What’s the weather like in your region? I am a little bit obsessed with that marvellous subject: weather. Maybe I am feeling a little bit under the weather.
But I digress … do you enjoy a lovely autumn with its vivid colours and is the cold season approaching like here in Switzerland? Or warm and sunny – lucky you!
Is mid October the ideal planting time? Depends … I can hear you!
Anyways, yesterday I dug a deep deep hole in the garden:
a hole deep enough to sink a ship in
What is this meant for? We had had a very harsh winter two years ago and my bay tree did not survive weeks of temperatures below -15° C and more.
my beautiful bay tree (not so beautiful anymore)
A wise old gardener one told me to give a tree or bush a chance of two years to recover from frost. As you can see it did not recover.
the replacement
I grew a replacement on my terrace and had planned to put it in the garden in spring. But by then, the strawberries and other crawlers were in bloom and I did not want to forego a plentiful harvest (5 berries of which 4 fell victim to slugs).
in its new home
I am happy to say that my fig tree has recovered and is doing better. There is even a chance that I will harvest some figs next year.
Morale I: give a second chance to everything.
Morale II: not everything deserves a second chance
but you will only know it afterwards.
Comments 20
Hi Barbara! You can grow figs where you are!? Wow! And pardon my ignorance but is this bay tree where the bay leaves we use for cooking come from? I never really thought about it but I thought they came from bushes, I guess!
Our growing season is giving way to a harvest time. Today my husband gathered fruit of the harvest and arranged a beautiful display. I will send it to you! Soon he will begin to put the flower planters away and finally the lawn furniture, all in preparation for winter. I’m ok with it – I love the darker, cozier time of year as much as I love summer – possibly even more!
And I do still become so excited with the first snowfall! 😉
Do you dry those figs to preserve them or make jam with them, or both?
Fall is fast approaching here. I’m enjoying the cool weather. I hope you get figs soon!! I’ll have to remember this when I’m debating on giving a second chance.
Lori Hi Lori! Those fig bushes are rather sturdy and quite forgiving, except for minus temperatures! The same goes for the laurel. Not knowing does not equal ignorance, remember that post I wrote about the vineyard peaches? Normally the bay spreads by growing new sprigs from the roots, hence the bush like appearance. I did some trimming to leave place for other plants beneath it. You can see that in the third picture: new bay sprigs and a “wild” physallis are growing in the same pot (came out of my compost). I use bay leaves for cooking in practically everything: soups, roasts, chutneys, ketchup and even jams.
I make fig mustard with the figs, I am not that fond of sweet jam and rarely eat it. This is a reason why I started with chutneys and now my jams taste a little bit like chutneys minus the sour taste and less spicy.
I used to like the darker time of year, not any longer though. I have given up skiing years ago and quite frankly I prefer a hot climate. Maybe it would be different if I lived in it all year round and would then yearn for snow and rain. Who knows?
What did your husband grow, you have told me about the maple syrup. Looking forward to see the display, Lori!
Have a sunny and rosy day!
mandasachs Hi Amanda! It seems like everybody loves the cold weather except me! Next year for the figs – I have learnt some patience with my gardening experiences and gained deep insights on second chances 😉
Late_Bloomers Hi Barbara! I just emailed the photo to you!
Happy Monday!
Lori
Lori Late_Bloomers Hi Lori! Where? It must be swimming all the way across the ocean!
Happy Tuesday!
Barbara
I love my garden and am having a fall garden this year to extend the garden time. It is so much easier to keep up with weeds in the fall. It has not dropped below the 60’s here so everything is still safe. I was always advised to put plants/trees in the ground in Spring to give them time to let the roots grow and be strong before the winter. Wishing you a fruitful fall =)
The weather is perfect here – high 60s – low 70s – the leaves on the trees are just beginning to turn for fall. We always go driving through the mountains just north of us this time of year. LOVE October!
We are feeling cool weather…ranging from low 30’s to low 60’s. Feels great! Hope you get some figs soon.
Lori Late_Bloomers Got it in the meantime and I love the arrangement, you are one lucky lady!
HeatherJabusch Hi, Heather! What exactly is a fall garden? Are you planting something special to bloom or harvest in fall? Interesting. Yes, I agree with you on planting in spring but I did not want to disturb all the other plants as they were quite fragile yet. Well, we will see and in any case I hope for a mild winter. The bay tree has strong roots as I had it on my terrace for three years. And I have yet to harvest my chillies: bountiful and colourful. And would you believe it: they are still making blossoms. No wonder with the crazy weather we have had this year. Wishing you a fruitful fall (love your expression!) as well and tons of preserves for winter.
knikkolette Ah, you make autumn sound marvelous, Knikkolette! And I really like the foliage colours but not the cold temps and the threatening winter …
ScottGlaze Help, I am surrounded by people who love cold weather! Ah, the figs, only next year, Scott, I could send you some … It is a pity though as the fig tree produced lots of tiny fruit but they will not reach a mature state, poor things.
Well, you are so ahead of me, Barbara. All my plants seem to die when I try to take care of them. There must be something wrong with me!
JSJ2020 Not at all, Muriel, but I only look at those surviving! I might have done the most stupid thing planting the bay tree NOW but I try to be optimistic and hope for a mild winter. I think we are all owed one, no?
How is your daily blogging challenge going? I will visit later.
Late_Bloomers HeatherJabusch Our fall garden is of broccoli, lettuce and carrots. We even still have some cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes that we are hoping will harvest. There are others like cabbage and greens but those are the only ones we like.
HeatherJabusch Late_Bloomers Got it, Heather, thanks! Would love some sweet potatoes to match it with pumpkin for a delicious soup or gratin – mhhh, I am hungry! Salad for lunch today!
I love the fall; the gradual cooling of the air. However I do hate the cold and flu season that comes with it. *sigh* As for planting, you are very lucky. Apart from me having a black thumb, our HOA and some know-it-all neighbors can’t seem to run out of things to complain about, including things you plant in your OWN garden/lot. Oh well…..
jpage.manuel Hi Joy, we always want what we do not have, and when we have it, we do not want it any longer (this is a song I remember from my youth, must have heard it a lot!).
As for neighbours you have my full sympathy, I have had my share of well meant remarks about how to do things when I had an allotment (did not last long).
Happy weekend!
On some mornings, we can feel a hint of cooler air behind the early heat, and we know that the best time of year in South Florida is not far away. Highs 83F (28C) and lows 72F (22C) still. But coming soon is the time when we can work in our gardens and do all the outdoor chores that normally would leave us perspiring in 5 minutes … so, while your temps and ours are likely very different, Fall is gardening time!