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It’s so interesting working in a garden after the first frosts. You notice the scorched blackened wilted appearance of so many plants. But more amazing is those that have, temporarily, survived. It’s all about micro-climate. So pelargoniums in against a warm wall have found it easy to survive these first frost attacks though prolonged cold will get them eventually most years.

Oddly some of my pumpkin plants have survived till now while others not far away are withered - I suspect it is that the former are in the lee of a tall hedge which screens them from the early morning sun.

Apparently sudden de-frosting does more damage than slower. Certainly an old trick to preserve fruit blossoms was to hose them with cold water as then they suffered less than if exposed to the sudden warmth of the sun. All fine and good. But why on earth should the in a tall vase one side of my front door be scorched and the identical one next to it untouched? It’s hard to be sure. Perhaps the gushing warm air from the house envelops the stricken one while the outer, outward opening door shields the other. Maybe.

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Both vases have an Aloe vera plant surviving as yet. Last spring we had a Gardeners' Question Time questioner up north claiming his Aloe vera had come through last winter outdoors! Doubting the veracity but never having actually tested one I immediately planted several outdoors in different spots to see how they’ll react to this coming winter. I’ve my doubts but shall see.

I like ‘testing’ items that come up on GQT- one lady had a twelve foot Christmas tree in a foot pot! I have been torturing one since to see if I can replicate this feat. It survives the root bondage but does not grow nearly as high. I reckon some of my sunflowers nearly made twelve foot - my kids have of course been owning these and we’re saving seed so they can ‘grow’ them again next year. I’m clearing their stems - too big and thick to easily compost but rich in potash I would burn them however I’m putting them aside to weave into a wildlife wall instead.

The nasturtiums, last beans and other tender stuff are off to the compost heap as those frosts have stopped them. I’m taking the fleece off my cabbages as caterpillar damage is unlikely from now on. But I’m leaving the fleece over the carrots and adding to it that from the cabbages as two together will stop the carrots being easily frozen in. They’re much better this year than last - huge fat roots, especially the golden Yellowstone which are rivalling parsnips. Last year my carrots were poor so I sowed far more this spring in case, now I’ve a glut. As the potato crop was light they could substitute a bit; but you can only eat so much carrot mash or carrot chips. Still sticky carrot cake is gorgeous so I’m sure they’ll be utilised.

Bob Flowerdew is an organic gardener and panellist of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time

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