In his weekly Jamie’s Little Allotment column, Gayton gardener Jamie Marsh says winter is a time to take stock…
There comes a point every winter when the garden just doesn’t need us to fuss over it so much. After months of planting, watering, tying things in, and all the rest, everything just slows down.
Beds sit quietly, the soil’s a bit soggy, and the days feel shorter even if you do get outside for a bit of daylight. This is the time of year I have to remind myself it’s okay not to always be doing something. You know how gardening shows and books make it sound like there’s always another job on the list?
Looking back at 2025 – tomatoes were one of Jamie’s favourites
Well, out here in the real garden, especially in winter, nature doesn’t really follow a strict schedule.
Lately I’ve just been wandering around the garden and the allotment without much of a plan. No list, no tools, just having a look around. Seeing what’s still standing after the wind and rain, and what’s just quietly ticking along under the surface.
The ground’s pretty soggy right now, and that’s a sign to me that this isn’t the time to be trampling around too much. The soil’s spent all year building up its structure, and sometimes the best thing we can do is just let it be.
Looking forward to spring blooms – winter is a time to plan your garden
There’s always that urge to tidy everything up at this time of year – cutting everything back and clearing every leaf. But I’ve learned it’s actually good to leave some things be.
Seed heads look nice with a bit of frost on them, hollow stems give insects a place to hide, and leaves break down and feed the soil. It might look a bit untidy to us, but the garden doesn’t mind at all.
It doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do, though. If the weather’s all right, there are still some gentle jobs, like clearing a path so it’s not slippery, topping up the bird feeders, or checking on any stored veggies. It’s more like pottering about than real work.
And this is also the time of year when the garden becomes a place for thinking rather than doing. I find myself making mental notes for next year – what worked, what didn’t and what I might do differently.
Oh, and since this is my last column before the New Year, Merry Christmas, everyone. Enjoy the quiet time in the garden, and I’ll see you in the New Year.
Feel free to email me on: Jamieslittleallotment@gmail.co.uk and tell me how your year in the garden has gone, also I’d love your feedback on my weekly column.
Comments are closed.