Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i Kitchen Garden

September marks the start of autumn in the UK and with it the start of the main harvesting season for the crops that will fill store cupboards and freezers through the winter months. So in this issue you’ll find all you need to know about the art of harvesting and storing from two of our experts, Ben Vanheems and Joyce Russell. And if you are to repeat your successes again next season you’ll need to give your soil some TLC. We show you how with our feature on using green manures. Rob Smith turns his attention to fast-growing and health-promoting spinach, while K G ’s deputy editor Emma Rawlings looks at raised beds as the answer for those with limited mobility and space. The KG team have been busy putting…

PLENTY OF SALAD Summer lettuce varieties will usually stand well into the autumn. Bolting slows down as temperatures drop a little and there is usually enough rain to keep soil damp. Keep picking a few leaves from each plant – the flavour of summer lettuce is often sweeter and milder than varieties that grow through the cold months. Sow winter lettuce now and plants should grow big enough to survive the winter. Sow lettuce in pots and plant out when around 8cm tall (3in). You may have to cover rows with a cloche to protect against cold. Mizuna, rocket and mustard greens are all pretty hardy and can do well in an average winter. PRESERVE THE HARVEST September is the month when harvests roll in with abandon. It’s lovely to…

■ As summer salads and other crops start to come to an end, clear them away and prepare the ground for new sowings and plantings. ■ When the higher trusses on tomatoes start to ripen, continue to remove the foliage up the stem to aid ripening. ■ Plant late sown brassicas such as kale to provide fresh greens through the winter months. ■ If you are growing potatoes in pots for a winter harvest, keep the compost moist to encourage as much growth as possible while the weather is still warm. ■ Sow pak choi thinly in rows directly into the soil border and keep the soil moist.…

UPS AND DOWNS OF GARDENING I would like to congratulate Emma for coming up with a great ‘Last Word’ in your July 2019 issue. How refreshing to read a realistic and balanced summary of gardening – and how it can have both downs and ups. The article I’m sure resonates with gardeners up and down the country: that indeed some days in gardening are not always good. So rather than preach that gardening is constantly uplifting, it’s great to read that it’s more about looking forward to the good days and snapshots of joy that make gardening worthwhile. Patrick Wiltshire, Marshalls Seeds SMALL GARDEN PLEASURE My partner has lifelong severe depression, which reached a crisis point last summer when he nearly died at home of a near-fatal gastric bleed. It…

POWDERY MILDEW White-grey patches of mould on the upper leaf surfaces. Favoured by hot weather and dry soils. Infected fruits become hard and cracked. HOW TO CONTROL: Food grade potassium bicarbonate, available from organic suppliers, and SB Plant Invigorator may help. BOTRYTIS Grey mould or Botrytis cinerea rots ripening fruits, greatly cutting yields in humid autumn weather. HOW TO CONTROL: The only remedy is to promptly remove and destroy as much affected material as possible. Increasing ventilation can help keep indoor grapes free of botrytis and all grapes can be pruned to increase airflow. SHANKING Berry stalks wither and the berries become watery or sour tasting before they shrink and wither. Black grapes become red and white ones translucent. HOW TO CONTROL: Caused by over or under watering, poorly drained…

If you like spinach but want to try something slightly different, there are other types of ‘spinach’ which are pretty easy to grow in the veg garden. Tree spinach (Chenopodium giganteum) is related to ‘Fat Hen’ which is classed as a weed on most plots, yet this attractive relative has beautiful magenta growing tips and tasty leaves,with plants living up to their name and growing up to 2m (6½ft) tall in one season! The underside of the leaves are an attractive dark pink which contrasts well with the green surface, and each one is covered in almost glittery pink powder, which makes them very attractive in a salad. New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides) thrives on poor soil and is pretty drought tolerant too, producing thicker leaves than regular spinach which…

■ ‘MARIS PIPER’: Superb taste and a creamy white, floury flesh make this one of the most popular spuds of all time. ‘Maris Piper’ is the go-to choice for chips. Mr Fothergill’s ■ ‘PINK FIR APPLE’: This nutty-flavoured, salad potato is one of the few finger-types that happens to store pretty well, keeping for as long as three months. Thompson & Morgan ■ ‘KERR’S PINK’: Its dry, floury nature makes it ideal for mashing, the very same qualities that make it an excellent keeper. The pink-skinned tubers have deep eyes. Mr Fothergill’s ■ ‘SARPO AXONA’: Rare among potatoes for its exceptional resistance to blight, ‘Sarpo Axona’ produces a heavy crop of pink tubers perfect for uses, but best for baking.DT Brown ■ ‘JAZZY’: A second early spud that keeps well…

Raised beds are a popular way to grow vegetables, even though they require an initial outlay. However, if you are a new gardener and you struggle with time, a raised bed is going to be helpful to you. They can of course cut down the growing area because between the raised beds you have paths and, combined with the sides of the bed and a decent walkway, you find this will reduce the growing space. However, if you are starting out on this growing journey, sometimes smaller areas are better to work with first; they are less overwhelming so can give you confidence. Also, the pathways can be covered with gravel or woodchip, helping to keep the area tidy and weed free, a boon if you don’t have a lot…

Try never to leave soil exposed at any time, but particularly in winter. Areas which are not cropping are better covered with a green manure crop An easy way to ‘cut’ the growth prior to digging in is to run an old lawnmower over the top on its highest setting – providing your soil is firm and even enough for this If you are a no-dig gardener, you can still use green manures by simply cutting and leaving them to rot on the surface and for the worms to incorporate them Incorporate your green manure at least three weeks before sowing or planting new crops. The process of rotting down can actually take nitrogen from the soil initially and inhibit germination until the green manure plants have thoroughly broken down.…

BUDDHA BOWL OF BROWN RICE, SWEET POTATO, CHICKPEAS & TAHINI SAUCE You will feel nothing but 100% healthy and good after eating this satisfying Buddha Bowl. Lots of colour and texture make for a happy feeling dish! SERVES 2 Preparation time: 35 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes ■ 1 mug of brown rice, cooked to packet instructions ■ 1 large sweet potato, washed and cut into rounds ■ ½ tin of chickpeas, drained ■ 1 pak choi, chopped and steamed ■ 1 small beetroot, spiralised or grated ■ 1 red onion, sliced ■ ¼ cucumber, sliced ■ ½ tsp of chilli flakes ■ 1 tsp of paprika ■ 1 tsp of cumin seeds ■ 1 tbsp of olive oil FOR THE SAUCE: ■ 2 tbsp of tahini ■ 1 thumb…

DOUBLE HOE WITH FIXED HANDLE This Double Hoe features a broad, sharp angled blade on one side to be used for weeding or drawing out seed drills. On the reverse side, there are three sharp prongs to help break up heavy soil. This lightweight tool has a comfort grip fixed handle for extra support during the pulling movement. WOLF-GARTEN TOOLS wolfgarten-tools.co.uk TEL: 01869 363674 PRODUCT CODE: LN2K PRICE: £10.99 * Prices correct at time of publication KG VERDICT This is a very versatile hand tool. The pronged side enables you to penetrate the soil easily and churn up the soil to quite a depth, and weeds can be drawn along with it. Turn it over and you have a blade which enables more of a chopping action, getting…

Call the credit card and debit card order hotline on 0845 371 0532* (open 8am to 8pm weekdays & 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 September Offers (KG19SEP), D T Brown Seeds, Bury Road, Newmarket, CB8 7PQ. Items will be despatched from late August. 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 the £6 p&p charge will still apply should you not take up the free item. ORDERING ONLINE? VISIT WWW.KITCHENGARDENSHOP.CO.UK AND ENTER CODE KG19SEP WHEN PROMPTED TO RECEIVE YOUR…

10 MINUTE JOBS DIG OVER GROUND Dig over the ground when you clear a row of vegetables. This removes any weeds and leaves you with a clear space for planting something new. Digging small areas at a time is much kinder on the back than digging a large plot. HARVEST BASIL Harvest basil as long as plants produce usable leaves. Unless there is a spectacular Indian summer, you will probably lift plants later this month and consign them to the compost heap. PLANT SPRING CABBAGES Plant a few spring cabbage plants. These will provide plenty of leaves in late winter and early spring, when fresh vegetables are welcome. Buy plants, if needed, and put them 45-60cm (15-24in) apart. You can still sow seed early in September for a later harvest.…

■ PICK RUNNER BEANS The glut is coming fast and you may be tempted to leave pods to grow into monsters on the plant. This will stop new pod formation, so keep picking while pods are tender if you want to keep plants productive for as long as possible. ■ TIDY UP Pick up any bits and pieces that won’t be needed until next year. September is the start of the autumn tidy process, so put tools in the shed, store covers, stack pots and make sure there is no plastic or rubbish on the loose. ■ MOW AND MULCH Use any grass clippings to cover empty beds. This will keep the bed free of weeds and provide some protection from rain. The clippings will also put a bit of…

■ Splitting tomatoes can sometimes be a problem, especially at the end of the growing season. It’s as a result of the skins hardening in hot weather or if the plants have been allowed to dry out a little. As the nights cool down or when the plants are watered, the skins split. Avoid this by keeping the roots moist and close the vents late afternoon to retain warmth around the plants. ■ As you harvest outdoor onions, bring them under cover in trays to help the bulbs ripen in the warmth of the greenhouse or polytunnel. The drier and riper the skins, the better the onions will keep through winter. ■ Gradually cut back on the amount of water you give to fruiting plants and avoid splashing the foliage…

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…

Get in touch by post, email or via our Facebook page: DAMSON IN DISTRESS I attach a photo of a damson fruit which has become deformed and split. At the top of the picture is a normal fruit. Cutting into the deformed fruit, I can’t see any maggots or any other pest. About 30-40% of the fruit seems to be affected. Jean Robson, Co. Antrim David Patch, professional nurseryman, R V Roger Ltd DAVID SAYS: Split fruit, where there are no signs of entry by larvae or caterpillars, is almost always due to uneven water levels. If a dry period, when the fruit can’t swell and the skin thickens, is followed by heavy rainfall the fruit will try to expand quickly and the skin will crack. However, this normally…

TOMATOVILLE! If growing tomatoes is very much your thing, and you want to find a community of like-minded souls, then take a look at this online forum totally dedicated to the much-loved Solanum lycopersicum. It is an American site but there is a wealth of advice and experience there at your fingertips. It boasts nearly 24,000 members, nearly 48,000 threads and more than 730 posts and – no doubt correctly – refers to itself as the world’s largest online community of tomato growers. To take a look, go to: www.tomatoville.com ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB RHS EDUCATION ON TWITTER The RHS Education team now has its own Twitter account which will cover the education programmes the team offers. This will include RHS Qualifications, School of Horticulture (including apprenticeships), Master of Horticulture,…

CATEGORY 1 – KG Plotter of the Year 2019 If sending by post, please use a separate sheet of paper for your answers. Alternatively you can email your answers and pictures, or enter the competition online. 1. Do you tend your plot on your own? If not, who helps you? 2. Do you have an allotment or veg plot in your garden (and approximate size)? 3. How long have you been growing veg? 4. Do you grow any veg in containers? If so, what and how have they been grown (compost, size of pot, feeding, how successful and will you do it again?) 5. How do you grow one particular named crop from sowing to harvest? Choose a crop and give us a brief summary of how you grow it…

If you are more of a traditionalist and want to grow a regular type of spinach, these are my top picks: ■ ‘MATADOR’ – Deep green succulent leaves for a summer-long crop. Ideal for sowing in succession for a constant supply of fresh leaves. A variety that is slow to bolt. RHS AGM. www.kingsseeds.com ■ ‘EARLY PRICKLY SEEDED’ – A fast growing, hardy variety for early spring and autumn sowing. Grows best in well-fed soil. Smooth, dark green leaves. www.organiccatalogue.com ■ ‘RUBINO F1’ – An excellent round-leaved, mid-green variety with distinctive bright red stems and leaf veins, ideal for use as baby leaves, when the leaves have a buttery tenderness and a mild, sweet flavour. An ideal summer or winter variety, it is best suited to spring and autumn sowings.…

1 Dig up potatoes on a dry, ideally breezy day. Lay out the harvested potatoes on the soil surface to dry for a couple of hours. If it’s wet, bring them under cover. 2 Gently brush off any excess soil. Claggy soil may need washing off before the potatoes are then laid out to thoroughly dry. 3 Continue curing under cover in a dark, well-ventilated place. If it’s not dark enough, cover your potatoes with towels to fully exclude the light. 4 Store potatoes in a humid, well-ventilated and dark place. Hessian sacks are ideal for this. If you can, hang them up off the ground to avoid attracting vermin such as mice.…

■ Steph recommends that you always go tree shopping with a good idea of what it is you want – a tree is an investment purchase. ■ Choose a tree suitable for your space and ensure you’ll get good pollination with another tree if necessary. ■ If you are buying in a pot, look for a tree that doesn’t have any weeds in the pot, or any broken branches. ■ It should look as if it has been watered regularly and well. ■ All FPM/Tree for Life trees have a label on them not only detailing the variety and rootstock but also a despatch date. This is when it was sent to the garden centre – look for the most recent date. ■ Check for clear labelling of variety and…

If you prefer to buy your raised beds there are many out there to choose from. Here is just a selection. The Raised Bed and Pond Company sells a great range of beds in various sizes. They are built using 150mm by 22mm (6 x8/10in) timbers with the corners being 100mm by 75mm (4 x 3in). This makes them very strong. Sizes of 1.8m (6ft) or more are also cross-braced to add even more strength. They are delivered in flat pack with all holes pre-drilled and can be put together in less than 10 minutes. They include the screws so you only need a screwdriver and soil. All the timbers are treated FSC timber. www.theraisedbedandpondcompany.co.uk tel: 01284 850104 Prices from £89.99 including delivery. The Vegepod makes veg growing a lot…

“A damson tree could be the answer for those of us who struggle with less than ideal conditions” Damsons, and their close relative, the little-known bullace, are a godsend to the gardener who wants to grow fruit in an unfavourable location. Live in a cold area? No problem, these trees are bone hardy. Perhaps you live in the North West, and the high rainfall causes scab and canker – again, grow damsons, they’ll thrive. In a world where every TV programme and gardening magazine tries to promote yet another exotic fruit that you can now grow in the UK, perhaps it’s time to consider a fruit that has been grown here for at least 2000 years. If ‘right plant in the right place’ is the golden rule for successful gardening,…

ALSO IN THE KG SHOP THIS MONTH SPRING GREENS PLANT COLLECTION This carefully put together collection is just the job to bring a host of different flavours to your table. These quality brassica varieties have been chosen for their outstanding flavour and all-round performance in British gardens. Contains 40 plants, 10 each of cabbage ‘Advantage F1’, cabbage ‘Spring Hero F1’, sprouting broccoli ‘Claret F1’ and cauliflower ‘Aalsmeer’ AGM. Harvest from March 40-plant collection, only £16.80 Dispatch from mid-September TUNNEL AND GREENHOUSE WINTER PLANT COLLECTION A thoroughly recommended collection which is perfect for the cold winter greenhouse or polytunnel! Contains 40 plants, 10 of each calabrese ‘Aquiles F1’, cabbage ‘Spring Hero F1’, cauliflower ‘Mystique F1’ and cabbage ‘Duncan F1’. Harvest from February 40-plant collection, only £16.80 Dispatch from mid-September WINTER LETTUCE…

PLUS  PREPARE FOR WINTER : COLD GREENHOUSE CROPS & TAKING CARE OF GARDEN WILDLIFE DELICIOUS PIES FROM SEASONAL FRUIT GARDEN FORKS TRIED & TESTED FREE FOR EVERY READER GARLIC ‘MERSLEY WIGHT’ 4 BULBS (* just pay p&p) when can i ger my next hit of kitchen garden ? Scan this, and we’ll tell you! SUBSCRIBE ONLINE, BY POST OR PHONE 01504 529529 | WWW.KITCHENGARDEN.CO.UK…

TERIYAKI SALMON & PAK CHOI A quick but delicious dinner of pak choi in teriyaki sauce. Perfect for a midweek dinner. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes ■ 2 skinless salmon fillets ■ 2 large pak choi ■ 2 tbsp of vegetable oil, divided ■ 2 garlic cloves, minced ■ 75ml of fish stock ■ 2 tbsp of sesame seeds FOR THE SAUCE ■ 1 tbsp of sweet chilli sauce ■ 1 tbsp of sesame oil ■ 1 tbsp of dry sherry ■ 1 tbsp of brown sugar ■ 1 tbsp of honey ■ 2 tbsp of dark soy sauce ■ 2 tbsp of ginger, grated ■ 1 clove of garlic, minced ■ Cooked rice to serve 1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. 2. Place the salmon…

DT BROWN & CO tel 0845 371 0532 www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk SAMUEL DOBIE AND SON tel 0844 701 7625 www.dobies.co.uk MR FOTHERGILL’S SEEDS tel 0845 371 0518 www.mr-fothergills.co.uk JUNGLE SEEDS tel 01491 614765 www.jungleseeds.co.uk EW KING & CO tel 01376 570000 www.kingsseeds.com SE MARSHALL & CO tel 0844 557 6700 www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk MEDWYN’S SEEDS tel 01248 714851 www.medwynsofanglesey.co.uk MOREVEG tel 01823 681302 www.moreveg.co.uk THE ORGANIC GARDENING CATALOGUE tel 01932 878570, www.organiccatalogue.com PLANTS OF DISTINCTION tel 01449 721720 www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk THE REAL SEED CATALOGUE (Vida Verde) tel 01239 821107 www.realseeds.co.uk W ROBINSON & SON LTD tel 01524 791210 www.mammothonion.co.uk SARAH RAVEN tel 0845 092 0283 www.sarahraven.com SEEDS OF ITALY tel 0208 427 5020 www.seedsofitaly.com SHELLEY SEEDS tel 01244 317165 SIMPSON’S SEEDS tel 01985 845004 simpsonsseeds.co.uk SUFFOLK HERBS tel 01376 572456 www.suffolkherbs.com SUTTONS tel 0844 922…

STEP 1: Figs flop over a little when they ripen. The neck starts to soften, as does the rest of the fruit, and you have to gauge the right moment to pick. There should be a good colour all round and a little ‘give’ if the fruit is gently squeezed. STEP 2: Harvest all fruit that is ripe. See how one tastes and learn how ripe they need to be to give best flavour. If fruits are hard then they won’t taste of much and if you leave them too long the skin may split and wasps will feast on the sweet flesh. STEP 3: Check the branches when all full-sized fruit is harvested. Remove any small green figs that are bigger than a small fingernail. The largest of these…

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.…

Steve is in his back garden, demonstrating how to prune a trained apple tree mid-to-late summer. The idea of summer pruning is to cut back on some of that vigorous growth that you get from spring to late summer. The intention is to make the tree concentrate on producing fruit buds instead of growth buds for the following year. Cut back any new growth beyond the fruit when that growth has reached about eight inches (the length of a pair of secateurs). Cut it back to about two or three buds beyond the fruit. You can return for winter pruning if necessary to remove dead, diseased or crossing branches. To see this video visit: https://bit.ly/2LCkluB…

Winter roots of carrot, beetroot and parsnip are hardier than potatoes and in well-drained soils can be safely left where they are to lift as needed. Harsh cold and wet soils require a little extra attention though. IN THE GROUND Where regular hard frosts are likely, cover beetroot with a thick layer of straw or cardboard to keep the roots from freezing solid and becoming damaged. Stop insulating materials blowing away by holding them in place with netting or horticultural fleece, properly secured at the edges. Carrots are less prone to damage but will be easier to dig up from frozen ground if they too are given a warming blanket. Allow parsnips a few good frostings before covering though, as frost improves their flavour. IN BOXES Where winters are especially…

■ FINDING THE PERFECT PLANTS TO SUIT YOUR SOIL TYPE ■ SAVE MONEY BY LEARNING HOW TO PROPAGATE FROM SEED ■ PREPARE THE GROUND FOR SUCCESSFUL PLANTING ■ IDENTIFY PESKY PESTS & DISEASES AND HOW TO MANAGE THEM TO ■ RECOGNISE PLANT DISORDERS AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM ■ UNDERSTAND YOUR SITE AND ITS SUITABILITY TO GROWING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES ■ UNDERSTAND CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES AND CROP ROTATION ■ SUCCESSFULLY GROW AN ASSORTMENT OF VEGETABLES AND HERBS THAT CAN BE FRESHLY PICKED FOR A TASTY SNACK OR USED IN YOUR FAVOURITE KITCHEN GARDEN RECIPES…

Covering 450 acres of Worcestershire countryside, Frank P Matthews’ tree growing nursery is a sizeable affair, producing more than half a million trees each year. If you’ve bought a tree from a garden centre in the last few years, chances are it came from Frank P Matthews, under the nursery’s ‘Tree for Life’ brand. It supplies garden centres, mail order companies and commercial fruit growers, but also sells direct to customers through its tree shop, on site just outside Tenbury Wells and Ludlow. The business, founded by the eponymous Frank in 1901, originally grew roses but expanded into fruit trees soon after. In the 1980s ornamental trees were added to the sale lines, but two-thirds of the business is still in fruit tree production. It is also still a family…

■ Some pruning methods are largely unchanged since Roman times, says Steph, and don’t worry if you get it wrong – nothing is not redeemable! ■ To make a freestanding (i.e. untrained) tree more fruitful, tie down the branches in spring as the sap rises. Bend the branch carefully so it is more horizontal, securing it with gardening twine to the trunk or a peg in the ground. It will ‘set’ in roughly this position, and more buds will break on the upperside of the branch, producing more fruit. ■ Pot growing is feasible for many trees, but it is essential to water and fertilise the trees regularly.…

The hedgerows around my allotment are dripping with bunches of purple-red elderberries (Sambucus nigra). Elderberries are rich in flavonoids and are an abundant source of Vitamin C: good for colds and wintry chills. During autumn I gather buckets full of berries to make infused spirits, wine, tonics and teas. REMOVING ELDERBERRIES FROM THEIR STALKS 1. I sit with three containers – one containing the harvest, one compost bucket for the stalks and rejects, and another for the berries. 2. Using my fingers, I carefully remove the berries from the bunches. This stains my fingers rather, which I don’t mind, but if you prefer, use a fork to remove the berries. 3. Cover with some water and swish about. Leave for a few minutes to allow bugs and debris to rise…

What plot would be complete without beetroot? One of the most popular veggies in the seed catalogues, this delicious crop is easy to grow and comes in a range of colours to light up your plot – and your plate. “This delicious crop is easy to grow and comes in a range of colours to light up your plot – and your plate” I tried two varieties that have only recently appeared in the catalogues – ‘Boston’ a red-rooted variety billed as a replacement for the incredibly popular ‘Boltardy’ and a yellow-rooted type called ‘Golden Eye’ – a variety with sweet yellow roots. Of course, these and any other beetroot varieties can be sown normally in rows direct into the ground from April to July and undercover from February. I…

BROAD BEAN ‘LUZ DE OTONO’ PLANTS One of the joys of the summer vegetable garden has to be broad beans. The fresh and unique flavour of the beans makes them perfect to be served hot as a vegetable side dish or enjoyed warm in fresh summer salads. ‘Luz de Otono’ is the world’s first autumn-cropping broad bean, so now you can enjoy the unique flavour of this great favourite for even more of the year. The strong plants produce plenty of 25cm (10in) long pods, containing between five and seven beans which are packed full of flavour. You will receive 20 plants which will be sent out from late August ready for immediate planting.…