Issue 26Editor's Welcome

EDITOR'S WELCOME
Image with black borderHow welcome were those few days of warm sunshine in September? I think that was it for this year’s summery weather although I am still holding out for an Indian summer which is defined as a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. I won’t hold my breath.
There is still lots of life left in the garden yet and Rona Dodds concludes her four issue seasonal plant recommendations in this issue with some gorgeous picks - be sure to get along to Quercus Garden Plants before it closes for the season at the end of October.
This time of year sees the leaf colour changing and the last of our harvests ripening, and there is so much seasonal inspiration ahead from making the most of fallen leaves from Katrina Gelderbloem, and overwintering pepper plants from Eli Appleby-Donald, to making soups and apple sauerkraut from Dina Watt and Janice Clyne with all our wonderful harvests. We’ve got some inspirational pictures to share from our readers too on some of their successful harvests from this year.
Autumn gardens are a joy of colour and texture and Discover Scottish Gardens offer suggestions of gardens to visit where you can make the most of winter colour across Scotland, we visit a community-led restored rose garden in Fife, and look at the daffodil legacy at the National Trust for Scotland’s Greenbank Garden as they get ready to sow spring bulbs.
And just as you are getting ready to sow your own spring bulbs Katie Reynolds offers her suggestions for year round bulb planting, and we recommend bulbs for a moist garden.
There’s lots of practical advice in this issue from sowing a green manure over winter on your veg beds, and Olivia Thomas’ guide to putting the cutting garden to bed, to Livingreen's deep dive into tanker irrigation as seen at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. There are also projects to think about like making a hydrangea wreath, sowing paper white daffodils indoors for a Christmas display, getting started with hydroponic growing based on Karen Stewart-Russell’s own experience, and news of seed saving and seed swapping initiatives all over the country.
And just in time for the spooky season, we look at pumpkin picking patches around Scotland, whilst Jordan Trainer brings you his top list of gothic houseplants for something a little different.
As if that wasn’t enough, series 7 of the ‘Scotland Grows Show’ has just launched with some truly fascinating conversations coming up. The first episode focuses on Scotland’s rich apple heritage with some great advice on growing apples at home, and there’s lots more to come on alpine plants, winter gardens to visit, and what you can be doing in the garden during winter. Between Scotland Grows Magazine, podcast, website, and newsletter you should never be stuck for a fix of Scottish gardening goodness.
M.T. O’DonnellEditor
Got thoughts on how we should evolve Scotland Grows magazine? Reach out by email or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn! We would love to hear from you, and you can hear more from us on the Scotland Grows Show - it's another great way to dig deep into what's going on in Scottish gardening.Scotland Grows 26NavigationContentsEditor's WelcomeNational Trust for Scotland ROOTSWhat's Gorgeous in the GardenScotland Grows Show PodcastAwesome Autumn GardensWhat's On In ScotlandMake Fallen Leaves Your Garden FriendsClayton's BookPumpkin Picking Patches Across ScotlandReduce Pumpkin WasteMake a Hydrangea WreathPutting the Cutting Garden to BedOverwintering DahliasOverwintering Bell PeppersDaffodils for DecemberScotland Grows Reader FeedbackBringing Back the RosesFeature Your GardenTanker IrrigationGrow Your BusinessGarden Boosting BulbsGreenbank GardenTulip Planting Time3 Moisture Loving BulbsReaders Garden PicturesScotland's Apple Heritage PodcastApple Caraway SauerkrautPumpkin PowerSoothing SoupWhat is Green Manure?Bringing Back Local Seed VarietiesHydroponic GrowingCome and Chat About PlantsWinter Gathering 2024SGF ConferenceGrow a CareerScotland Grows websiteOne Garden ThingGo Gothic with HouseplantsGardening NewsAsian HornetGarden Jobs AheadScotland Grows SubscriptionA Goldmine of LeafmouldNext Issue advertArchives