The interesting thing about gardening is that you can immerse yourself in your own little world when weeding, sowing seeds, pricking out seedlings, pruning and the other many jobs we gardeners do during the growing year. Yet most of us are not antisocial, we like to talk about gardening and help out fellow gardeners whether that is by using muscle power or by giving advice.

I have been writing this diary for quite some time now and have received many emails requesting help. The nice thing is I have also received numerous emails in praise of the content and suggestions when I have mentioned problems.

A case in point this week is an email received from someone who has noted that sometimes I have had trouble finding the seed of Tomato Harbinger, my favourite flavoured tomato. This is not an F1 hybrid and I know I should collect me own seed but many is the time that they have all been devoured before I notice that the last one has disappeared! Dr Frank Lea of Creative Mindpower wrote offering to send me two packets of seed that he had spare. They have arrived through the post. Thank you Frank, the seeds are most gratefully received and I can assure you that your kindness will be appreciated when the fruits ripen.

Autumn this year was very short. Fortunately I did manage to prepare the garden for winter faster than normal. One of my daughters really caught the gardening bug this summer and has been a great help. Her enthusiasm took her out into the garden even when the temperatures were dropping. It started to get difficult to find her enough jobs to do at the weekend! The great thing is I only have to explain what to do once and she is away, I just leave her to get on with it.

With a harsh winter coming so early, I would not have been able to lift all my tender perennials give protection to those plants and shrubs that are borderline hardy. There is no doubt that I would have lost the lobelia that I sowed this year and have nurtured to a healthy size this summer. 

The one thing that is late this year is my favourite seed catalogue. It is such a pleasure on cold dark winter evening browsing through the pages and imagining the flower displays and vegetables maturing next summer.

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• How to Vegetable Garden - How to vegetable garden each month of the year with hints and tips on a variety of vegetables