Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This time of the year when it’s all just a bit too cold, dark and brrrhhh, it’s very tempting for smallholders and allotment owners alike to get ’stuck’ in front of that log burner on those cold dark days, enjoying hearty food made from our own produce and perhaps partaking of our own home brews.

But there may be some tasks around your smallholding that you have overlooked. November is a good time to catch up, gale force winds and torrential rain this year permitting of course ; )

If the following jobs still need to be done, don’t put them off.  Putting in some hard work now will pay dividends come next year.

Collect any seeds that you want to have for next year.

I like to collect seeds from the lettuce plants that bolted after holding out the longest. I’ve kept a lovely variety of deep red cos going for several years, just by allowing it to be the only lettuce I let go to seed.

I also make sure that I bring those dried bean pods in before the mould and mildew take hold. My favorite called the “Heirloom” has a wonderful flavour.

Harvest the autumn crops:

Pull those garlic bulbs and hang them up to dry in a sheltered place. Do the same with any onions.

Dig up the potatoes. Don’t leave them out on the ground. Spread them out in a sheltered place and cover with burlap so they can dry completely. The less light they are exposed to, the fewer green potatoes you will have later.

Also, gather those Winter squash. Rub them down with a cloth dipped in a dilute Clorox® solution, then put away in a dark, cool place. Over-sized marrows will also store for months if sterilized in this way.

Start preserving.

Start turning your apples and pears into your own naturally sweet pie fillings. Try using fruit juice concentrates to intensify the natural fruit flavor. The websites at the end of this article offer some great info on creating your own natural pie fillings.

Turn those apples and pears into other delights as well—apple sauce, pear butter, cider.

Harvest your Autumn herbs—thyme, oregano, rosemary, winter savory, etc. Be sure to hang them in a warm place or dry in a food dehydrator.

Prepare your garden for next year.

Add a layer of compost to all your garden beds. That way the compost won’t be hot in the spring when you go to plant. It will also minimize weed growth.

Prepare at least one cold frame. Make sure that you have at least 18-inches dug out below the ground. Then add a 6-inch layer of uncomposted manure, such as cow dung, chicken manure, sheep droppings or horse manure. Add a 12-inch layer of compost above this. You can plant lettuce, spinach, kale and other greens in the cold frame this month, and harvest greens all winter long. The manure at the very bottom will keep the bed warm for several months.

Wrap your fruit tree’s trunks with burlap or tree wrap to protect the trees from winter freeze and thaw cycles.

Give your fruit trees their first spray of dormant spray.

Clean up.

Clean the chicken coop. Chickens tend to molt around this time of year, so it’s a good time to make sure that their environment is clean.

Clean up any leaves and fallen fruit from underneath your fruit trees. This will prevent harmful pests from overwintering and damaging next year’s fruit crop.  

Still looking for Your Smallholding?  Visit Greenshifters for the latest smallholdings for sale, rent and exchange.

Click on the links below for more info on creating your own pies and pie fillings:

Jamie Oliver on assembling fruit pies

Recipes for creating your own naturally sugar free pie fillings

A delicious pie recipe using Autumn fruits

Lots of tried and tested fruit pie recipes with ratings

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine