Frost Hardy Caterpillars

The frosts are not putting off the caterpillar invasion on our broccoli

December. The wind blows, the rain falls and frost kills off the tender annuals in the hanging baskets. Regardless of all of this activity in the garden, our broccoli plants are being munched by a plague of caterpillars.  I’m not sure how they are doing this, maybe they slowly crawl and hide in the compost bin every evening and come out the following day when the air warms up.  Maybe not, but I can’t think how else the frost doesn’t blow them up like a balloon and pop them.  There are plenty of greens to go around so I am just letting the few hardy friends take what they want and we will enjoy what’s left in early spring when the pickings are slim.  I could always sneak the caterpillars into a stir fry when no-one was looking for a bit of winter protein.  I’m sure we have eaten hundreds over the years.

Caterpillars are not the only things to go into the compost bin at this time of year. I have noticed that most of the drains around the house are clogged up with rotting leaves. It shouldn’t take too long to collect them up in a bucket and add them to the bin.  If you decide to check yours, have a look at the insulation on any outside taps whist you are passing to check they are well insulated when the harder frosts hit.  We were caught out a couple of years ago with a burst pipe and that one was in our garage behind the sink!  You can never have too much insulation, check for tiny gaps and if possible make a cover for the tap.  You can buy tap covers from DIY shops made from polystyrene. They cost about 10 pounds so if you can make one out of some packing from any old materials inside a box left over from the latest electrical purchase then you will save a bit of money.

Other things to do in the Winter Garden

Buy pots of small, early-flowering bulbs such as winter aconite, snowdrops and hardy little Cyclamen. Plant these around the base of winter-flowering shrubs for added colour.

 Winter-hardy primroses are effective planted beside a path, in front of your seat or in a trough near the house to bloom through to spring. Ornamental winter cabbage looks good too and gives the slugs something to eat over winter and maybe even the caterpillars if they stay out of the frost!

Planting up Containers

Plant up one or more patio containers, using small upright conifers, variegated trailing ivies, small skimmia and winter-flowering heathers for a long-term effect, with pots of small bulbs popped in between which can be exchanged with more pots of bulbs as their flowers fade.

Have a good look at stakes and supports for climbing plants to check if any need replacing.

Take hardwood cutting. Most shrubs will take if you cut a twig about a foot long from mature wood. Plant in the garden by making a slit with the spade and simply leave until next summer. Dig up and transplant into the final position where it is to grow.

Wallflowers can be planted now. They can be pruned back every year. Even though they are classed as biennials, they will give years of blooms if they are cut back after they flower.

Nerine bulbs are still looking good at this time of the year. If you want to dig some of these up from your friends garden then ensure that you don’t disturb the roots when you dig up a clump, as they don’t like being moved. Wait until the foliage has died down before you attempt this.

Cover Up

If you have a no dig policy in your vegetable garden then cover any bare soil with carpet or mulch such as straw. This will stop any nutrients being washed away in adverse weather and will give you a weed free bed to sow the spring crops.

Service the Mower

Get the lawnmower serviced. If you are handy with the spanner then get cracking and get the mower ready for winter. Empty the petrol out, as it can get slimy if it’s left for too long. Check the spark plug and filters and change if necessary. The blades might need sharpening as well. If you are in any doubt then take it to a repair shop. It will be better to do this now than having to join the queue in spring.

Order Seeds

Plant and seed catalogues should be coming through the letterboxes if you are on company’s mailing lists and now would be a great time to look through them and plan what you want to order next year. Most companies have an online brochure now.  It’s nearly the same as flicking through the pages in front of the fire and you also have the facility to check other stockists with the click of a button.  Christmas shopping was never easier!