Fuchsia magellanica is a reliable shrub that brings colour

We haven’t had a frost yet but the first one may not be far off.

As vegetables ripen more slowly with the shorter days, their skins are a bit tougher and they are less sweet, but we’re still picking runner beans, the odd courgette and cucumber as well as tomatoes.

It feels like we are clinging on to the last of the summer abundance and I, for one, will be sad to see the end of such a bountiful harvest.

In the meantime, we have some glorious sunshine and the light in the garden, playing on the tall grasses, the everlasting sunflowers, gaura, salvias and dahlias, is stunning.

Veg Oct (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

There are still bees collecting nectar and butterflies sunning themselves.

Like them we are really enjoying these early autumn days.

Our thoughts are turning now to the growing list of autumn jobs, one of which is the reorganisation or renovation of a couple of borders.

They were over-planted when we first moved here, and although we have moved some shrubs in the past couple of years they are still jostling for space.

There are perennials that need dividing too, having clumped up and begun to spread or, in the case of irises, having died out in the middle of the clump.

Border Renovation Oct 25 (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

This is the perfect time of year to begin to rethink a border.

Not surprising then that we had a packed Border Renovation course this week, with gardeners from across the region turning up to find out more about how to sort out and reorganise their beds.

If you missed this great course there is another chance in the spring, but in the meantime we have Renovation Pruning which will teach you specifically how to rescue over-grown and neglected shrubs and small trees.

Get in touch to book your place.

The Certificate in Practical Horticulture students looked this week at how to feed and water plants, which was surprisingly timely given the fact that we are still needing to irrigate, even after a reasonable amount of rain.

The pots and containers need it most, but young trees and shrubs planted in the last couple of years are incredibly thirsty, especially after a blustery few days.

We have spent several hours this week pumping water from the tanks and filling watering cans.

Border Renovation tools (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

If you are wondering how much colour will soon be left in your garden you might enjoy the upcoming ‘Planting for Year-Round Colour & Interest’.

These are some of the other courses in the next few weeks which have spaces available.

· Planting for Year-Round Colour & Interest – 8th October

· Advanced Practical Gardening – 29th October

· Basic Bricklaying – 31st October

· Sustainable Cutting Garden – 5th November

· Your Veg Patch – 6th November

· Renovation Pruning – 13th November

Fuchsia magellanica (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

Plant of the Week

Fuchsia magellanica, sometimes called the hardy fuchsia, is a reliable shrub that brings colour well into autumn.

Native to Chile and Argentina, it carries masses of slender, tubular flowers with crimson sepals and purple corollas that dangle elegantly from arching stems.

Flowering from midsummer until the first frosts, it adds a graceful lightness to borders and works beautifully as a hedge in milder regions.

Despite its delicate appearance, it is one of the hardiest fuchsias, thriving in most moist but well-drained soils and coping with partial shade or sun.

It is especially valuable in coastal gardens, where it withstands salt-laden winds and damp conditions, often forming striking flowering hedges.

Prune in spring to encourage fresh growth, and mulch roots in colder regions.