Finishing the Garden for Winter | Allotment Garden UK

In todays video, i finally get all the raised beds, fed, prepared and mulched for winter. I also visited Linda for a coffee and then cracked on with the jobs before the rainstorms. All the garlic is finally in now. Garlic was kindly gifted by @TonyCSmith who had been supplied it by Grown Local (Link below) For all your garlic, potatoes and seeds head to GrownLocal: https://grownlocal.co.uk/

I also harvested some leeks, swede & kalibos cabbage for an autumnal chicken roast.

6 Inch clamps for the netting:

https://ebay.us/m/6JHuI1

First Tunnel Hoops :

Heavy Duty Steel Cloche Hoop | Metal Cloche Hoops https://share.google/fy0aXrWv93CSYFs3j

I also decided to plant the Lautrec garlic, gifted by Cheryl on the Fig and Oliv Plot in a birdies raised bed. The 14ft raised bed on the new plot, i had intended to use has now been sown with white mustard green manure. The plans for the ultimate potting shed of my dreams is underway.

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It is absolutely gorgeous here today. It doesn’t feel like autumn at all. Feels like early spring, but we’re going to pop down to see um Lindon now on the Feelgood Garden. Book in a coffee for later and then we’ll get some gardening done. I blooming caught you. Hello. Started without me today. Did you? Just for the time. So, I’m back on the plot. I’ve just had a coffee with Doug and Linda. We put the wrongs to right of the gardening world. And now I’m ready to start over on the plot. So I’ve got a pile of first tunnel hoops that I want to put on all the beds. And I know that’s quite premature, but when they’re in station, I kind of feel like that bed’s almost ready then, you know. And the ones with the mustards and the all the other green manurs, I kind of want to net them as well, just to protect them a bit because I’ve seen a few pests have been digging in the beds and stuff. So I want to try and give them the best chance I can. So, let’s do that. Now, I’m taking all the opportunities I can today because of the sun to try and get as many jobs that I’ve been pulling off because of the drizzly rain. And the one last week was that one long 14T bed next to the garlic. It needs to be now cleared, put to bed or planted up with garlic. I haven’t decided yet cuz I still got the latre to go in. Um, yeah, but we’re going to plow on today. We’re going to do a hard graft. I think I’m going to go home today in an absolute mess. But it’ll be worth it because I know then some of the horrible jobs I’ve been pulling off will be done on the plot. So, let’s crack on. Let’s go. [Music] Everything. [Music] [Music] [Music] So, they’re all in over here. Now, I want to tidy these nets up now because the wind have obviously bashed them around the last couple of weeks. So, they’re all in station. I normally have on the 10T beds, three of the hoops on each ones. And then on these 14 foot hoops and I tend to put four hoops across and they tend to hold the nets up well. And I’ve noticed that we’ve got some garlic coming up. Now I’d like it to stay on the ground a little bit longer, but it’s here only on this variety. But um yeah, it’s showing showing signs of growth. I’ve also started to get into the habit of stopping mid jobs as well and having a bit of a break rather than plowing through for hours and hours and then when I get home then I’m exhausted and I’m also then thirsty and aching all over. So, I’ve started to stop a bit, get a pile of jobs done, carry on again, and it’s much better. These are actually tomato sausages. Um, so if you haven’t tried them, I highly recommend. They’re beautiful. And, um, yeah, I’m now feeling like we’re getting there. Most of the hoops are on now. I still got four hoops to put onto that bed I’m clearing. And then, yeah, we’re pretty much done with the hoop sort of thing. I need to work out which beds need hoops now. But for now, they can stay on where they are. And um yeah, it just looks good when the hoops are on. I got to be honest, I don’t net them unless I need to. But ping them onto the beds, it just just looks quite uniform on the plot now. Right, let’s get this wheelbarrow in place. Beep beep beep beep beep beep. Right, it’s going to be an absolute bogggy mess, but it’s got to be done now. [Music] Now, there is some long stalk here as well. I’ll put aside because I’ll have to bring like the pronabo shears over that will chop through that with no problems at all. But I can slowly see progress on the plot. It might be small steps, but we’re getting there. We are getting there. It looks like the white fly have come over to this this area. It’s probably on the perennial kale. These were plants that never got planted. And uh it’s a shame. Look at that. Already such a mess. Gardening is not always about pretty flowers and nice green lush veg. It’s also about this type of work as well where you go home and need a nice hot bath. Now, this bed was damaged. These boards are quite rotted, but I’ve got fresh ones for here that I’m going to build at some point and then give this bed a good mulch cuz it really needs it. And then put this bed to bed, I think. Or it’ll be the garlic. I’ll decide some point today. I’m not even looking at that area at the back yet. I mean, that’s for another day. I mean, it’s an absolute tragedy over there, but we’ll get to it. Now, I’m thinking perhaps I should bark these two areas here or this area here and down there only because this is where I walk the most. And then when the rest then the wood chip comes down there, call it back all the time. When more arrives, then I can do the rest. But uh I should put it really where there’s the most amount of traffic through autumn and winter. I mean, it’s not so bad, but I mean, look at all this. This is all just fallen leaves and foliage. It’s crazy. Let’s get the hoe. H. Where’s me hoe? We’ve got the slimmer one, but there is a wider one as well. These nostiums, I tell you what, they’re an absolute menace. They really are. I really can see the light through the trees now. I really can. So, I’m starting to smile more and more looking at the garden because um yeah, there’s a lot of progress being made the last couple of weeks, but there’s still thousands more jobs to do. I know this will get covered with leaves again, but I want to try and get most of the the rubbish and most of the foliage off these beds now. And I’m going to dig through this again just to make sure all the perennial weeds are out. And then I’m thinking this could be the next garlic bed. But h and that’s the problem with planting over winter. Even though I have not got actual crops in the beds, those six beds are out of action for winter. Three of them got the green manurea. The other one got the sprouts and some leaks in Swede and obviously purple sprout and broccoli and calabos cabbage which I’m going to harvest today as well for a nice roast tomorrow. The leaves make the a lotment look so messy as well. And they’re just nature. There must be a mouth or something over here because this cat has been lingering around in this corner all morning. And um he keeps popping his head down and looking down into the corner. So I think he’s looking for some lunch. Funny story about this cat as well. I don’t actually know his name, but um on social media in the summer, people were asking, “Have you seen our cat? We’ve not seen him for weeks.” And we’re worried about him. And there was pictures of him. And I commented on there and actually said, “Yeah, he sleeps in the greenhouse all the time. I leave the door open for him. He sleeps in there.” And I pop some treats in for him as well or her. And um the amount of people that commented saying, “We do the same.” So, this cat goes around all the a lotments, all the area, and um gets treats off everyone. So, I’m surprised it’s not the size of a house. Do you know what’s worse than weeding? Perennial weeding. These get on my nerves. Cuz if you don’t dig them up deep down to the roots, they just come back over and over again. So you need to get them out as deep as you can. I mean, look at that tap routt. Nightmare. I mean, they’re worse than the stersiums really because they go down so deep, but they do bring goodness up to the top, I suppose. But they’re all part of nature’s game, I suppose. But for me, they’re a headache. and they always seem to get in the corners or down the sides of the paths. So, you can’t really get to them that easy. That’s the only problem with them. Now, these ones will be put into the sack and taken over for green waste. Um cuz there’s no point you popping them on the compost. They might root again. I don’t know if you’ve seen the video where Lisa, one of the plot holders, she made dandelion root coffee. And um it was actually okay. It tasted a bit like chory. And um God, look at that. Like a blooming parnip. And um it tasted quite nice. I I didn’t expect it to be as nice as I thought it would be, but yeah. Have you tried it? Have you tried dandelion coffee by roasting the roots and um drinking it like coffee? No caffeine and uh apparently it’s good for you. Right, I’ll get on with this and I’ll get back to you. So, change of plan. So, I prepared this bed ready for the garlic. Now, I probably overestimated how much garlic I’ve got. The latre for this bed. This would take quite a lot of garlic. So, I’ve got a lot in here now. And I’ve got some elephant garlic over there. So, I think I’m going to put it in one of these beds or one of the beds over in that plot because it would only come to here anyway. So, um I may as well cover this now with some mustard seed that I’ve got. Hopefully then it’ll do a nice green manure on this bed. And then once that dies off then because I was going to top dress this with manure anyway, I may as well put the mustard down and then when it dies over in winter, put the manure on top. So that’s the plan for that bed. So let’s put this little track over there somewhere. So I’m thinking this bed here, um the beds at the front get a lot of sun, granted, but they’re harder to hoop. This one I could put some hoops across here, the metal ones. And this will be covered over then for summer. Um, so that’s the plan, I think. Is it the plan? It’s the plan. Look at the cat now. He’s decided now to move into the carrot bin. Now, there is a few carrots growing in there. So, he obviously it’s enjoying that little dome that I’ve now put on top. He’s just nosing at what I’m up to, I think. Have I just adopted a plot cat? So, I didn’t cover this over for winter, but doesn’t matter. Plans are meant to be changed, right? Right. I’m hoping this will be enough latre for this bed. So, I think if I just hope for the best. I think I’ve done garlic over here before and it worked out okay many many years ago. Maybe I could get four here. Probably could get four in a row. You think? Maybe even five. Five. I’m going to place them all out so I know what I’m doing. God, they smell beautiful. Have you got all your garlic in now? I’m hoping this is going to be one of the last jobs now um for planting wise. I’ve still got many things to do. But I also want to put some garlic in modules which I mentioned last last video so that if any don’t come up. I’ve then got a few that I can actually just plant in in a month or two’s time so that I’ve got a full bed of garlic. They seem to be doing okay. I’m trying to get the best. I don’t want to just put any any old clothes in. I’m just trying to put the best ones in. And the good thing about planting in different areas is like I’ve mentioned if you’ve got a pest in that bed then like alium leaf miner you still get a harvest in summer. Last one. This we got five 10 15 20 25 30 I think that’s enough garlic. More than enough. Right, let’s get it in. I will put a top dressing of manure over this now as well just to give it a boost because I haven’t fed this bed since the summer. So, it will need a feed and then I’ll give it a seaweed feed then as well in spring. So, That’s the plan. Right. I’ll finish this and then I’ll get back to you once I’ve done it. Here we go. Last job for this bedoo. And it’s actually the last bag of manure I’ve got. So that worked out okay. Oh, the worms in this is beautiful. It’s lovely to see. Here we go. That should feed the bed and the garlic for winter. honestly. Right, next job. God, I’m in a state. Right. Cats in the poly tunnel now. awful needy the mustard. Now, this is the green manure white mustard that I thought I was going to get for next year. I know I bought some, but maybe I’ll rate that first. Loosen the soil a bit. I know Tony’s gone mustard on his beds. I’m sure it was white mustard, he said. Not sure now. But anyway, I’ve got some. So, I think I’m going to rake this over to here like I did last time. Like so. And then sprinkle this on the bed. Now, I’m going to do this quite heavily, mainly because I don’t think this is going to grow to a huge size before the frost comes. So, I’m thinking if I just put a bit extra on, it’ll germinate and we’ll get a nice cover and then when the frost comes in, they’ll die down into the bed. And plus the birds will love some of it as well, I’m sure. I don’t know if you’ve seen in last video, Tony’s got it on his some of his beds and it looks lovely. It looks like a nice green carpet on the beds. So, I’ll do the same hopefully. I love doing this, you know, just skimming it across and it completely covers the seed. And it’s just an easy way of sewing. There we go. I’d like to say this the last job. There’s not. This will brighten up the place. Anyway, I’m hoping two sacks should be enough one year. So, I need to do a top dressing and then I can do the rest then when we get them. Look at that. puts a smile on my face. I tell you, it really does. I am going to fix this bed like I said, but for now I’ll pop these hoops on just to put the icing on the cake and then I’ll build a new bed then as soon as I can. I absolutely love these hoops and most of them I bought myself. Some were gifted by First Tunnels. I’ll put a link to them in the description for you. Um there’s no affiliate to them for the hoops, but um if you are interested in them, I’ll pop a link in the description for you. Now, these ones are 3T wide. You can get 4 foot, 5 foot, and you can also buy extension poles, which I’ve got, which I’m going to put on the sprouts very soon. Um, they are an investment, but I’ve had some of these, for god, since I started the channel four years ago, and there’s not a speck of rust on them or damage, and they they definitely do the job. Well, I’m absolutely thrilled with that. Now, I mean, it definitely does, you know, set it up ready for spring. Garlic and your um green manure in that bed as well. And then who knows what that’ll be in spring, but I’m pleased these are done now. It just seems like there’s another tick off the list. And I’m happy that all the garlic is in now. Obviously, I still got to do some in modules. So, let me know in the comments what garlic are you doing this year? What garlic have you grown before and you’ve had huge success with? cuz I’m always looking for newer and better options through the years. So yeah, let me know in the comments. And the good thing about this now is that this is where I’m going to be walking most of the time. Ideally, I want to do this one as well cuz I do come down that path, but hopefully we’ll get some wood chip very soon. Right, before I forget, I’m going to get some leaks, swede, and calibos cabbage. And I also promised Linda some as well for a Sunday roast. So, get her a nice calabos cabbage now. Um, let’s have a look. There we go. Look at that. Now, calibothots are beautiful inside. Take off some of the leaves. Bear with me. [Applause] Look at that. Look at the color of that. It’s absolutely beautiful. So, calibos done. Let’s get another one. And some lovely sweds. I mean, look at those. They’ll be beautiful now roasted or mashed. So yeah, mine will be cubed up and boiled and put onto the plate for Sunday lunch. I’m on a nice chicken row. So one for me, one for Linda. Right, let’s get some leaks. I mean, look at that. They’re absolutely beautiful. These are the northern lights. They haven’t quite got that purple tinge yet, but there’s plenty growing. So, I’m sure she’ll be happy with some of those. So, if you haven’t got a poly tunnel or a greenhouse or potton shed, how do you manage, you know, at your growing space? Like, do you just give up for the winter and just go indoors and wait for spring or pot on your windowsill? Let me know. Um, yeah, because every growing space is completely different. I’ve still got piles of daffodils to go in and many other things, but I’m not putting the pressure on. I feel like I’m I feel like I’m ahead of the game already this year. I know the plot is looking messy in some areas, but we’re getting there. You know, I’m very happy that, you know, I’d say 60% of the plot now is ready for spring. Um there’s just certain areas especially where the the scary shed is that got to be knocked down and there’s a tree behind there like a um it’s not even a tree it’s just a stump and a lot of ivy and whatnot grow up all around it that needs to be taken down cuz I’m worried that once I take the shed down there’s not going to be no stability for that and then when the winds come that might come down and crash on things that are in the garden. So that’s also on the agenda. Um, but once all that gets done, you know, it’s it’s actually, you know, I’m in November now. I’ve still got November, December, January, February. I’ve got four months to go, and I’ve already done it within the last four, five weeks. So, yeah, I’m ahead of the game, I think. And I am sorry if the videos are a lot of preparing beds, digging beds, mulching beds, planting garlic, and, you know, green manure, but that’s just what happens. And you know, in October and November, I can’t change the way the gardening season is. You know, it can’t always be the most entertaining thing on the plot, but um I’m sorry anyway, but that’s just the way a lotment life is. And one of the next jobs to start looking at now is your strawberries, dividing them, digging them out of the bed if you’re not putting them in the same spot again. I’m going to start dividing mine up again in the baskets and put them in the poly tunnel, but again, I’m leaving that for a rainy day. And yeah, you know, that’s just one of the things I’m trying to do right now is I know I’m looking at the forecast and today was the only dry day we’ve had in two weeks and I’ve spent it at the plot because I want to try and get some of those jobs done, but I’m trying to hold back all the other jobs for the poly tunnel for when the storms come and yeah, strawberries are on the list next for the hanging baskets, I think. And then I should get them then earlier in the season. So, if you haven’t grown strawberries in hanging baskets and you’ve got a greenhouse or a poly tunnel, I highly recommend even if you’ve got some spare plants, pop them in some hanging basket with a little bit of well-rotted manure in in the bottom. And honestly, you will get them. I’m done for the day. I’m going to come back again tomorrow damage or because they’re hanging up high in the poly tunnel and they’re getting that nice heat through the day. I think that’s me done for the day, but I think I’m going to come back again through the week and carry on plotting on with the job. So, yes, the next time you see me should be now. So, it’s the next day and of course, the heavens opened up last night and it’s an absolute bog here. But I’ve come over because I thought I planted all my garlic. Now, I planned all the beds. Everything’s now done. But Tony over at But Tony C. Smith um promised me some G. Do you mind? But Tony C. Smith promised me some Mersley White. And I’ve been trying to get this for a few years. And every time I try and order it, it’s always out of stock. But um he sent me two cloves. So I’m going to find a spot for that now. Now there is a few possibilities for it. And also within a day the green garlic has come up over on the other bed. So perhaps I needed that boost of rain, you know. So yeah, within this bogggy mist, as you can see, we’ve got some life in this bed. So all the green manure is in this bed now seem to be um yeah, showing some life. It is deciding where to put it now. So let’s have a think. So, I have got a gap at the bottom of this leak bed here that I left, but the problem is um the leaks will be coming out before then and this probably could be used for something else. And I don’t just want to have a couple of garlic there. So, I think we’re going to put it on the other plot somewhere. Now, I have got this area here um spay. So, I think I’m going to put it here. I’ve got elephant garlic this side, but this side I’ve got nothing at the moment. So, it’s probably be wise to try and keep it together. There’s so many nesters through this bed. So, let’s just give it a little uh tickle over. There we go. Now, I’ve wanted to grow this for a while, and people have said that it grows so so well. So, I’m going to try and put a few in this bed now. These are decent sized cloves as well. So, yeah, I’m going to pop a few of these in the bed and hopefully we’ll get a lovely crop from them. Now, I’m not spacing them too close together. I want them to grow to a decent size and whatever ones I don’t use, I’ll pass on. I think I’m going to be inundated by garlic by summer, but that’s okay. That’s even better for me. But when I need space to grow other things later on, I might regret it. I need to um label these beds. So, I need to write up some of those labels because I’m definitely going to forget and it’s not like me to do it by now, but um I’m not going to remember. I know it. So, I better get that done straight away. And I’m just going to simply make a little hole and pop it in. This soil is quite free draining, so hopefully it’ll do well here. We shall see. Now, I am going to um top dress this with some manure or compost manure in the next week or so. And then this bed should be okay then for for the season. At least then I know that this bed is all garlic and I won’t have to change this bed over, you know. So, I’m going to move my bamboo again. So, elephant garlic there. Mly white here. Another job done. And I don’t know why I brought gloves. They never blooming listen. And I never do it. Why did I do that? Well, I’m glad now all the garlic is done and this will be the harvest for 2026. So, I’m kind of pleased now that all all the garlic’s in. I’m Danny and this is Grow