Autumn gardening gather, snip and tidy

Late autumn to early winter sees the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ give way to the cleansing bite of winter chill. But although the pace of life may slow a little as temperatures dip, this is no time to step back from garden tasks.

IMPERFECTLY PERFECT

In warmer parts of the country, summer crops of aubergine, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are still hanging on. Although smaller than main season fruit, and showing signs of blemishes and the odd insect attack, they are still good value.

Avoid food waste by continuing to harvest, and ensure soil around the roots of plants remains damp but not moist. There is little point in feeding the soil at this stage but