Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Kitchen Garden

Turn to page 16 to find out what the KG team has been up to this month The great build-up to a brand new gardening year continues and it won’t be long before we can start getting some seeds into the soil. With that in mind we have some timely growing guides for you this month and lots of top tips to help you plan your spring sowings. Parsnips are a great winter standby but are not always easy to get started. With advice from ace grower Nigel Jewkes, you can look forward to even rows of seedlings and harvesting long, straight roots. We also have a five-page guide to growing that most popular of summer crops, tomatoes, with plenty of pointers to success whether you grow on a patio,…

SOW SOME EARLY VEGETABLES It’s that time of the year when we can start to think about sowing some early veg in the polytunnel. The exact time to start will of course depend on where you live and the weather conditions. Where I live in North Yorkshire, I normally start some sowing around the middle of February, especially if we’ve had some sunny weather to start warming up the soil. A soil thermometer is handy to check and once the temperature gets to around 8C (46F) it’s safe to start sowing vegetables such as early carrots, beetroot, spring onions, lettuce and salad leaves. Once sown directly into shallow drills in the border, keep the soil moist and cover over with fleece for extra protection. START SHALLOTS IN TRAYS Shallots are…

RHS FLOWER SHOWS 2021 Neither the RHS Flower Show Cardiff nor the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show will go ahead in 2021 due to the impact of Covid-19. The good news, however, is that the following will: • RHS Malvern Spring Festival, May 5-9, 2021 • RHS Chelsea Flower Show, May 18-23, 2021, Members’ Days May 18 and 19 • RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, July 5-11, 2021, Preview Evening July 5, Members’ Days July 6 and 7 • RHS Flower ShowTatton Park, July 21-25, 2021, Members’ Day July 21 The RHS will also be introducing a number of necessary health, hygiene and safety measures to ensure RHS shows can operate safely and are Covid-secure. For tickets visit: rhs.org.uk/shows or call 0344 338 7501. LEEKS FOR WEEKS! If you like…

STAR QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER HOW TO SEE OFF SAWFLY This year my gooseberry bush was completely stripped of leaves by something I am guessing was sawfly. The gooseberries themselves were fine. Is there something I can do to prevent this happening again or do I need to dig up the gooseberry bush and start again? Dawn Hunter, Essex EMMA SAYS: Yes it certainly sounds like gooseberry sawfly. The pests will be overwintering as pupae in the soil below the plants now ready to emerge in the spring, timed with the new leaves unfurling. It’s a good idea therefore to rake away any mulch and pick up fallen leaves to help expose them to predators and the cold. Lightly forking over with a hand fork might bring a few to…

POSH SHED BIG PLANTER This brand new planter from The Posh Shed Company comes in nine sizes. It has fully pressurised treated timber walls and a base that will not rot, made from recycled plastic board. www.theposhshedcompany.co.uk EMPATHY GROW YOUR OWN PACK This pack contains everything needed to grow delicious crops naturally. The pack contains Rootgrow, two packs of Tomato Starter, After Plant Tomato Feed, After Plant Grow Your Own and complimentary RHS bird feed, www.rootgrow.co.uk HOZELOCK BIOMIX Make your own natural and organic plant feeds in this Biomix. Just add the leaves of comfrey or nettles and water and seal the unit. There is no smell and you can mix the solution using the handle on the top. You extract the plant feed from the tap at the base.…

PLANT WITH MANY PURPOSES Comfrey ‘Booking 14’ is one of those must-grow plants. Bees love the flowers and it is also high in the main nutrients plants need. The plants will grow quickly and some of the leaves can be cut and steeped in water. After a few days remove some of the liquid and add some fresh water to it so it has the appearance of weak tea and feed it to your plants. This comfrey has to be propagated by root cuttings and can be bought from various suppliers including www.organiccatalogue.com REUSE COMPOST BAGS Currently there isn’t a great deal you can do about accumulating compost bags unless you make your own compost or buy in bulk. Don’t bin all your compost bags – reuse them. When you…

‘BRIGHT LIGHTS’: These round-shaped radishes come in a cheerful mix of different colours, including red, white, purple and yellow! (Available from Mr Fothergill’s) ‘CHERRY BELLE’: Round scarlet roots, crisp and mild in flavour. Good for growing across the whole season and they are slow to turn woody. (Available from Kings Seeds) ‘DIANA’: With attractive purple and white roots and an oval shape, this variety has a crisp flesh and a mild, peppery flavour. (Available from Simply Seed) ‘FRENCH BREAKFAST 3’: With this long, cylindrical shape, you get plenty of radish for your buck. A popular variety, very reliable. (Available from Kings Seeds) ‘PING PONG’: This pure white variety has a mild, peppery flavour and an RHS Award of Garden Merit for good performance. (Available from Mr Fothergill’s)…

PREPARING THE BED My personal system of growing parsnips for the dinner table is a derivative of the exhibition method (mentioned left). Being located in West Midlands, I tend to begin preparing the seed bed from March onwards. Well-rotted manure would have been added to the bed as a top dressing during the previous growing season. I perform a soil check and add a generous covering of garden lime if the pH requires raising, just to ‘sweeten’ it. It is left for a few days if rain is forecast to wash it in. However, in dry spells it will be lightly raked below the soil surface and then watered in. Next, the bed is completely covered with a sheet of black plastic damp proof membrane. The objective of this is…

I’m hooked on growing tomatoes and judging by their popularity among gardeners generally I’m guessing so are many of you. Apart from the magical flavour growing this lovely crop gives you, there is also such variety in terms of colour, shape and form. How many other veg garden favourites can be grown in anything from a hanging basket, patio container, raised bed or greenhouse? They are so accommodating that even people without a garden can give them a go and so easy that everyone is assured of a decent harvest. WHAT TO CHOOSE The current favourites are the cherry toms and delicious new varieties are being produced all the time. Regular readers will have seen our trials on varieties like ‘Honeycomb F1’, ‘Riesling F1’, ‘Shimmer F1’ and of course the…

(AGM is the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Under RHS garden trials these varieties performed particularly well) SAVE UP TO £32 FREE* WITH EVERY ORDER BLACKCURRANT ‘BEN CONNAN’ FRUIT PLANT Early summer would not be the same without a crop of home-grown blackcurrants and ‘Ben Connan’ (AGM) is one of our favourites. This excellent and reliable blackcurrant tolerates frost and resists mildew to produce a heavy crop of really large, juicy berries with an outstanding flavour. Packed full of goodness, ‘Ben Connan’ is ready to pick from mid July. **You can claim this item FREE when ordering at least one additional product off the page. ALSO IN THE KG SHOP THIS MONTH LONG CROPPING STRAWBERRY PLANT COLLECTION The perfect strawberry runner collection to extend your strawberry picking. The collection contains…

ROASTED BEETROOT AND HORSERADISH SALAD The fresh mint and hot horseradish lifts the earthy beetroot and makes a very moreish side/salad. SERVES 2 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour FOR THE BEETROOT ■ 1kg/2lb beetroot, unpeeled, greens removed, scrubbed clean ■ 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil ■ Salt and pepper to taste FOR THE HORSERADISH SAUCE ■ 100ml/4fl oz creme fraîche or vegan plain yogurt ■ 1-2 tbsp horseradish, grated ■ 1 tbsp lemon juice ■ 4 tbsp mint, chopped ■ 1 garlic clove, minced ■ 1 tsp honey ■ 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil FOR THE GARNISH ■ 115g/4oz walnuts or almonds, toasted and roughly chopped ■ A few extra mint leaves 1. Preheat oven to 190C/fan 180C/gas 5 2. In a medium bowl,…

COLLECT PEA STICKS AND BEAN POLES Start to gather supplies for the garden. Buy potting compost, feeds, string and bamboo canes. If you have hazel trees, you can cut your own bean poles and pea sticks before leaves start to open. TAKE CARE OF PROPAGATORS Wash out propagation boxes and check plugs and cables on heated devices. It’s worth monitoring temperatures for 24 hours before you use them, just to make sure that thermostats are still working. PRUNE AUTUMN RASPBERRIES Cut old canes down to the ground as soon as you see growth and leaves starting to open on new canes. This is a good time to feed rows of autumn fruiting varieties -use a high-potash feed. FINISH PRUNING APPLE TREES Ideally, apple tree pruning should be done before the…

■ Early varieties of peas can be sown now and to give them a head start sow in cell trays or Rootrainers to produce seedlings for planting out at a later date. ■ Start sowing tomato seeds if you have a heated propagator with a temperature of 18-20C (64-68F). Remember also that the seedlings need constant warmth to grow on. ■ Salads can be sown now in plug trays or directly into the ground for a spring crop. ■ Gradually increase the amount of water you give to plants in containers as they start into growth. ■ Remove yellow leaves from the base of spring greens and other brassicas. ■ Sweet pepper or chillis can be sown now in a heated propagator.…

MILK BOTTLE BEDS When we moved to our new house last year we immediately installed a polytunnel, then discovered it flooded (Welsh hillside garden to blame) so installed raised bed edges with empty milk bottles collected from neighbours. They worked well, but have now been upgraded (or rather are in the process of being upgraded as we and neighbours use more milk) to make the beds deeper. We have filled them with water from the water butts (10 of them around the garden) and pushed sturdy metal canes through the handles to hold them in place. Rev Elaine Halls, Llanelli TONY SAY: Ingenious Elaine! ★ STAR ★ LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER CABBAGE PATCH TWINS A packet of your free seeds has produced double what I hoped for. These twin cabbages…

OURE SERIES FOR YOUNG GROWERS Hi! I’m Belle and I’m here every month to share lots of fun activities for you to do at home, on your own or with your family Did you know that with a little bit of help from you, some of your vegetable scraps can regrow new leaves for eating? I didn’t until recently, but I decided to give it a go as an exciting way to keep growing food over winter. It was so much fun! ALL YOU NEED IS: ■ Vegetable tops and ends – lettuce, leek, pak choi, spring onions, celery and carrot. ■ Small jars. ■ Jug of water. STEP 1: Start by collecting your vegetables. You will need to have about 2.5-5cm (1-2in) of growth left, with the base still…

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. www.mr-fothergills.co.uk…

Grow them right, sweet, crunchy with a bit of bite, summer radishes are a taste no respectable salad should be without. Get them wrong and they are dry, woody and bitter (usually if you’ve let them grow past their pick-by date). What’s more they are extremely easy to grow, and they grow quick. I think they’re a great first crop for kids as they can see the results of their sowing in weeks, they’re easy to lift and they will like the cheerful roots, mostly red, but with other colours too. And if you don’t have a lot of space you can grow them in pots, window box-type containers, growing bags or in short drills on the plot. Sow little and often (about every two weeks) unless, of course, you…

Welshmill is one of the older allotment sites in Frome, established around 1925 as part of the post-First World War allotment expansion. Situated between the river Frome and a railway embankment, where the quarry wagons ship out the limestone from the Mendips, it’s a popular site. There are 64 plots of varying sizes as well as raised beds for less mobile gardeners. Along with another seven locations in the town, the site is self-managed by Frome Allotment Association. Demand for allotments has shot up in Frome with many new applications during the Covid lockdown. Only a few plots have become available as people have enjoyed the benefit of an allotment. It’s a five-year wait for a plot. ALISTAIR “I don’t dig but I’m not a no-dig gardener,” says Alistair Wood.…

Many seeds, especially during late winter and early spring, when temperatures are cool and light levels still low, need a little extra help to germinate and thrive. Propagation equipment can be expensive. Here are some ways to make your own, using household items and upcycled materials. Start preparing now in readiness for the sowing season ahead! HOME-MADE HEATED PROPAGATOR I sow chillies, aubergines and sweet peppers in mid-February, and tomatoes in March. These seeds really benefit from ‘bottom heat’ – growing on gentle warmth, such as a heated propagator. A simple and safe home-made solution is to use a hot water bottle. Take two similar-sized trays large enough to fit the bottle in and fill the hot water bottle with hot water. Line one of the trays with a few…

WORTH OVER £994! SECURE STORAGE SORTED The Vangard Metal Shed from Asgard is a heavy-duty but compact garden shed. Made from tough galvanised steel, it measures 154cm (5ft 1in) by 95cm (3ft 1in) by 131cm (4ft 3in) high. It fits neatly into a small space, but its generous double-door opening maximises its capacity. Designed and made in the UK, the Vangard features an integral metal floor, making it the perfect secure home for lawnmowers, patio furniture and garden tools. It has a solid two-point deadbolt locking system and a thumbturn lock for your padlock. Hidden ventilation in the roof minimises condensation, and all screws and fixtures are hidden for extra security and a cleaner finish. Available in green, grey or ivory, the Vangard comes with a 10-year warranty and is…

Like many gardeners I find the long, dark winters difficult; time spent looking at seed packets and planning my spring sowing campaign only helps so much. A greenhouse full of nothing but overwintering pots of this and that doesn’t inspire; I need to get out there and grow. So I recently decided to treat myself to some growing lights with thoughts of harvesting salad leaves right through the autumn and winter and getting an early start with my tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. But who knew that typing growing lights into the world wide web could leave one feeling so confused? I’m sure you do the same – you see a product you like the look of and immediately go to the reviews to see what other folk made of it…

■ NEW ZEALAND FLATWORM These pests eat earthworms so destroy any that you spot (either coiled or stretched out). They hide under tiles or pieces of flat plastic laid on the ground – both can be used as traps. Don’t cut them in half or both parts can regenerate. Boiling water is nasty but effective. ■ PIGEONS Hungry birds can decimate winter greens at this time of year. They will strip young leaves and peck the hearts out of Brussels sprouts. Raise netting over susceptible plants – use canes with plastic bottles on top to lift the net high enough. ■ RABBITS Rabbits can be devastating in a garden. Erect fencing that’s dug into trenches for a permanent solution, and keep a cat! Cover susceptible plants with garden fleece or…

■ As we start anew growing season, it’s a good idea to wash out watering cans to remove green slime, algae and fungal spores from inside the can that could damage seedlings and young plants. A disinfectant or bleach spray inside the can, rinsed around through the spout, will soon clean away any dirt, leaving them as good as new. ■ If you heat your greenhouse to start seeds and young plants off early, make sure you check the heater on a regular basis to see that it’s working properly and maintaining the correct temperature. ■ Make sure all your plant pots and plastic trays that are being reused are thoroughly clean ready for seed sowing and growing seedlings on. Warm soapy water with a little disinfectant is the best…

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…

Pretty much every allotment grower or gardener has had a go at growing some sort of bean during their gardening life, even if they didn’t like them. From runners to French to broad beans, there are lots of varieties to choose from to keep the most avid bean fan happy; yet did you know there are lots more types of beans which we can grow at home and they are really tasty? Runner beans have to be the most popular type of bean that are grown by kitchen gardeners up and down the country, with some gardeners swearing by the red-flowered varieties, while others prefer the white; both claiming they give better results and that they produce more beans than the other. However, what would you say if I told…

■ FLEA BEETLE You may well find young leaves riddled with small round holes. This is the work of flea beetles. Cover your crop with insect netting or horticultural fleece; otherwise, keep the soil moist. Leaves can outgrow the problem, especially if you give your crop a high-nitrogen feed initially to encourage fast leaf growth. ■ SLUGS AND SNAILS: These get everywhere of course, so you will need to protect young leaves and roots with the control of your choice, such as beer traps, organic pellets or copper bands around pots. ■ CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY: As radishes belong to the brassica family they can attract cabbage white butterflies which will lay eggs on the leaves with the resultant caterpillars doing the damage. Check leaves regularly for the little splash of…

A staple ingredient as part of a stew or winter roasts, parsnips are easy to grow in well-cultivated soil and are one of the most valuable of winter vegetables. They also make good soup, especially if you add some curry powder. Unless you are growing baby parsnips, they stay in the ground for up to nine months and can be lifted for use as required. Taste is also improved after exposure to frosts, and they will happily remain undamaged in a deep-frozen soil. Parsnips need a long growing season so are traditionally sown quite early. Another characteristic of parsnips is that even goodquality seeds are notoriously hit and miss to germinate, often no more than about 60%, but once they have, they are extremely easy to grow so be sure…

Welcome back to my two-part beginner’s guide to growing fruit trees. Last month we looked at how to choose the right fruit for you, and also had a look at pollination groups. This month we delve a little deeper into the knowledge you need to choose your new trees by looking at rootstocks and then a quick overview of the shapes and sizes of tree you can buy. Almost no top fruit will come true from seed. Plant five pips from your supermarket ‘Braeburn’ apple and you will produce five new, genetically unique trees. Depending on the pollen that pollinated that particular tree, you may end with one or two quite similar, but you may also produce a crab apple, or a tree prone to pest and disease. It’s a…

I’m often asked by teachers and parents for advice on how to encourage children and teenagers to get outside, up to the allotment, playing and perhaps learning to grow their own food – all with the aim to help their overall well-being, getting them out in the fresh air and learning new things. As keen gardeners, we know ourselves that creating a direct connection to the soil, seeds, vegetables and wildlife can be very grounding and empowering. Going barefoot as long as it’s safe and putting our hands in the soil, so we can feel the earth’s energy. Spotting other life – birds, hedgehogs, frogs, wiggly worms, caterpillars and ladybirds. Feeling the different textures and smells of the plants. It’s brilliant! But encouraging children to try all these things and…

GROWING ESSENTIALS The own-brand range from Two Wests & Elliott offers an extensive selection of key products for your greenhouse and garden. As well as staging and shelving in a wide range of sizes, there are potting benches, propagators, cold frames, cloches, fruit cages, planters and watering equipment, all made from high-quality, rot-proof aluminium that should last a lifetime. View the full range of more than 120 products at www.twowests.co.uk/best-brands/two-wests-own-brands www.twowests.co.uk Tel: 01246 451077 KEEP IT COVERED! Insects, birds and even rabbits will struggle to reach crops covered by Veggiemesh. Just lay it flat over the bed, leaving enough slack to allow your crops to grow. Peg the edges down securely to stop any enterprising pests sneaking underneath. Carrot fly, caterpillars, aphids, leaf miners, leek moth and many other bugs…