Preparing for Next Year

While everyone else is busy harvesting, I’m not. I still have a few crops that are not ready to harvest, (a cabbage, some parsnips and a few tomatoes) and some courgettes that are ready now. I’ve eaten so much courgette over recent weeks that it’s becoming boring. I will probably give away the remaining crop.

While I reflect on all the gardening mistakes I’ve made in the last few months, I’ve started to prepare for next year.

By frequent hoeing and tilling, I’ve managed to reduce the weed problem on a few unused beds. It seemed a little daft to be constantly weeding beds that I didn’t intend to use, but by doing so I think I’ve made it easier for next year.

I only managed to dig over about half the plot this year. Now I’ve started on the other half. This means digging. A lot of digging.

The idea is getting the soil opened up to the elements. A lot of it has been covered and unable to breathe, which can’t be good for the soil. In one area, there was black sheeting that had been slowly buried over time and had, (for reasons I can’t imagine) a lot of gravel on top. Not like a gravel path, but gravel mixed with soil. At first, I was trying to sieve it all, but that was taking too long. So, I shovelled it into a bath and will let the rain wash it.

I haven't totally missed out on harvest season. My helpful neighbour has an abundance and asked me to help myself to a few things.

I still have courgettes growing and a few parsnips on the go.

I have a few tomato plants, but I think the crop will be mediocre at best.