Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 i Kitchen Garden

No I’m not hiding! I'm making a video about grease bands on apple trees. Watch it on our YouTube channel There is a very definite nip in the air now that tells us autumn has well and truly set in. It’s always sad to be thinking about battening down the hatches in the garden for the cold weather ahead, but with a new season comes new opportunities. Although pickings undoubtedly slow down in the autumn and winter, things on the veg plot are far from quiet. Some crops thrive in cold weather and, for garlic, it is prime time for planting. Deputy editor Emma Rawlings reveals her favourite varieties and how to get the best out of your crop this season. We also have a great feature from heritage veg…

POPPY SEEDS IN AID OF THE RHC Having raised £63,000 from the sale of poppy ‘Victoria Cross’ and sweet pea ‘Scarlet Tunic’ since 2014, Suffolk seed specialist, Mr Fothergill’s, hopes gardeners will continue to support the work of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (RHC) by growing the poppy again in 2018. Mr Fothergill’s joint managing director, David Carey, said: “We are proud to be supporting the Royal Hospital Chelsea and pleased to see so many gardeners joining with us to do that. While the centenary draws to a close in 2018, our close links with the RHC will see us supporting their important work for many years to come.” Poppy ‘Victoria Cross’ makes a fitting remembrance symbol with its bold white ‘crosses’ across single red flowers. Easy to grow and quick to flower…

VARIETY ON TRIAL Tomatoes are our favourite veg, so it should be no surprise that the seed and young plant catalogues are bursting with them. Last year I was lucky enough to be invited to a tomato day held by a well-known seed company at which we had the chance to taste-test literally dozens of varieties new and old. A surprising number, especially some novelties, were pretty horrible, although a few were very nice, I hasten to add. Growing a tomato takes a whole season so many of us tend to stick with what we know to avoid disappointment – and that tomato day hammered home why. Yet in doing so we might miss out on some excellent new pickings – such as one of several new tomatoes I grew…

The humble leek can be a mighty thing. It helps to flavour any number of winter soups and casseroles and it makes a spectacular pressed leek terrine. Milder than other allium relatives, such as onions and garlic, leeks can have a more refined flavour, yet still hold their own against more pungent cousins. Leeks have always been a big thing in my family – my granddad grew loads of them and I remember as a child trying to dig leeks out of the frozen ground, only for my grandma to turn them into the most delightful soups. ORIGINS The origin of the leek is a tricky thing, with some saying that they originate from the East Mediterranean area, while others say it could be from the near East. Then you…

You may be surprised by the variety of what’s available for eating. There are perennials to suit every garden, with luscious leaves, hardy brassicas, edible blooms and onion-family delights to fill your larder. Here are some recommendations to get you started. LUSCIOUS LEAVES ▪ SORREL: The lemony leaves of sorrel add a zing to the first salads of the year. Enjoy the young leaves fresh or cook them up like spinach. Sorrel is exceptionally hardy and can even put up with a little shade. Start it off from seed then plant them out about 30cm (12in) apart. ▪ CHICORY: You can eat every part, from roots to flowers. The leaves make for a welcome sight at the start of spring, while the powder-blue flowers can be used as an attractive…

Anyone who has gardened for a length of time has seen plants come into fashion and then disappear a few years later. Formal rose beds, gardening with grasses and tree ferns, as well as many others, have all enjoyed a boom in popularity before fading away, to be replaced by the next ‘must-have’. I have vivid memories of my own father completely redesigning our own garden in the 1970s when Adrian Bloom popularised using heathers. And I hardly dare mention the decking fad of the late 1980s, the staple of every TV makeover show. If there is one plant that deserves a moment in the sun, it has to be the medlar. It was last popular in the UK more than 100 years ago and has been slowly fading into…

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SHRIMP PADTHAI WITHBOKCHOY Make delicious Thai street food in the comfort of your own home, with this quick stir-fry of bok choy and shrimp. SERVES 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes ▪ 200g/7oz flat rice noodles ▪ 100g/3½oz shrimp ▪ 2 eggs, beaten ▪ 4 tbsp tamarind sauce ▪ 2 tbsp fish sauce ▪ 1 tbsp brown sugar ▪ 1 tsp chilli flakes ▪ 2 tbsp vegetable oil ▪ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ▪ 200g/7oz bok choy ▪ 100g/3½oz bean sprouts 1. Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions. Drain and set aside. 2. While the noodles are cooking, mix the tamarind, fish sauce, sugar and chilli flakes together. Set aside. 3. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium…

Divide perennials Clumps of herbaceous perennial flowers occasionally benefit from being lifted and split up then replanted. Some plants produce a massive root ball over time with the centre often deteriorating or they just get too big for their allotted space. Now is a good time to lift those herbaceous perennials that die back in the winter and regrow in spring. Good examples include perennial phlox, hardy geraniums, hostas, day lilies (hemerocallis) and rudbeckias. You can tell which can be split as they gradually spread and have a fibrous root system when you do try and lift. You can use two forks in the centre of the plant and split that way or lift the whole clump and use a knife or spade to split the clump. Tidy and replant…

10 MINUTE JOBS CHECK APPLES Check apples that are being stored for winter use and pick out any that are turning soft or starting to show rot, as it develops very quickly and will spread to other fruits. If possible, check through the apples every couple of weeks if you have time. CLEAR GUTTERS The leaves are falling fast now and it’s important that you make sure that they are not blocking gutters and downpipes on sheds and greenhouses. If not cleared, the gutters can back up with water and cause damage, especially on felted shed roofs. GATHER UP CANES When you’ve cleared old beans and tomatoes, gather together the bamboo canes and tie them into bundles to keep them all together. When you have time over the winter you…

GET IN TOUCH by post, email or via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag THIS MONTH’S EXPERT PANEL: EMMA RAWLINGS Deputy editor, Kitchen Garden magazine ANDREW TOKELY Horticultural director, Kings Seeds MIKE THURLOW Advisor to the National Allotment Society ANNE SWITHINBANK Contributor to Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time STEVE OTT Editor, Kitchen Garden magazine ★STAR★ QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER PLUM TOMATO PROBLEM I have a problem with my plum tomatoes. I have grown ‘Inca’ for a number of years and have been satisfied with them. But this year, they have been decidedly ‘off’. I have already removed one plant from the greenhouse. It seems that it is only this variety that is affected. What’s the problem? I keep them well watered and the greenhouse is well aired. David Hatton, Suffolk ANNE SAYS: The symptoms have all…

My collection of vintage seed catalogues began one night in Budapest around the turn of the millennium, when my grandfather emerged from the depths of a cupboard with a stack of British seed catalogues from the 1970s. These, it transpired, had been given to him by my Scottish grandfather – one gardener to another, a bridge across an impossible linguistic divide. Captivated, I brought them home, and have added to the collection over the years. Those 1970s catalogues opened a window on a different world: Suttons packet prices starting at 4p; what we would call heritage varieties listed as standard; how to address a telegram to Unwins. The bigger surprise, though, was how much in catalogues from earlier in the century is familiar. We imagine that growing for flavour and…

FREE FOR EVERY READER* WORTH £15.90 REDCURRANT & BLACKCURRANT DUO You can now enjoy these tasty kitchen classics picked fresh from your own garden, with this special offer of redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes. Both currants have a deliciously fresh taste and are wonderfully versatile, making a perfect addition to an array of summer puddings, juices, jams, preserves and fresh fruit salads. Blackcurrant ‘Ben Connan’ AGM is an extremely reliable plant that tolerates frost and resists mildew to produce a heavy crop of large, juicy berries with an outstanding flavour. Redcurrant ‘Rovada’ is the latest and best redcurrant available to grow. A fully established bush will yield an impressive 2.5kg/6lb of juicy berries each year, presented on long strigs. Both of these berries freeze exceptionally well, providing you with a year-round…

GREAT GARDENBUYS★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ LET THERE BE LIGHT This Large Hanging Lantern has a rustic style design. It can be hung up in your garden or in your porch with a candle or tea light inside to bring a relaxing atmosphere either indoors or out. Size: 33.5cm long. PRICE: £39.55 www.romanathome.com MADE FOR COMFORT This Bradgate short fit natural rubber Wellington boot has a cushioned insole and is lined for comfort. A steel shank provides added support, and the contoured design and reinforced seams add to the strength of the boot. It provides added flexibility and manoeuvrability thanks to its shorter fit, and is available in a variety of calf fittings. Available in three colours – aubergine, green, navy. www.Townandco.com PRICE: £36.99 WINTER WARMER Compact…

Great growing year, wet, sunny, dry, sunny again, wet again Robo, St Helens Mixed – great beetroot and carrots, few apples, sprouts blown – again! JohnN, Nr Gatwick Lovely start, frost destroyed fruit, most other things did well. Geoff, Forest of Bowland My first year, never thought I could grow great food. Colin2016, North Norfolk Sowing, planting, on sunny days, vegetables stored in wooden trays. Old Herbaceous, Bedfordshire Very good under glass, pretty good outside, pleased with 2017. Tigerburnie, Angus by the sea Up and down, up and down, up and down – again Mouse2, Northampton What happened to all my plans, the season’s nearly gone? Jeff64, Rotherham Good growing year. Bumper crops but that b***** blight again! Primrose, Bucks A good start, sadly spoilt by destructive and greedy pheasants.…

SOW & PLANT IN EARLY NOVEMBER If temperatures aren’t below 6C (43F): ▪ There’s still time to sow hardy peas and broad beans to give some early spring crops. ▪ Choose winter varieties of lettuce to start in trays or pots. ‘All Year Round’, ‘Veneziana’ and ‘Winter Density’ are reliable performers or try ‘Elyburg’ as a crisp iceberg/cos cross. ▪ Sow mustard, rocket, mizuna: these will grow slowly and flourish next spring. FABULOUS FRUIT PEARS You don’t need a greenhouse to grow pears, but these fruit trees are vulnerable to wind and frost and they do appreciate protection on an exposed site. If you have a large structure an want to get early fruit, then it is perfectly possible to train a tree to fit in the corner of a…

Social media SOWING BROAD BEANS How to sow in November for an early crop in May! Go to http://bit.ly/2w12PZK TWITTER AH! SO THAT’S THE SECRET! FACEBOOK FAVES REMEMBERING GRANDAD Valerie Keen to BRITISH FOLK HERITAGE For some reason unknown to me I am sitting here thinking of my old grandad, long since gone. As a child I spent a lot of time at the Gramps’ house and often on Sundays he and I would venture into the woods to collect leaf mould for his big garden. He was more or less self sufficient for fruit and veg and also raised chickens and rabbits. He also collected mushrooms to go in my little basket. Smashing memories xx GARLIC, JE T’ADORE There’s a comic strip from the 1960s (inThe Beano orThe Dandy…

There’s something compelling about the idea of sowing or planting once to reap multiple harvests, year after year. Call me lazy, but why wouldn’t you want to grow aselection of edibles that yield their tasty tidbits from season to season with minimal steer from you? Many of the vegetables we grow are either annuals (peas, squashes and courgettes, for example), or biennials harvested for their leaves or roots before they stretch to flower – think carrots, lettuces and spinach. We faithfully sow, thin, weed and protect our vegetables, waiting for that glorious moment when we pick, pluck or pull our hard-won harvests. And it’s all very satisfying, don’t get me wrong! But perennial vegetables offer something different. Of course, there’s the time-saving element. Just a bit of extra effort at…

Apotting bench is a really handy piece of gardening equipment that gets used for all sorts of things, including the obvious – sowing seeds, pricking out seedlings, potting plants and taking cuttings. I also use mine for many other things where a flat level surface is needed, such as organising seed packets, sorting labels, cleaning veg lifted from the garden and so on. You can of course buy ready-made or potting benches in kit form, but I find they are either too small, the wrong height, flimsy or very expensive! Building your own means you can make it to the exact size that you want, including the height, which for me is the most important thing. In the past, having spent much of my time working at a potting bench,…

OUT NOW DOBIES Since 1894, Dobies have always provided the solution for gardeners looking for quality at a price that is difficult to resist. Our 2018 range is no exception! We are constantly adding new and exciting varieties of vegetables and flowers to our range – more than 65 this year, including the Rob Smith range. In addition, we have selected improved varieties which have shown themselves to be fantastic for the home gardener to grow. And alongside this, we have added some varieties which are more compact or grow more vertically, giving you larger crops from a smaller footprint. 150 pages. Call 0844 967 0303 or visit www.dobies.co.uk SUTTONS Welcome to our NEW Suttons 2018 catalogue! As seed purveyors since 1806, our new seed range includes over 80 new…

WORTH OVER £1412 1 TO GIVE AWAY SMART SOLUTION TO WASTE PROBLEM An innovative new kitchen gadget has been launched to cut household food waste by 90%. Smart Cara is a stylish countertop appliance that transforms food waste into a neat, odourless powder at the touch of a button. By removing all moisture and pulverising the material, Smart Cara reduces food leftovers to just 10% of their original volume and decreases annual carbon emissions by 425kg (937lb) per household. Smart Cara provides a sealed container to store up to 1kg (2lb 3oz) of waste, with internally fitted eco-filters to eliminate any odours. The powder output can be used as a soil enhancer, so it works like a quick, compact compost bin. The unit isn’t noisy or expensive to run, needs…

Autumn is a rich season of rusty hues, soft light and late warmth with occasional sharpness in the air as winter approaches. Our gardens are naturally preparing for dormancy but there is plenty for us gardeners to do to help it along its way. It is a time to tidy and make good for the cold winter months ahead and in this supplement we look at the different areas of the garden and what jobs are important for each at this time of year. So enjoy your autumn garden and appreciate the cycle of life and enjoy the last flurry of activity before the winter rest. Happy gardening…

TOP TIP The ultimate compost station will have three compost bins or bays. This allows you to partially decompose a bin or bay of material but then turn it into a second bin or bay to further aid the composting process. Finally the good stuff from the second bin can be turned into the third bin for final finishing off and it is from here you extract material to put back on your plot TOP TIP Keep a bag of shredded paper or cardboard handy. When adding lots of green waste to your ompost bin, like annual weeds or vegetable material, mix in some of the paper and cardboard waste at the same time to create a good balance of green and brown waste CHOOSING A BIN Which bin you…