Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i Kitchen Garden

If you love your garden you must love June! Flaming or not, plants are in full growth and the first harvests of fast-growing crops may already be in the bag, especially in the greenhouse and polytunnel. We have our usual growing guides to help you keep your patch full and fruitful; this month on spring onions, turnips, peaches and fennel, and KG regular Ben Vanheems brings you his top tips to ensure your plot remains as productive for nature as it does for you and your family. It is an unfortunate fact of life for us gardeners that the weeds will be growing too, so starting on page 60 you’ll find all the information you need to combat them with as little backache as possible! On page 66 Stephanie Hafferty…

STEP 1: If slugs are a problem, sow seeds in pots and plant out when they have two true leaves. You can sow direct in a double row over a 25cm (10in) deep trench, half filled with compost and topped with soil. Sow a few extra seeds at the end of rows, or in pots, to fill any gaps. Plants go 20cm (8in) apart. Scatter a little lime if soil is acid. STEP 2: Keep soil watered and especially so when plants are in flower. Flowers are self-pollinating, but if there is no wind, then brushing a gentle hand along a row of plants will help pollen fall to where it is needed. Some varieties grow 40-50cm (16-20in) tall and benefit from a few twiggy sticks as support. STEP 3:…

■ Make sure you ventilate on sunny days to help prevent the temperatures under cover from getting too hot. ■ As soon as annual herb plants such as basil are established, they can be planted out or potted into larger containers to grow on. ■ To help tomato fruits develop and ripen later in the summer, feed weekly with a high-potash tomato fertiliser. ■ Continue to sow lettuce and other salad leaves to give a continued supply right through the summer. ■ Make sure that strawberries growing in pots and hanging baskets are kept well-watered and fed with a high-potash feed to keep the fruits ripening through June.…

WASH AND REUSE! In the tradition of reading the back page last, I’ve just read your excellent article on plastic. I’ve been a fan of washing and reusing my pots for years. I probably have way too many – my own, those I inherited at the allotment, and my late dad’s, as I couldn’t bear chucking them when I emptied his house and shed! I do like the idea of recycling centres for pots. Perhaps garden centres could be persuaded to take clean pots back to reuse, although I notice they often have the plant details printed on and labels can be hard to get off. Alyson Laydon, Sunderland GREENHOUSE ONIONS Living in the north west of England and having an allotment on very wet clay soil, I have never…

BIG BAD BIG BUD I grow blackcurrants on an allotment and inevitably suffer from big bud. When is the best time to remove affected buds and would the winter wash I use on the fruit trees help? Paul Jenkins, Newport David Patch, Professional nurseryman R V Roger Ltd DAVID SAYS: Big bud is caused by microscopic mites which live inside the dormant buds and feed on sap. They caused the buds to become swollen and rounded, and these buds then dry up and fail to grow away properly in the spring. If a plant only shows light infestation, you can remove the shoots in late winter (take off the entire stem, not just the bud). If the majority of the plant is infected, it’s probably time to dig the plant…

BROWN ROT This fungus can devastate plums in late summer, particularly in wet weather, with soft rotten spots on which the characteristic concentric rings of white pustules form. HOW TO CONTROL: Thin young fruits to one per 10-15cm (4-6in) of branch. Removing affected fruit can help limit losses. PLUM APHID Plum leaf-curling aphid and mealy plum aphid are all too common in spring and summer, causing leaves to roll up or become covered in a grey mealy deposit respectively. HOW TO CONTROL: The crop is seldom affected. Earwigs, a natural enemy of the aphid, can be encouraged by suspending straw-stuffed plant pots in the boughs. Use approved insecticides. SILVER LEAF Leaves develop a silvery discoloration and affected branches die back. When the whole tree goes silvery, it is a sign…

Do you tend your plot on your own? I tend our plot with my wife Vivienne, with myself cultivating our veg and Vivienne keeping them in check with regular harvesting and pruning. Do you have an allotment or veg plot in your garden? We have a veg plot in our garden, approximately 4m x 5m with numerous pots bordering it. Do you grow veg in containers? We tried different veg in pots last year including ‘Scarlet Emperor’ runner beans in a large pot. We fed once a week and they cropped well and would definitely grow this way again. The courgettes grew well in smaller pots for us, but they did not crop as long as the ones grown in the plot. We also tried tomato ‘Black Russian’ in pots…

■ ‘SNOWBALL’: One of your packets of free seeds this month, ‘Snowball’ is a good variety for early sowings and at its best when harvested while young and sweet. (Widely available) ■ ‘OASIS’: A white-rooted variety similar in appearance to ‘Snowball’ but said to have melon-flavoured roots when eaten young. (T&M) ■ ‘PURPLE TOP MILAN’: Another early variety and freely available in many catalogues. Attractive flat, white roots with a purple top. (Suttons Seeds) ■ ‘GOLDEN BALL’: A good keeper that is hardy enough to be left in the soil until needed for harvesting in all but the coldest, wettest soils. Attractive golden flesh. (Kings Seeds)…

Native trees and shrubs are best for wildlife. Each of these offers food and shelter for both birds and insects, as well as something tasty for you. ■ WILD CHERRY: Its Latin name Prunus avium (avium = birds) hints at its popularity among our feathered friends. The fruits are small but taste every bit as good as cultivated forms. ■ CRAB APPLE: This beauty brings pretty blossom, autumn leaf colour and, of course, crab apples. The high pectin of the sour-tasting fruits makes them great for jams and jellies. ■ HAZEL: Go nuts for hazel and provide a home for wildlife while you’re at it. Hazel makes an excellent hedgerow plant alongside fruiting shrubs such as blackthorn. ■ BLACKTHORN: Famous for its sloes – the staple to a warming sloe…

Weeds are just plants in the wrong place as defined by the gardener. They are really part and parcel of the local ecosystem and you could argue your crops are in their way! Weeds can also be beneficial (see page 63) however, generally we do need to control unwanted plant growth in our cropping area. WHY DO WE NEED TO REMOVE WEEDS? Weeds compete with our crop plants for water and feed and even light if they are big enough. Weeds can sometimes host pests and diseases that transfer to crop plants. A good example is shepherd’s purse which is a host for white blister, a disease affecting cabbages and other brassicas. HOW TO CONTROL WEEDS To control the weeds you have on your plot it does help if you…

When the hedgerows are filled with creamy, frothy elderflowers, it’s time to forage for this gorgeous gift from nature. The scent is incredible: floral and heady, they smell of summer. Fill your baskets with fragrant blossoms to make your own drinks, body products and chocolates. If you can, pick elderflowers before noon on a sunny day when they are at their most fragrant. Pick whole heads, shaking gently to dislodge any insects. Using your fingers, carefully strip the frothy blossom from the stalks – it usually comes away very easily. Discard any brown flowers which can impair the flavour of your creation. I have the red elder in my garden, Sambucus nigra, whose pink flowers add a rose blush to the recipes. You can snap the flower heads off from…

Three of our gardeners have active social media pages and you can follow their progress: BILL LOVE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billagardener/365745710489361/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billsallotmentbelfast/ YouTube: https://bit.ly/billgardener RACHAEL SMITH: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_R_ GKS5btt2A3RW8DxvceQ (or just search YouTube for Colliery Garden) Instagram @collierygarden REKHA MISTRY: Instagram @rekha.kitchen.garden@rekha18rekhagardenkitchen.com…

The simplest starting point is to make a basic planter. You don’t need many tools and the freestanding version shown here can be knocked together in a couple of hours. The wall-mounted version is hung on lengths of strong chain. Both take up very little room and can be used to brighten any wall around a house or shed. Use them to grow plenty of herbs and salad, or fill with trailing flowers for a beautiful decorative planter. FREESTANDING PLANTER STEP 1: Remove boards Use a nail bar and hammer to lever off some boards from the front of the pallet. The aim is to leave three boards in place: one at the top, one at the bottom and one in the middle. Pallets vary in construction, but with…

■ ‘PEREGRINE’: An old favourite, which was always the first choice for cooler climates until more recent varieties were introduced. Still highly recommended, producing exquisite white-fleshed fruit. ■ ‘AVALON PRIDE’: The best variety for leaf curl and canker resistance. ■ ‘ROCHESTER’: Yellow-fleshed fruit with a very good flavour. Has some leaf curl resistance, but does best in a warm site. ■ ‘SATURN’: A flat, ‘donut’ peach. Excellent flavour, but susceptible to peach leaf curl.…

Call the credit card and debit card order hotline on 0845 371 0532* (open 8am to 8pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends). Only orders above £10 by phone please. *calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Or send a cheque made payable to D T Brown Seeds to Kitchen Garden JUNE Offers (KG19JUN), D T Brown Seeds, Bury Road, Newmarket, CB8 7PQ. Items will be despatched from late April (unless otherwise stated). Offer subject to availability; only one, FREE collection per household. D T Brown reserves the right to substitute with a product of equal or greater value. Please note that a £5.95 p&p charge will apply should you not take up the free item. ORDERING ONLINE? VISIT WWW.KITCHENGARDENSHOP.CO.UK AND ENTER CODE KG19JUN WHEN PROMPTED TO…

BLACKCURRANT JAM  What makes blackcurrant jam so delicious is the tartness of the berries balanced with the sweet sugar. Perfect on warm toast or a freshly baked scone. MAKES 3 X 250ML JARS Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes ■ 600g/21oz blackcurrants ■ 400g/14oz caster sugar or jam sugar 1. If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, put a small saucer in the freezer in preparation for step 4 below. Sterilise your jars and lids either by running them through a hot dishwasher cycle; or wash in hot soapy water and put them, still wet, into a preheated oven at 160C for about 15 minutes. 2. Strip the blackcurrants from the stalks and tip into a heavy-based saucepan with 100ml (3½fl oz) of water. Bring to a simmer…

10 MINUTE JOBS STICKS FOR PUMPKINS Pumpkin plants look small when they are planted out in June but they soon grow a mass of foliage. Push a tall stick beside each plant so you can still see where to water when the bed is covered in stems and leaves. SOW BASIL IN POTS OUTSIDE Scatter a few seeds in a 20cm (8in) pot and cover with compost. Put this against a warm, sunny wall and protect from slugs. Don’t overwater and the plants should grow to produce plenty of leaves for use through the summer. HARVEST SALAD Salad leaves and lettuce bolt much faster in hot, dry conditions. Keep picking leaves while you can and sow more seed every 3-4 weeks so more leaves are ready when older plants are…

■ Spring-sown broad beans can be plagued by blackfly. These pests start off on the soft growth at the top of plants – remove affected parts before they spread down the stems and on to pods. ■ Enjoy the harvest! There are plenty of fresh, tasty crops to pick and eat at their best. There are plenty more to come over the months ahead so don’t leave anything until it is big and tasteless. ■ Sensible use of mulch can reduce water usage and also keep soil temperatures steady. Try straw, cardboard, paper, grass clippings, or any weed and chemical-free option. Water well before you put a mulch down. ■ Use a dibber or blunt stick to make holes when planting leeks. Drop a plant in each hole so leaves…

■ Suspend yellow sticky traps just above crops such as peppers and tomatoes that are susceptible to whitefly attack. This will help to catch early pests and also indicate exactly what pests are about so that you can decide if you want to take further action to control them. ■ If planting out seedlings and young plants, do it in the evening when the temperature is cooler to prevent the young plants from wilting in the heat of the day. Water after planting and by the morning they will be fully charged with water and standing upright. ■ Consider planting some companion plants such as marigolds or tagetes in the greenhouse, which are said to help deter aphids. Tagetes also help to attract pollinating insects. They can be grown in…

Being a rather elderly chap and gardening for many years, I am still using plastic seed trays, pots and labels that are well over 45 years old. They were well made and built to last. At Christmas my grandson asked what I wanted as a present. “Buy a large paper potter,” was my reply. I now use this to recycle my daily newspaper and the seedlings love it and are fantastic. I still use my seed trays and then transfer the seedlings into the paper pots. Looking through various gardening catalogues I cannot understand why so-called recycled and organic items are so expensive. Brian Jenkin, Derbyshire TONY SAYS: That’s very impressive Brian. And now with the paper pots, a good combination.…

WHITEFLY ON PURPLE SPROUTING To prevent caterpillars I covered with insect net and this worked well but the (very healthy) plants were covered with whitefly. I removed the netting in November and after some frosts I thought the problem over but the whitefly is still there now. How can I prevent this, please? Diane Hamlett, Gloucestershire Steve Ott, editor Kitchen Garden Magazine STEVE SAYS: In fact you are doing the right thing – covering with crop protection fleece is probably the best option. Sprays are available for those who want to use them; however, whitefly are immune to most, so they have little or no effect. I would suggest you continue to use your netting (it must be very fine crop protection netting such as Enviromesh or fleece) but to…

Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, in the luxury Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, serves Scotland’s most distinguished dining. Established in 2001, it gained its first Michelin star within a year, and its second four years later – an accolade unique in Scotland. Cooking at this level demands ingredients of the highest quality. In Scotland, Andrew Fairlie had access to world-class seafood, meat and game, but the missing link was garden produce, for which he had to rely on wholesalers, having found nowhere suitable for growing. Then, six years ago, he was put in touch with the owners of a Perthshire country house with an unused Victorian walled garden. He walked through a wooden gate on which a child had inscribed the words ‘Our Secret Garden’, and found the space he’d been looking for.…

MOUNTFIELD Mountfield has been one of the UK’s leading lawnmower manufacturers for more than 50 years and its lawnmowers, lawn tractors and garden care products all share a reputation for outstanding quality and reliability. You can view all the ranges on the Mountfield website: www.mountfieldlawnmowers.co.uk WOLF-GARTEN The WOLF-Garten gardening tool collection offers the total solution for soil and cultivation, lawn care, tree and shrub care and general garden maintenance. The WOLF-Garten philosophy is to provide gardening tools and machinery of premium quality and performance. www.wolfgartentools.co.uk or tel 01869 363674 HARROD HORTICULTURAL This company has been producing top quality garden products for 60 years and is innovative in bringing new designs on to the market. It offers an excellent mail order service and as well as being renowned for its sturdy…

Say ‘spring onions’ and it’s likely you’ll think of those slim white ones you find on the supermarket shelf! Admittedly, these seem to be the only offering and so everyone thinks that’s what a spring onion should look like. Yet they come in shades of red or purple and can even have small bulbs. In fact there’s more to these summer favourites than meets the eye. When people talk about spring onions, they are usually talking about Allium cepa. This is a species that includes the most common of the onion family, including garden onions and what we call ‘spring onions’. Yet there are also Allium fistulosum, which are known as bunching or Welsh onions and are again given the general name ‘spring onion’. The main difference when it comes…

Trees and shrubs offer shelter, food and nesting opportunities for garden birds. Think of cities and noise, traffic fumes and concrete probably spring to mind. Yet up to a quarter of our cities are made up of gardens. From a bird’s-eye view it’s easy to see how together they form ribbons of green that crisscross the urban sprawl – a vital network linking wildlife to the wider countryside. A well-planted garden offers invaluable opportunities to welcome nature. And with somewhere in the region of 24 million gardens across the country these green oases can have a measurable impact on the fortunes of local wildlife.…

For all the jar recipes I used wide-mouthed 32oz (946ml) glass Mason/Kilner jars. Always stack the ingredients from wettest to driest, with your greens at the top (unless otherwise stated). You can prepare a week’s worth of jars at the beginning of the week, or make them the night before. They will stay fresh in your refrigerator for about five days. When you’re ready to serve, simply turn the jar upside down and pour your salad out on a plate. RAINBOW SALAD JAR  Don’t just give your tastebuds a treat, give your eyes something to feast on too with this colourful salad! SERVES 1-2 FOR THE VINAIGRETTE ■ 2 tbsp lemon juice ■ ½ tbsp minced shallot ■ ½ tsp Dijon mustard ■ 1 tsp sugar ■ Pinch of salt…

We all know that composting is not just good gardening practice and good for the environment, it also makes economic sense as well. Why pay for bags of compost (and lug them around) when you can access home-made ‘black gold’ in your very own garden? But what if your garden is a courtyard, balcony or other similarly diminutive plot? Knocking together some pallets to make a compost bin just isn’t practical, and you quite rightly might not want to give over valuable growing space for composting. Well, there are some options for small spaces that mean you can easily compost garden and food waste, and rely less on local council collections and recycling centres. CAREFUL PLANNING There are a few problems that come with trying to make compost in a…

Just when we were thinking that everything on the plot was looking rosy, nature decided to bite back to show us who’s really in charge. We were returning from a trip to Wales and found ourselves driving down a swollen river where there used to be a dual carriageway. Wheelie bins were floating down the road, our neighbour’s freezer was floating in the cellar and a vicious hail storm had pulverised anything soft and green. To add insult to shredded lettuce injury, the Bourne stream at the top of our plot had risen by 10in above its concrete culvert and flooded the shed with silt. A few days later we had temperatures of 25C and with the soil evenly moist, the veg really took off – so every cloud has…

A WORD ON FIXINGS: ■ 2 x 30cm chain – the load it will bear is specified when buying; make sure it is strong enough to hold a laden pallet (err on the side of caution). ■ 2 clips – these hook on to one end of each length of chain. Again, load is specified and they must be strong enough to comfortably bear the weight. ■ Wall fixings: 2 x 50mm screw eyes or 2 x 8mm x 50mm eyebolts. The former are loadbearing screws that have a ring at one end and can screw into wooden structures, posts, studs, etc. The latter expand when tightened in solid masonry walls. ■ 2 x 5mm x 50mm screws plus washers ■ Sow salad leaves, like rocket and mustard greens, direct…

Although a native of Mediterranean climes, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a hardy perennial which is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. Its feathery, fern-like foliage makes it particularly attractive while its summer spray of yellow flowers is a magnet for pollinators. WHERE TO GROW “It’s one of those plants (like carrots) that doesn’t like its roots disturbed.” Fennel can be sown directly in the ground or in pots where they are to remain. It’s one of those plants (like carrots) that doesn’t like its roots disturbed. If you do need to move the plant to a larger pot, make sure you take the compost surrounding the roots intact. As it can grow to 1.5m (5ft), it’s more suited to a border than a small herb bed. Choose a sunny…

GREENHOUSE MADE ACCESSIBLE If you want a greenhouse but are restricted on space or access, Forest’s new Victorian Walkaround Greenhouse is the answer. This beautifully designed greenhouse lets you access your plants without the need to go inside. Designed to be positioned in an open space or against a wall or fence, its four opening doors can be hung depending on the access you require. Combined with its compact footprint – it measures 126 by 96cm (4ft 2in by 3ft 2in) and stands 228cm (7ft 6in) high – this makes it suitable for gardens of all sizes, and for a whole range of space configurations. With room for two growbag trays on the floor, and slatted staging that can be slotted in or out as required, there’s a huge amount…

STRAWBERRIES Delicious red berries are ripening on plants this month. Cover with netting so birds can’t eat the fruit and raise this up so they can’t peck through the mesh. You can use straw to mulch between plants and keep fruits clean, but this can encourage slugs and snails to hide underneath. A good option is to support fruit clusters with twiggy sticks pushed into the ground. This won’t deter molluscs altogether but it does help a lot. Harvest as soon as fruit is fully ripe, or pick a day early to avoid pest attentions and leave to ripen fully in a sunny window. Plenty of sun helps to produce sweet fruits. DIG EARLY POTATOES When plants start to flower then you know that there are probably some useful tubers…

REMOVE SIDE SHOOTS AND TIE IN TOMATOES Tomato plants should now be growing well in the greenhouse or polytunnel and it’s during June when the days are at their longest that they put on a spurt of growth. Tall growing varieties need supporting at regular intervals to be able to support the weight of tomatoes that will develop over the summer and the way I do it is to tie the stems to stout canes with soft string. It’s also important to remove the sideshoots that grow in the leaf joints, otherwise instead of a single-stemmed plant you will get a large bushy plant. Ideally, check plants a couple of times a week and pinch out the sideshoots while still small and soft. REMOVE THE FIRST CUCUMBERS Once established and…

GARDENING PROJECTS FOR BETTER CROPS If you’re looking for some exciting garden projects to produce tastier, healthier crops, then take a look at the latest book from KG regular contributor, Joyce Russell. Full of practical advice, tips and clearly explained step-by-step stages, New Vegetable Garden Techniques consists of 23 project ideas, from ones to get you started all the way through to harvesting. Make a foolproof single-dig bed, build a sturdy bean frame, create a vertical garden, make perfect pesto basil, protect plants from pests, and so on. Organised into four parts, you will find lots of sound advice from an experienced practitioner: starting a plot, creating good soil, increasing yields and storing your harvest. With plenty of excellent photographs and illustrations to accompany the text, this is one every…

Send us your tips and pictures and if your letter is published you will get a £10 Dobies voucher. If you are lucky enough to have yours chosen as our Star Letter you will get a £25 voucher. Your voucher will be sent out with a Dobies catalogue and you can choose to spend your winnings on a fabulous range of seeds, young plants and gardening sundries. You can get hold of a copy of the catalogue now by phoning 0844 701 7625 or go online to www.dobies.co.uk You can reach us by letter, email or via our Facebook page: FACEBOOK.COM/KITCHENGARDENMAG Email your letters to tflanagan@mortons. co.uk or post to Letters, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR…

Here is a great idea from Mud & Bloom – craft and gardening activity kits for children that arrive through the post by monthly subscription. Each box contains everything needed for seasonal growing and craft activities. The boxes include instructions, nature news and games to teach children about the season, plants and wildlife. They have been created for three-to-eight-year-olds by qualified teachers and support the national curriculum. Some of the boxes require a few natural objects from nature but a quick walk in the garden or local park and these can easily be found. Mud & Bloom was launched just over a year ago to inspire families to get their children outdoors and into nature. The boxes are kept as environmentally friendly as possible, using plastic-free materials and organic seed…

Our Star Question winner will receive vouchers worth £25; the writers of all other questions printed will receive a £10 voucher. They can be redeemed against any products in the latest Mr Fothergill’s catalogue, which will be sent out with the vouchers so you can choose from the massive range of quality products, including seeds and garden equipment. To receive a free catalogue, call 08453 710518 or visit www.mr-fothergills.co.uk Email questions to tflanagan@mortons.co.uk or post to Question Time, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Please include your full address on letters and emails. We do not publish full addresses.…

■ CHINESE ARTICHOKES commonly known by chefs as crosnes. Small edible tubers, pearly-white in colour, with a juicy, crunchy texture and a sweet, nutty, fresh flavour. ■ MEXICAN TARRAGON can be grown as a micro-herb when the leaf is small and tender, or grown on to a shrubby plant for the small robust yellow flowers, which have the same strong anise taste. ■ RADISH PODS are the edible seedpods from a radish that has been left to grow and flower. Harvest the pods when young, tender and crunchy to eat raw, cooked or pickled. ■ AMERICAN LANDCRESS can be grown as a cut-and-come-again leaf, with a distinctive shape and glossy sheen. The flavour is strong and peppery, similar to watercress. ■ CORIANDER – for sheer culinary versatility. Grow it as…

■ ‘ISHIKURA’ (Allium fistulosum) – An outstanding variety that does not bulb but forms long white stalks. It is a perennial variety that is cold hardy, very adaptable to various climates and resistant to pink root and botrytis leaf blight. It is suitable for later crops and for overwintering.(www.kingsseeds.com) ■ ‘WHITE LISBON’ (Allium cepa) – Quick growing and mildly flavoured, ‘White Lisbon’ is the best salad onion variety for spring and summer sowing. Maturing time is around 10 weeks from sowing. This variety has been trialled, tested and recommended by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany.(www.dobies.co.uk) ■ ‘PURPLETTE’ (Allium cepa) – A superb, small, round spring onion, with extremely attractive purple skins and an excellent flavour. It’s easy to grow and does well in containers as well as in the…

■ COVER UP: Cover hard surfaces such as fences and walls with climbers to create a leafy backdrop. Great options include ivy, honeysuckle and clematis. ■ ON THE ROOF: Green roofs of sedums are prized real estate for hard-working pollinators like bees. Pop them on everything from the shed to the rabbit hutch. ■ SEEDY GOINGS-ON: Grow self-seeding, nectar-rich flowers like Welsh poppy, Mexican fleabane and poached egg plant. Let them pop up in areas of paving and gravel. ■ PINT-SIZED POND: Install a mini pond made from an old bucket or sink. Add gravel or rocks to the bottom and fill with rainwater. Include a few aquatic plants too.…

Surprisingly there are actually some benefits to leaving a few weeds on your plot. 1 EAT THEM Some weeds are edible and what a bonus, a crop you have had no input in that freely grows with no care. Some edible weeds include nettles, dandelions (although they need to be covered by a container to exclude light and blanch the stems or they are bitter), chickweed, ground elder (only pick the young, just unfurling leaves. 2 WEEDS CONFUSE PESTS There is some evidence to suggest having a few weeds may help your veg plot by confusing pests. Research has shown pests often land on plant material, not knowing what it is. They avoid the brown (soil) and land on the green. Then they may go from leaf to leaf to…

We will be following the highs and lows of the growing seasons for our five gardeners and comparing how their crops grow in different parts of the country. Here are our five … BILL LOVE FROM BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND ■ Small garden veggie grower and blogger ■ Bill says you don’t need an allotment to grow veg ■ Fan of raised beds MARTIN JORDAN FROM CHEPSTOW, MONMOUTHSHIRE ■ First place winner in our Passionate Plotter competition last year ■ Has two allotments ■ This is only his third season growing fruit and veg CAROLE BLYTH FROM FIFE, SCOTLAND ■ KG reader and allotmenteer. Her partner Gavin helps on the plot ■ Been growing veg for about 20 years ■ Likes to do things a bit differently and grows many different…

Chillies are one of those vegetable varieties I always wanted to grow but, needing a greenhouse, had to wait (impatiently), not only for an allotment plot but a greenhouse too. That said, I got both: the plot first; the following year, a second-hand greenhouse. And then it all began – my chilli love affair! Just as much as I was excited, these questions suddenly came to me: • Should I grow the hottest or the mildest in my 6x8ft greenhouse? • For my chilli growing appetite, how many plants should I grow? • Which varieties are the best for making hot sauces? Well, you could say I was running before I could walk. The list in my head was endless. But after six years of having a greenhouse I am…

As a small child, every Saturday afternoon I would be taken on a visit to Granny Curson. My mum’s mum, and a redoubtable woman in every sense, she loved her garden and through spring and summer we would drive out to a nearby garden centre to critically inspect the plants and perhaps stop for a Strawberry Mivvi on the way back. Then we’d have a cup of tea in her garden, with slices of lemon drizzle cake. Always lemon drizzle cake. A RARE TREAT The pride and joy of her garden was a peach tree, immaculately fan-trained against a small brick outbuilding. I can vividly recall eyeing the swelling fruit, begging to be allowed to pick one, even though they were as small and hard as marbles. Eventually, when the…

Although both belong to the carrot family, note that Florence fennel is different. This is grown for its large bulbous stems which are eaten as a vegetable and harvested annually. Sowing is the same as for fennel grown as a herb. Earth up around the base of the stems as they develop to maintain their whiteness and flavour. The main problem with Florence fennel is bolting, so water well, especially during dry weather. Harvest late June to September by easing out the bulbous base with a garden fork. Allow some to flower so that you can harvest the seeds too.…

STRAWBERRY ' ELEGANCE' FRUIT PLANTS Is there any taste so evocative of warm summer days than freshly picked strawberries? With ‘Elegance’ you can expect fruits of exceptional quality and flavour. The large red fruits are attractive, with strong glossy skin, firm flesh and most importantly, magnificent flavour. All that a strawberry should be, in fact! Plants are strong, upright and have disease resistance. Supplied in packs of 10 runners.…