Glorious autumn colours: news from the garden

Photos of autumnal colours in Besson Street Garden by Chris Banks CC BY-SA

The autumn colours have been truly spectacular and come rain or shine there is always something to do in the garden. Always.

The rain really has been most welcome as the ground was bone dry. Our water butts are now full which is very satisfying, and a core group of volunteers have braved some of the downpours to help with pruning, harvesting, sowing, composting, and collecting the many leaves that fall at this time of year.

We’ve had a good old clear-out in the greenhouse, and the surfaces are now covered with new seedlings and cuttings all of which are doing well. We are using three different methods of propagation: seed sowing, cuttings in gritty compost, and cuttings in water. One of our volunteers was particularly keen to create some more rosemary plants and was thrilled when she saw roots emerging from the bottom of the pot.

A happy volunteer with a pot of rooted rosemary cuttings. Photo by Chris Banks CC BY-SA

We’ve also been trying out recipes for some of the gluts of produce: onion squash have been used both in squash and chickpea curry, and in muffins, grapes have made jam and enjoyed on scones during our refreshment break. Even the unripe tomatoes have been turned into chutney which is scrummy with cheese.  

Squash, raddish, cucumbers and beetroot from the garden. Photo by Chris Banks CC BY-SA