31st October 2018 Autumn, Featured

After a gorgeous summer and early autumn, we suddenly have wintry weather. However it’s also continuing to be dry here with just 60mm/2.4in rain in October. That makes 299mm/12in rain since April, w

14th October 2018 Autumn

Autumn has brought just 41mm/1.6in rain here so far in October, encouraging new growth but not yet enough to soak into the soil, which is still  dry below 4-6in/10-15cm. The average temperature has b

30th September 2018 Autumn

Quite soon the switch flicks and the last joys of summer cede to cooler and above all darker days. We have had many cool nights already and some ground frost, then many days of sunshine and temperatur

15th September 2018 Autumn

If you have not already sown salads for cropping undercover through winter and into spring, NOW is the moment. So they have time to establish before winter, make decent roots then crop in cool weather

31st August 2018 Autumn

September looks dry for much of the UK: no dig means easier watering, see below. There are still plantings for outdoor veg and sowings for veg under cover. August gave welcome rain at times, 85mm/3.4i

14th November 2017 Autumn

Will it be a cold winter? Too early to say but the vegetables are telling us that winter has arrived.

30th October 2017 Autumn

There are many lovely harvests to make in November, and much to learn from how things have grown this year. The main sowing is broad beans, from now in colder areas until mid or late November in south

16th October 2017 Autumn

We have been clearing and planting under cover, making many harvests and filming for videos plus TV. I enjoyed working with the makers of Croatian programme Vrtlarica, about healthy living and food gr

1st October 2017 Autumn

Vegetables and apples are maturing ahead of normal. This makes some harvests for winter storage more difficult, such as hearted cabbages that are already fully developed and need cutting, in the warmt

15th September 2017 Autumn

The weather has been difficult but manageable, apart from damage to climbing beans. Leafy crops have enjoyed the rain and lack of sun more than fruiting ones. However September’s second half looks q

31st August 2017 Autumn

New season and Homeacres news – autumn is near and we need to prepare. Make new sowings, continue weeding and tidying including old brassica leaves and leek rust, watch for pests and tomato blig

16th November 2016 Autumn

In this darkening time of year, a path to good cheer is out in your plot, absorbing as much light as you can, harvesting, weeding, and mulching ground for next year. See the last section for detail