Eynsford Gardeners' Club

December, December 

 

I find myself echoing Dr Seuss today…

 

How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon?’  

 

That’s exactly how I feel about this year, just where has all that lovely time gone as its ‘Goodbye November, hallo December’ far too soon.  Its also seem strange as I m writing this in November for December so I’m thinking forward to the AGM whereas you ll be reading this when it’s long past and you will be looking forward to Christmas. Confusing? Yes!  I am sure anyway the AGM was a lovely afternoon with everyone enjoying mince pies, wine and the craft stalls. I hope you all remembered to collect a hyacnth for the March show.  Congratulations to all the EGC prize winners and Eynsford in Bloom award winners. Well done all.

 

As we approach the longest night of the year it’s a quieter slumber of a month in the garden but a bit frantic indoors as Christmas prep starts with the cooking and decanting of the garden produce. Outdoor, I’m focusing on tidying, clearing out, keeping pests and disease at bay while making ready for the new season. There are practical and regular December tasks of course so if like me you havent yet had a greenhouse clean out. Its TIME!  Also wrap and protect any less hardy plants overwintering, cut back asparagus,  get onion sets ready for planting out, mulch the beds, pick and clear the root crops ready for Christmas dinner. If you have brassicas do keep an eye out for brown leaves and remove them (to prevent desease spreading), ditto indoors with the stored fruit and veg as having spent hours growing them the last thing you want is mold spoiling them.   

Whew when that’s all done sit down and have a cuppa and maybe admire the christmas roses or cyclamans that you planted for Christmas. Don’t overwater though as shorter, less warm days mean houseplants wont need so much liquid.  It might be brown out in the garden but I like plenty of green plants indoors throughout the winter to cheer me up and the white poinsettia which I ve planted is especially lovely. 

Winter is the time to really enjoy indoor activities such as crafting, there is so much to tempt one locally - pottery, glass, woodwork, painting. Doing them at home or with others in a class but either way its fun. Me, I ve a new sewing machine to become familiar with and hopefully to be making a few Christmas gifts with…

 

It's time to decorate the tree and house, Christmas has started when I ve made the wreath for the door, bottled up the Christmas gin and tasted that the Christmas chutneys made earlier in the year are ready for the day.  

 

However and where ever you spend your December enjoy. Merry Christmas and good gardening all.  

​

Jacky Smith