1st December 2025
December 1st is meteorologically the first day of winter and it certainly feels like it at Hindringham with driving rain and gale force winds.
The Vegetable Garden is still producing cabbages, leeks, cauliflowers, salad and beetroot. The very fine net we put over the cabbages has worked well and protected them from caterpillars. There is a little chard and some perpetual spinach.
The sprouting broccoli is about 4ft tall in the fruit cage and we will be looking forward to eating that in the Spring. The rest of the garden has had the old vegetation removed and the soil turned over.
Tomatoes and Chilli have been removed from the Greenhouse; green tomatoes stored in brown paper bags where they will ripen, and their foliage composted. It is now home to the tender plants and the Cymbidiums which have spent the summer outside and will be brought into the Hall when the buds appear.
The flower borders have been cut down and we have started pruning the roses. We always try to do this before Christmas as Feb/March is a very busy time in this garden.
Our main task currently is taking out the very old hedging on the boundary and replacing with beech whips. This will then match with the areas we replaced about 4 years ago which are now 4ft high. We removed the old hedging with machinery and then dug out any remaining roots. We use a sheet of geotex (to supress the weeds) which we pin down then double plant into. Finally we add supports and rabbit guards for each whip. Later we will add a perforated hose in the middle of the two lines as there is a big danger of underwatering in the first few years of growth.
Great flocks of jackdaws and rooks are flying overhead and the lambs have been moved to the Car Park in preparation for their trip to the great pasture in the sky. The Heron still visits as well as lots of lovely Tits and Robins always appear where we are working. We frequently see Squirrels including one which seems to have lost it tail.
Time to pick the ivy and Holly and use the dried Hydrangea heads with Honesty to start on the Christmas decorations.
Wishing you all that you would wish yourselves-
STAY HEALTHY and GOOD GARDENING
Lynda Tucker
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