I have been busy giving the pergola and the outside of the potting shed some attention since my column in August.
I like having some structures and hard landscaping in a garden, but they do, of course, require maintenance to remain looking good.
The potting shed is very much my domain, a haven if you will, where I can retreat away from the mad world from time to time and simply potter.
The pergola is as much for visitors as it is for myself.
It is a lovely place to sit and simply be in the garden, and I can often be found doing just that.
It is also very handy when family and friends visit as I can entertain them outdoors rather than have them making the house untidy.
As we head into late summer we are entering bulb planting season.
I will be planting some daffodil bulbs in the border under the cherry tree to add some early season colour to that patch.
I will also plant Narcissi Minnow and miniature iris in pots.
I like the smaller bulbs in pots as you can place them where you like as a little feature pot whilst the bulbs are in full bloom, and once they're finished, you can move the pot to somewhere out of sight whilst the foliage dies back naturally.
These smaller bulbs in pots, they grow no more than six to eight inches in height, can be sat in the centre of a table, for example, and create a beautiful little splash of colour in late winter and early spring.
I have harvested the mashed potato squashes I was growing and it was a fair crop of 12 squash in total; they are being 'cured' for a couple of weeks before storing.
You cure a squash to harden its skin and help it last in storage.
Cut the squash from the vine using clean, sharp secateurs, leaving a couple of inches of 'T' shaped stem attached.
Place the squash in a warm, dry, sunny, and well-ventilated area, such as a greenhouse, or on a sunny windowsill to cure.
Store the cured squash in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space without the fruits touching.
I find the potting shed or garage work well.
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- Martin Girdwood is an enthusiastic amateur gardener.
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