October has arrived and with it so much is going on at The Garden Shop. We look forward to sharing it all with you over the course of the month.
We have expanded the café, which has gone from a lovely space (pictured left) with cosy seating, to an even larger space for you to enjoy - do come in and see what it looks like now!
We think you'll love it along with our lovely cakes, light lunches and refreshments!
Our New Farm Shop
We've also got more really exciting news. We are delighted to announce our brand new farm shop! We're stocking super fresh veg, fruit, eggs, chutney, jams and more.
And, you know us, of course much of the produce is from growers from within the South West!
We are fortunate in East Devon to have many local suppliers and farmers markets which enable us to farm to plate within a very short distance. Sustainability at its best.
We hope you like it. Pop into the shop pick up lovely fresh and delicious produce
Back to gardening. The weather really can't make it's mind up at the moment which makes it challenging for all gardeners. There are of course many jobs to be getting on with.
THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER
Finish planting evergreen shrubs. Mulching will help them to survive the winter too.
Plant new climbers.
Plant new perennials.
Plant tulip and lily bulbs. We have a great range of spring-flowering bulbs now in stock.
Empty and clean summer hanging baskets, and refill with pansies or violas, ivy, cyclamen etc for winter colour. We have locally grown autumn bedding in stock now. Or alternatively, try a herb basket.
Divide overgrown perennials. Two forks back to back in the middle of the clump and then prised apart works really well.
Lift and store dahlias, gladioli and summer flowering bulbs. Allowing dahlias to stand ‘upside-down’ to dry out will help them not to rot off during the winter.
Cut down the dying tops of perennial vegetables.
Lift and divide rhubarb. Cover with a mulch to protect the crown during the winter.
Rake up fallen leaves, and pile them up to make leaf mould, or stuff into bags at the back of the compost heap. Remember to make a few holes in the bag first to let air in and water out!
Continue clearing up the garden, and burn or bin debris, especially burn any that shows signs of fungal infection, for example rose leaves with blackspot.
Dig over empty areas of soil. I find it helpful to cover with old carpet/cardboard or recycled black plastic to keep weeds down and the soil will warm up much more quickly in the spring. Alternatively, consider sowing a green manure. Green manures are fast-growing plants sown to cover bare soil. Often used in the vegetable garden, their foliage smothers weeds and their roots prevent soil erosion. When dug into the ground while still green (hence the name), they return valuable nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure.
Tidy ponds and remove pumps for the Winter.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO….
Finish planting spring bedding.
Finish planting spring flowering bulbs.
GET IN FRONT….
Prepare for planting bare-rooted stock next month.
Make early sowing of broad beans for next year.
Sow sweet peas for next year under cover.
Sue Brown
King Street, Colyton, Devon EX24 6LF Email: admin@colytongardenshop.co.uk
Tel: 01297 551113
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