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October News 2003 |
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and Updates for October 2003 Welcome to our monthly "Newsletter". This is where we announce the most recent additions to our website along with "what's happening in our gardens", helpful hints, herbal tips, etc. Please check back often as we will be updating regularly. What's happening in our garden for October: Fall is definitely here but we are still receiving unusually warm temperatures with loads of sunshine and very little rain. We did receive enough to remove our province out of its “State of Emergency” as the terrible forest fires are now under control. Now there is a concern about the lack of water should we not receive a large snow pack this winter. The Stellar Jays are doing their comical annual Sunflower seed harvest and the squirrels are busily gathering acorns. Our gardens are still colourful with blooming begonias, incredible fuchsias, impatiens, brown-eyed Susan’s, Autumn Joy sedum, roses and much more. Evenings are exceptionally beautiful as the white, gorgeously scented nicotiana and feathery leaves of dusty miller really stand out. Fall cleanup is in full swing with loads of deciduous leaves to rake up, pruning hedges and shrubs, cutting down perennials, rototilling the vegetable garden, bringing in tender plants and mulching others. We also just finished putting in 3 skylights on our home with the help of my wonderful parents. All in all, it is a beautiful time of year with pleasant working temperatures and gorgeous fall colours. I am always reluctant to say good-bye to summer and tend to cherish the last blooms knowing this will be the last time I see some plants looking as beautiful as they are right now. October "To Do" List: -cut perennials down to the ground – mulch tender perennials. -dig up dahlia tubers after blackened by frost. -cut back kiwi, wisteria and honeysuckle vines. -prune hedges, shrubs & trees. -rototill vegetable garden. -plant fall rye for green manure. -hill up turnip, leeks, beets, carrots for winter crop. (to protect from frost) -after frost pull up annuals. -pull off lower leaves of brussels sprouts. -save seeds for next year’s crop. -rake up leaves and add to compost pile. -make up a fall display with corn stalks, gourds, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, bale of straw, etc. -pick last of the apples & squash. -rake up leaves and generally put the garden to bed. -deciduous trees and shrubs can be safely moved after their leaves have fallen. -Fall is a good time to plant new trees and shrubs. -containers should be put in a sheltered spot and pushed together to help protect each other. -empty hanging baskets - don’t rush fuchsias unless frost is expected as they really come into their own when the weather turns cool. -plant bulbs. -tidy up over wintering vegetables – wait until frost to harvest as they will be much sweeter tasting. -plant bulbs in containers. -remove old fruiting canes of raspberries and blackberries. Roses: -prune back roses lightly saving heavy pruning for spring. -strip leaves off rose bushes to prevent over wintering of diseased leaves – do not compost them. -tie in climbers. -sprinkle 1/4 cup Epsom salts around each bush to encourage new canes forming in spring. Greenhouse Gardening for October: (for a cool greenhouse kept at 40 - 45F (5 - 7C) -plants in bloom for this month – bougainvillea, oleander, gerbera, pelargonium, jasmine, begonias, hibiscus, gloriosa lily, bouvardia, plumbago, and abutilon. -scrub down greenhouse with bleach and water solution. -bring in all tender plants before frost – check for insects. -ventilate on warm sunny days closing the door in late afternoon to conserve heat. -reduce watering and stop fertilizing. -try to keep greenhouse dry to prevent mould and mildew. -dig up scented geraniums, gerbera, etc. - repot and store in the greenhouse. -cut back fuchsias, pelargonium, and keep barely moist over winter in the greenhouse -either dig up begonia tubers or break off tops and store dry in their pot – turn pot on its side so as to avoid watering. -dig up colocassia bulbs, canna and gladiolus. -set up greenhouse heater -if frost is predicted set thermostat for 38 to 42F. Indoor Sunroom or Conservatory: A list of plants presently blooming in our sunroom: -Odontoglossum Orchids -Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchid) -Phalaenopsis Orchids -Bromeliad -Cattleya Orchids -Oxalis -Myrtle -Gardenia -Anthirium Growing Conditions for House Plants – Part 3 Location – Bright but Sunless area – on a sunless windowsill or near a bright window. Suitable plants for this area include Anthurium, Asparagus, Azalea, Begonia rex, Bromeliads, Chlorophytum, Columnea, Cyclamen, Dieffenbachia, Dizgotheca, Fuchsia, garden bulbs, Hedera, Monstera, Pepermomia, Philodendron, Pilea, Schefflera, Scindapsus, Spathiphyllum, vines, Zygocactus. Herbal Hints: -bring in Bay plant and French lavender into greenhouse. -dig up and plant in pots for over wintering in heated greenhouse – lemon verbena, scented geraniums, pineapple sage, Spanish tarragon, tender rosemary. -bring in any tender herbs you would like to try growing in a sunny windowsill or under “grow” lights for fresh winter’s supply of herbs. -I now keep a large planter box filled with my favourite herbs in the heated greenhouse and have a steady supply of fresh herbs over the winter months New! Handmade Soap News: Part 3 – The Discovery of Soap - Romans were well known for their public baths but handmade soap was generally not used for personal cleaning. Apparently they used olive oil and sand to clean the skin using salves mixed with herbs to moisturize afterwards. It was during the 2nd century that the physician Galen recommended bathing with soap to relieve some skin conditions. During the later centuries of the Roman era handmade soap for personal cleansing became popular. Natural Cleaning Products: Laundry Soap -2 cups grated handmade soap -1 cup borax. Combine the soap and borax and use 1 cup per load. Add 1/4 cup vinegar to your fabric softener dispenser to remove any soap residue. Leaves clothes soft and fluffy and the smell will dissipate as clothes dry. New! - Organic Gardening Tips: Green Manure Planting fall rye for “green manure: Once the vegetable garden is turned over - either by hand or rototiller depending on the size of your garden sow fall rye. If it is planted early enough the seeds will sprout and be up and growing in no time. In the spring once the blades are about 4 to 6 inches long turn under and let it rot for at least 6 weeks. This will provide beneficial nutrients to your soil. Health and Wellness Fresh Salsa: (this is my son’s recipe and it is delicious) -about 8 fresh Roma tomatoes – diced chunky -1/2 large white onion finely diced -1 or 2 hot chilli peppers (seeds removed) -1 big handful cilantro -juice of 1 lime -salt to taste (about 1 tsp) (no pepper) Refrigerate at least 1 hour and use up within 1 day. Thanks for visiting! Susan |
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