can cause house plants to have yellowing of the leaves and poor growth, if possible move them to a south-facing windowsill which will benefit them greatly.
It’s a good time to plant Hippeastrum (Amaryllis), there are some super colours available now and they can be in bloom at Christmas or soon after to bring a bit of cheer to the new year.
Prune any long new shoots on roses to prevent wind rock which can cause the roots to rip. If roses have had blackspot make sure to clear all the affected fallen leaves and mulch underneath the plants with 8–10cm of well-rotted compost or manure, as this helps to slow the disease for the next season.
Plenty of vegetables are ready to harvest now, leeks, kale and cabbages. Parsnips are sweeter and more flavoursome after a frost, lift just the ones you require and leave the remainder in the ground to stay fresh.
If you have a fig tree you may have had a second crop this year as the weather was so warm. It’s time now to thin out the unripened ones, leave the pea-sized ones to mature next summer.
Look out for ladybirds, they cluster together and overwinter on plant stems. Try to avoid disturbing them, as they will be useful for getting rid of aphids next spring.
Keep warm, and enjoy your gardening!
Maggie Baldwin
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