"November Garden"
This month, it's time to indulge in some dreaming, scheming and planning without guilt! Get hold of some seed catalogues and decide what's on the menu next year in the garden. How about changing the face of your outside space or adjusting it to suit your needs. There are so many themes and different ways you can make your garden work for you, as well as being a place of relaxation and fun. Here are a few ideas to mull over with a cup of mulled wine during the winter evenings....   November Garden - Planning your Herbs:A small space is all you need to grow the most wonderful aromatic and culinary herbs. Some herbs, such as mint, will be happy to grow in partial shade and don't need to comandeer the sunniest spot in the garden. Grow a selection of herbs you like to eat, and plan to use them. Herbs like to be used and tend to grow more when they are picked regularly, so a spot fairly near to the kitchen door is ideal. Of course, most herbs can be grown in containers or large pots, and many will grow happily on a windowsill. Herbs can be scattered around the garden and some are good bug repellents. Garlic is a herb, although often grown in lines as a vegetable crop and a few plants here and there in the garden will ward off all sorts of hungry predators. Grow basil with your tomato plants, so you never forget to pick it. Or create a stunning rock garden with herbs spreading over the rocks. Herbs are often grown in a particular design which is easy enough to create with a few bricks or wooden sleepers. If you use wood, use an organic wood preserver before putting in place.
If you haven't been growing any vegetables up until now, shame on you!! Even in a small garden, vegetables can be grown successfully. Tomatoes, strawberries and potatoes can all be grown in tubs and containers. Specially designed planters are now available in most garden centres. Or have a look online! There are lots of good cropping vegetables that don't take up much space. French beans grow in small bushy plants and produce more beans than you could possibly eat! A line of beetroot or carrots need very little space and look attractive around the edge of a flower bed. Plan a potager - the french developed this style of vegetable gardening. The idea is to create small regular beds and cram them with herbs and vegetable crops. You could even plan a specific area for every month's harvest, including your November garden! Thompson and Morgan are online award winning suppliers of seeds and other products and they have some great pictures to drool over! Try something completely different: butterfly gardens will attract wildlife, although perhaps shouldn't be placed too near the vegetable plot. Choose flowers that butterflies are attracted to. Remember to make sure there is always a little water available for the butterflies. Water garden: There is a lot to be said for water features in the garden. Although it seems like a new idea, feng shui enthusiasts will tell you that water has been a standard feature in oriental gardens for thousands of years. Water is soothing, relaxing and can be a beautiful and serene spot in your garden. Grow watercress or flowers that are happy to grow in wet land, to really make the most of it. Colours: Get creative with colours. Browsing through seed catalogues will give you an idea of the wonderful colours you can play with. Bright green parsley grows well around a small bed of red cabbages and looks simply stunning! Get creative with a potager :-) Or blend flowers, shrubs and herbs into your favourite colour scheme. Check on flowering and planting times before you make your final decision. Many flowers are edible and many herbs produce beautiful flowers, so the possiblities are endless. So with flowers, vegetables, fruit and herbs, as well as wildlife gardens and water features, there is so much you can do right now to prepare and plan for the ultimate in gardening experience next year. Enjoy! November Garden - Hands On: There are a few things to be doing outside though if you can dodge the mean weather.... * fix fences, hedgerows and paint sheds * prune shrubs * plant new trees * plant spring flowering bulbs * start planning for next year. Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. ("This wonderful book is a great help to starting your November garden planning!") Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense More Gardening Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - Your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/novembergarden.html |
Peppers 
Corn 
Tomatoes
radish 
lettuce 
Carrots