Friends of the Earth Cardiff Cyfeillion y Ddaear Caerdydd

View of an allotment in August. Photo: Lindsay Maiden, Cardiff Friends of the Earth.

October - the nights are drawing in and the wetter weather (thank goodness) is limiting time at the plot but there is still plenty to be done.

Jobs for October

Tidying up from the summer - dead tomato plants should be taken out, greenhouses cleaned down and the last of the fruits should be harvested.

• Save rain water in butts to reduce your use of tap water during the Summer months.
• Weed as often as possible. Hoeing the beds helps with this. Keep your hoe sharp for best results.
• If you haven't already done so, add a mulch to your beds to help retain water.
• Rake up falling leaves for compost.
• Get some horse manure and heap it up to rot down over the winter. Cover with a waterproof tarpaulin.
• Dig beds whilst the ground is not too sticky.
• Feed the birds and once you have started keep refilling the seed holders.
• Clear away any of the old plants such as the tomatoes and beans to prevent disease.
• Start storing the root vegetables and freeze the last of the peas and beans.
• Cut down the stalks for the Jerusalem artichokes and mark where they are so that you can harvest as and when needed.
• Plant garlic, spring cabbage, Japanese and Autumn onion sets.
• Lettuces and Rocket can be sown now which will provide you with healthy vitamin rich greens over the winter months.
• Sow broad beans and cover with cloches to improve germination.
• Keep strawberry baby plants produced from runners well watered.
• Prune your blackcurrants from now into December.
• Take cuttings of black, red and white currants now.

Got a few hours to spare? Go to the allotment pages at Cardiff Council and get an allotment.