Margaret Penfold's Garden Journal for October 2006

No frosts this month. Warm weather and plenty of moisture has kept the trees green and the dahlias superb throughout the month

I have had a bunper crop of both eating and cooking apples.

Sungold, in , particular has been magnificent in size and flavour. I have had one or two for breakfast most mornings, chopped up and mixed with yoghurt or covered with fruit juice. If I have only had one I have mixed it with an oat cereal and poured on skimmed milk.

The raspberry, Joaan, didn't come into full fruit until the middle of the month and even then many raspberries will fail to ripen unless November is as exceptionally warm as this October has been. The fruit I have had has been large and of good quality and flavour.

The tomatoes have gone on until the end of the month

Much of the digging in the vegetable garden has been done