Survived Storm Austen - Musa Basjoo Update - Protection Cornwall Only !

 

                                                      Musa basjoo

We survived ! ⛈️😱🌧️I checked all around the cottage this morning and everything looks a bit battered but o.k as far as I can see .

So my Musa basjoo is about three years old now and this will be it's second winter planted outside . It is the (for Cornwall) left in the ground most hardy one !

It came through the terrible Storm Gorretti earlier this year ,with a simple cloche over it held down by bricks .

This year it is quite a bit taller . I fixed up a double row of pig-wire and plastic trellis fastened down with some metal rods . 

I placed three old compost bags in between them as a windbreak . 

I thought that would do it ...but as the storm winds picked up I decided it needed something more !

                              I pushed Rosie up alongside . 

That is one heavy wheelbarrow . I can hardly manage to push it even when she's empty !

So after one very wild night , I can see that the biggest leaves have shredded in the wind . . . but they are designed to shred in the wind . The two new leaf shoots look fine . 

 I will see if I can make the windbreak a bit taller . As it gets colder and those shredded leaves wither away , I,ll then be able pull a cloche over the top  of it . We have milder winters here ( though you still need to wrap up warm ) and when the winter sun shines it would not be good for it to have the cloche over it all of the time .

Generally the older and bigger the plant is , the more hardy it will be over the winter months .

You might be lucky , leaving these in the ground , but far safer to take them up and get them under shelter .

    Musa ensete "Maurelii" are all potted up in lovely fresh compost and dragged into the woodshed . I did this on the 23rd September so that they have time to adjust and get their roots down before going dormant .

 I will lash on polystyrene all around the tubs as the weather turns colder .

                                        Snug as a bug in a rug !

It is still blustery here and I think Storm Boelo will be causing havoc up north this time .

       I have just hung some washing on the line , double pegged everything !

Take care in these Storms , especially on the roads,  stay home if you can .

                             Love and Peace 🕊️🤍

                                         love Debbie 💐x

Still Waiting for Storm Austen - Getting prepared ⛈️🍁🍂

 Torches , matches and candle lanterns on the table .... Ricardo made a delicious spaghetti bolognese and cooked up extra mince to have as a shepherd's pie tomorrow ...possibly cold if the power goes off in the storm ....still delicious !  

 Storm Austen is expected to hit at around 3am tomorrow morning . We are on the Lizard Peninsula  .  So it is very likely going to be a very rough night . 

We have been busy putting away the garden furniture ....dragging in the big furniture into the garage and this table and chairs I managed to squeeze into the greenhouse and I might get a few more plants in there  .

I dragged the Spuds in Tubs under cover in the woodshed . Some of these potatoes will be used on tomorrow's Shepherd's Pie . 

I reorganised the woodshed and was delighted to find a nice pile of kindling that I'd forgotten about . I filled my basket .

  I'll light the fire later on , to get the cottage cosy and warm before the storm .

And now we are being told that there is another storm coming in , straight after Storm Austen ..... Storm Boelo .

I think we are as ready as we can be now .

 

I think pretty much everywhere in the U.K. will be feeling the wrath of this storm , so take care and keep safe .

                        Peace and Love 🕊️🤍

                                   Love Debbie 💐 x

Waiting for Storm Austen 🍁🍂⛈️

                      

                                           No gardening today .

                      Having a restful day. Doing a bit of patchwork . 

          There's a storm coming in tonight .  Hope it won't be too bad .

                      Lit the fire for the first time this Autumn . Cosy .

                                        Peace and Love  🤍🕊️

                                   love and hugs Debbie 💐  x