On Saturday, kitted out in my new stripy pinny, I tackled a job that I have been putting off… getting the limery sorted for winter.
Now that the temperatures have dropped, we’re not spending so much time out there – although it’s an excellent location for hand sewing as the light is so good. We are tending to drink our morning coffee in the kitchen and most of the plants that filled the space have died or died back, although the citrus trees are now in there after their summer outside and there’s one tomato plant that’s still surviving.
There were two main jobs that needed doing: cleaning and cutting back. I like to give the pepper plants a chance to survive the winter (although it’s a bit hit and miss), but they need to be pruned back. Some of the carnivores die back, and it’s important to keep them tidy and not swamped by decomposing leaves. So, all the peppers were chopped back to stems, the insectivorous plants cleaned up and I put all of them outside in the sunshine whilst I gave the windows and sills a thorough cleaning (mainly with white vinegar).
Finally, everything was returned to the limery and a few of the potted herbs were brought in – rosemary (I tend to lose this outdoors over the winter), sage and oregano – as well as the (still small) tea plant. The passion fruit was already nice and tidy, so I think we are all set for a period without much growth of anything.
It feels like winter is really here, although I remind myself that it’s only about six weeks before I’ll have to get the propagator out for sowing the 2017 peppers and chillies, which just goes to show how the limery has extended our gardening year!
Oh and remember, if you want to have a chance of winning my little crochet decorations, you need to leave a comment on last Thursday’s post telling me what’s making you smile this week (a ‘like’ won’t do).
The Snail of Happiness 
Nice piece of work
/ November 29, 2016Your passion fruit looks lovely – have you seen it flower yet, or is it still too young? I inherited one in the front garden – can’t take my eyes off those bizarre flowers and bulging green fruit!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016It did flower over the summer, but sadly didn’t set any fruit… since it’s indoors I think it might have not been pollinated, so next year I’ll be tickling it with a paintbrush!! There’s a picture of one of the flowers in this post: https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2016/05/05/passion-in-the-limery/
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Nice piece of work
/ November 29, 2016Good grief! Either your’s isn’t a passion fruit, or mine isn’t!!!!!! I’ll send you a pic later – my flowers are nothing like that!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016Apparently there’s loads of different varieties. This one is a Red Banana Passion Fruit – which is supposed to have really delicious fruit… I hope to find out one day!
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Nice piece of work
/ November 29, 2016mine is like this: http://www.123rf.com/photo_41812333_agriculture-field-passion-fruit-is-nutrition-vietnam-fruit-rich-vitamin-c-healthy-food-creeper-with-.html
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016yes, that’s one too. we have one of those in the garden where it’s too cold and wet ever to fruit. Fingers crossed though that the one in the limery eventually does its stuff!
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Nice piece of work
/ November 29, 2016Gosh, I can’t believe the flowers are so different. I’ve only ever seen this kind in Cape Town. But as long as the fruit’s good, right…. 🙂
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insearchofitall
/ November 29, 2016I still have a couple of plants to put into the plastic, portable greenhouse and get a light hooked up for heat. We will be getting freezing temps in the next week. Nothing to the extent you have but it works. Winter is on it’s way. Looks like you are ready now.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016Right here by the coast we mainly stay above freezing, but the past few nights have seen unusually hard frosts.
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katechiconi
/ November 29, 2016I wonder if my perennial capsicum would over-winter in the Engilsh climate… Maybe i should send you some seeds. I’ve just taken another big crop off it and it’s chest high now…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016Wow -they don’t always survive, but I have kept them going some winters… I’m hoping the limery will provide appropriate conditions. I didn’t really try last your – just ignored a few plants which then all died… I’m hoping that a bit of careful nurturing with controlled watering will mean at least some of them make it through this time.
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nanacathy2
/ November 29, 2016All snug for winter. Not long before the days start to get longer.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016I can’t believe how close we are to the solstice… I’m sure it was September just last week.
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painterwrite
/ November 29, 2016I have my own citrus “grove” I bring inside during the winter (okay, it’s two very small trees) along with a plumeria I adopted from Hawaii and a dwarf pomegranate I couldn’t resist…the top of the washing machine gets a bit crowded this time of year.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016Our washing machine is a bit unstable for that – it has a habit of migrating across the room when it spins!
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painterwrite
/ November 30, 2016Well, that might save the work of turning the plants every now and then so they get even amounts of light! 😂😂
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anne54
/ November 29, 2016Nothing like a good clean up and sort out, ready for the next season. Your limery was such a brilliant idea!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 29, 2016I can’t believe how useful it has turned out to be… and it’s a great place for drying washing in the winter too!
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anne54
/ December 2, 2016Such a sustainable resource 🙂
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davidprosser
/ November 30, 2016The limery seems to be providing all the miracles you hoped it would. I’m so pleased. May the next season be better still.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 30, 2016I do hope so. How are you feeling now, David? On the mend I hope.
xxx hugs xxx
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