Welcome to the latest news-post with our Head Gardener Bryony Middleton

Here she welcomes a new face, and talks about her plans to slow down and reflect.

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Autumn brings endings...and beginnings

As the Autumnal weather is drawing in we are harvesting pumpkins, pulling out tomatoes and planting up the glasshouse with salad crops like mustards, winter lettuce and herbs like coriander and parsley.

I found the germination of the coriander and parsley wasn't good in the hot summer months, but now it's doing fine and we will plant out the seedlings in a week or so to grow happily over the winter and provide the chefs with a bit of zing and fresh vitamins for the dishes.

The alliums are doing really well in the garden too, we have a lovely patch of leeks coming on and will be planting out autumn-sown onions and garlic to overwinter. 

In the rest of the grounds, we are preparing ourselves for re-seeding patches of the lawns, leaf-clearing and winter pruning. Never have I looked forward to the winter so much, as the colder days will (i hope) allow time to slow down for reflection, planning and making the garden as productive and as beautiful as possible. 

Autumn is also a time for some goodbyes and new beginnings. Luca Middleton has worked in the garden with us for over a year, completing our 1-year apprenticeship in January 2018 and staying on for an extra 6 months.

He has put so much hard work and humour into the garden and will be thoroughly missed, but we send him on his way with developed skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to continue his gardening career.

Meanwhile we welcome Amy Cairns, who has just joined as new garden apprentice. Amy brings with her a wealth of knowledge from working in community food-growing projects in Bristol and will be getting to know and tend to the Sharpham grounds with the Head Gardener over the next year alongside studying at South Devon College. Gratitude and best of luck to you both!

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Find out more about Sharpham's gardens here