Vendange - our Grape Harvest

We inherited a vine when we moved here 7 years ago, at that time it wasn't productive, but it now seems to be responding to the TLC. You can see the pots full of grapes which we took to our friends' for treading and pressing. We now have a demi-john of red wine (OK grape juice just yet) starting to bubble away.

Topical tips

I have updated the column of advice (on the right) with some of the main autumn jobs in the vegetable garden, if you have some tips to share, let me know in a comment and I'll add them.

Pumpkins

Don't believe all those photos you see, here's one from our garden - the same one each time.

The horses have been busy

I don't think they bag it themselves, but here's a few of the 30 bags of rotted horse manure that will nourish the soil for a new year's growth. I usually don't apply till the spring, but I am going to put some on in the autumn/early winter (saving the bulk for spring), just to add some additional organic matter to the soil for overwinter, in the hope that it keeps the soil organisms happy, so when they get their spring application, they are already in a good mood.

Brussels Sprouts

The sprout plants (green and purple leaf varieties) are flourishing, despite the spell of dry weather (or perhaps because of it - keeping the slugs down). Behind them you can just see some curly kale and beyond, some celeriac peeping through.

Autumn Apple

The season of mellow fruitfullness wouldn't be complete without an apple picture would it?