Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Kitchen Garden

It’s a brand new season and we have lots for those who are just beginning their allotment journey as well as plenty for old hands at the hobby. Adrian Sellars has advice for those planning a new veg patch, while KG’s own Tony Flanagan has a roundup of some of the best new seed varieties for 2022. Ben Vanheems takes over our essential jobs pages and highlights some of the top tasks for January, while Rob Smith starts a new month-bymonth series from his own Yorkshire veg garden. Dr Anton Rosenfeld, of leading green gardening charity Garden Organic, demystifies crop rotation while I visit the Heritage Seed Library for a behind-the-scenes tour. For chilli lovers we have a timely growing guide and you can take a masterclass in winter tree…

OUR SERIES FOR YOUNG GROWERS Have you done a scavenger hunt before? There is no better way to explore every bit of your garden, allotment or local area See if you can find the plants, wildlife, colours and textures listed below. CAN YOU FIND? ■ Something rough to touch ■ Insect ■ Spider web ■ Something brown ■ Wellington boots ■ Bird’s nest ■ Acorn ■ Animal footprints ■ Berries on a branch ■ Holly ■ Something smooth to touch ■ A tree with no leaves ■ Robin ■ Pine cone ■ Something that is growing ■ Frost Look high and low, look between plants and under rocks! What will you discover? You can take this page and a pencil out with you, then as you explore tick each item…

STAR QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER ASPARAGUS FROM SEED I grew the asparagus from seed and have some healthy fern stems growing in one of my raised beds. Can you advise on what I do next? Steve Watkin, Wingate EMMA SAYS: There is not too much to do at this stage. Simply keep the plants weed free and once they die down remove old growth and give them a light mulch with some well-rotted garden compost, leafmould or manure and repeat this each year. The mulch can be thicker as time goes on and the plants establish and mature until you are applying a generous layer each year. Make sure any mulches are free of weeds. Don’t harvest any spears for the first three years to allow the plants to get…

As ever, there are plenty of new varieties to whet our sowing appetites, some totally new, others new to a particular seed supplier, useful if you have a favourite seed company you return to each year. BRASSICA FANTASTICA There are tasty broccoli spears aplenty this year. First off there’s Suttons’ British-bred ‘Summer Purple’ with its dark-headed florets. This is a high-yielding variety for both summer and autumn cropping. Or how about Dobies’ ‘Santee F1’, a quick grower and promising a continuous crop for almost six months? Otherwise, there’s ‘Cardinal’ from Mr Fothergill’s, producing medium-large purple spears for later harvesting. There are plenty of new summer cabbage seeds on parade. If you’re short on space, Kings has ‘Vivaldi F1’, especially bred for producing smaller, uniform heads. In contrast, D T Brown…

Many of us get in a spin over rotations – we have heard that it is a good idea, but there are so many different diagrams in gardening books it’s difficult to be sure which is the right one or even why we should bother to do it. Firstly, let’s get one thing straight: there is no single ‘correct’ rotation. Each one can be different to suit your growing space and needs. Once you get a basic idea of why you are doing it, you can then design something that suits your site. It is akin to somebody who is confident enough to construct a meal out of anything in the cupboard rather than having to slavishly follow a recipe. WHY BOTHER? Rotation simply means growing your vegetables in a…

In the early 1970s the EU began to introduce changes to the regulations around seed sales and distribution. This greatly alarmed Lawrence Hills, the organic gardening legend who had founded the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA), now Garden Organic in 1954. As lead horticulturist Marcin Salnikow explained as he took me on a tour of the site, based at the headquarters of Garden Organic: “Lawrence Hills recognised that we may have an issue with some varieties because if they weren’t on the National List or EU catalogue they would just disappear. He didn’t want to risk that. “He formed the Heritage Seed Library (HSL) in 1975 to protect them. Still hundreds were lost but at least we have over 800 that have been preserved as a genetic pool that we…

Most gardeners know that working with nature is easier than working against it, which is one of the principles of organic gardening. While many gardeners already use organic principles in their own gardens, plenty more would like to. However, the barrier preventing lots of gardeners from making the leap might be the word ‘organic’ itself. Recent research demonstrates that home gardeners need to be encouraged to take a more relaxed approach to organic horticulture. Reaching for the fully organic ideal immediately is a big challenge, especially if the gardener has previously relied on chemical interventions. Setbacks may lead to despondency. By incorporating increasing amounts of organic principles in their own gardens, home gardeners will see the benefits incrementally rather than trying to change all of their less sustainable gardening habits…

PLUS SUBSCRIBER SAVERS* WINTER WARMERS Haxnicks’ frost protection range includes an array of essential products to keep your plants safe from harsh weather this winter. Alongside the company’s famous Victorian Bells – classic cloches reinvented for the 21st century in UV-stabilised plastic, in a choice of three sizes – there are fleece and poly tunnels, fleece blankets, and jackets for individual plants and fruit trees. www.haxnicks.co.uk Tel: 0117 934 1795 SUBSCRIBER SAVING: 10% off all Haxnicks frost protection products until February 28, 2022 DELUXE WATERING Here’s a gift set that green-fingered friends and family will love. This gleaming combo from Haws – the world’s oldest watering can company – will make indoor or greenhouse watering a delight, with The Rowley Ripple metal watering can in hand-polished copper, plus The Smethwick…

DT BROWN & CO tel 0845 371 0532 www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk DOBIES SEEDS 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 KINGS SEEDS tel 01376 570000 www.kingsseeds.com MARSHALLS SEEDS tel 0844 557 6700 www.marshallsgarden.com MEDWYN’S SEEDS tel 01248 714851 www.medwynsofanglesey.co.uk MOREVEG tel01823 681302 www.moreveg.co.uk THE ORGANIC GARDENING CATALOGUE tel 01932 878570 www.organiccatalogue.com PLANTS OF DISTINCTION tel 01449 72172 www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk THE REAL SEED CATALOGUE 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 01244317165 www.shelleyseeds.co.uk SIMPSON’S SEEDS tel 01985 845004 simpsonsseeds.co.uk SUFFOLK HERBS tel 01376 572456 www.suffolkherbs.com SUTTONS tel 0844 922 0606 www.suttons.co.uk THOMPSON & MORGAN tel 0844 573 1818…

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FORCE RHUBARB Pop a forcing pot, bucket or a large pot with the drainage holes covered over rhubarb crowns to force an earlier crop of tender, pale stems. PLANT FRUIT Continue planting fruit trees, bushes and canes, but only if your soil isn’t saturated or frozen. Mulch around the area after planting. PRUNE TREES Winter prune apples and pears, remove any crossing branches then concentrate on the three Ds: dead, damaged and diseased wood. PLAN AHEAD Work out what to grow where next growing season. Aim to try something new and bear in mind the principles of crop rotation. LOVE YOUR SOIL Soil doesn’t like to remain uncovered for long. Now is a great time to top up mulches if you haven’t already done so. And it couldn’t be simpler:…

GARDENERS LET DOWN BY RETAILERS A growing number of gardeners are turning their backs on harmful peatbased composts but are being let down by retailers and manufacturers who are making peat-free alternatives too difficult to find, according to leading horticultural charity, Garden Organic. New research by the charity has revealed that almost three-quarters (73%) of people said they were aware of the risks of continuing peat use – including that its extraction releases disastrous amounts of carbon dioxide. However, according to the charity’s For Peat’s Sake Barometer, people’s opportunities to choose peat-free products were severely impacted by a lack of availability at shops, premium pricing, inconsistent quality and confusing labelling. More than four in 10 people (44%) said that peat-free products weren’t available in their local retailer and a quarter…

Over recent years my wife Jill and I have been lucky to be able to visit New Zealand where our daughter and family live. Although we are there to spend quality time with the family I can’t resist visiting a few gardens, especially if they include fruit and vegetables, to see how they compare to gardens back in the UK. The New Zealand climate is ideal for growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables and during our visits I’ve noticed that many people like to plant their gardens with an ‘English’ style! We tend to visit in our winter, which of course is summer in New Zealand and perfect for looking at gardens (and vineyards!). On our last trip, we were invited to look around a garden that has…

These brightly coloured fruits packed full of flavour and punch are used in so many dishes all around the world. Originating in South America but brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus, peppers can be grown easily at home! Variants of the pepper that host a fiery taste are chillies and the active ingredient in chillies is capsaicin. When eaten, this compound triggers pain receptors whose normal evolutionary purpose is to alert the body to dangerous physical heat. This is the spicy taste many of us love. A huge advantage of growing your own is the vast amount of varieties that are now available! Last year I had great success growing sweet peppers and I also grew some chillies in the greenhouse. I’m going to share my growing tips with you…

It’s a new year and the days are beginning to uncurl and stretch out once again. Gardeners relish the prospect of anew growing season, with the gentle whisper of spring growing louder with each passing day. Ideas, plans and seed lists drawn up over the festive season can now be put into action. So, what if the dream is to create a kitchen garden, somewhere to grow fresh veg, even if your space is limited – where do you start? There is no right or wrong way to creating a kitchen garden, but it’s good to keep in mind the following: how much sunshine does it get throughout the day? Is it sheltered or exposed? Think about maintenance and accessibility. You don’t want to create something the size of a…

If I asked you what the difference is between a garden, a community garden and a therapy garden, what would you say? Over the last few months and even years now, gardening being good for our well-being has become a hot topic. It has been mentioned in many show garden descriptions at gardening events in the last year, it’s being used as a marketing tactic by brands and is talked about across social media more than ever! Has this made some of us a bit cynical though? Perhaps fed up with the fluffy talk? I, more than anyone perhaps, am incredibly passionate about helping others discover how wonderful, and challenging, frustrating and rewarding gardening can be for us, mentally and physically. Yet, even I’m thinking.... woah, wait a minute or…

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BAKED POTATOES WITH RED CABBAGE TUNA SALAD Crunchy red cabbage, tuna, lime and coriander make a speedy meal that’s great for a midweek option. SERVES 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 1hr 20 minutes ■ 4 baking potatoes ■ 1tbsp sunflower oil ■ 1 small red cabbage ■ 1tin tuna ■ 4tbsp mayonnaise ■ 2tbsp sour cream ■ 1 bunch coriander, chopped ■ ½ lime, zest and juice of ■ 2 spring onions, chopped ■ Salt and pepper to taste 1. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Rub a little oil over each potato and put on the top shelf of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn down the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for 45 minutes to an hour more, until the skin…

STAR LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER PUMPKIN PRIDE Just thought I’d attach a picture of our pumpkin harvest this year. We had 11 plants and have 85 pumpkins in total. All were grown from the seeds of one of last year’s pumpkins. Gemma Edison, Lincoln TONY SAYS: Well, what a prodigious cornucopia of cucurbita, Gemma! Words fail me. Excellent! MY LAMP SHADE LIGHTBULB MOMENT Down at my allotment I’m a big fan of square foot gardening. I find it a great way to grow a wide variety of crops without being inundated with certain vegetables. From time to time I have to protect individual square feet from flying pests, particularly wood pigeons. The other day I was pondering the problem, gazing upwards in contemplation trying to find a solution to my…

HOZELOCK SELECT CONTROLLER This Hozelock battery-powered water timer is simple to use and helps you to automatically water your garden – saving water, time and effort. The controller has 16 pre-set programmes to supply water from once a week up to four times a day – simply select your desired programme. Plus, it can conveniently be used with a water butt. https://www.hozelock.com/product/select-controller/ NEMASYS NEMASLUG CONTROL The winners will each receive a season-long programme of slug control called Nemaslug, a biological control using natural nematodes. The prize is for six Nemaslug Slug Killer 100sq m packs which will arrive at intervals from spring through to early autumn to give good control of slugs for the whole growing season. The product is pest specific and so won’t harm other wildlife and is…

Firstly, I’d like to wish you a very Happy New Year from myself, Winston and Nipper (my two border terrier dogs); I hope you’ve had a great festive period and are now ready to get back on the plot for the year ahead. With Christmas behind us it’s time to pack away the festivities for another year, but don’t forget that some things can be used in the garden! Wrapping paper can be added to the compost heap as long as it’s not the shiny type which is covered in plastic; cardboard boxes and even Christmas cards can be scrunched up and added too, just don’t add them as a big pile as they don’t compost down as easily. ACIDIC MULCHING Due to the fact we have the dogs, we…

A greenhouse or polytunnel can be a great place to work and it’s handy to have all the tools you might need close to hand. But, unless you have a large structure, it isn’t easy or practical to dedicate a fixed position to a tool rack. As crops rotate around the beds you find that your tools are hidden behind rows of tomatoes or you may struggle to reach them through sweetcorn stalks. And then again, there’s the issue of a row of tools casting shade – some crops like every bit of sunshine they can get. The answer, of course, is to have a tool rack that can be moved as the planting scheme rotates. This might mean a relocation each spring or you may feel the need to…

It is really worthwhile to make the most of the relatively quiet-in-the-garden days of January, getting all of those small jobs done. You’ll thank yourself when the new growing season is in full swing, just a few weeks away now. I try to get outside as much as possible even on the most miserable of days. It is surprising how much brighter even a dark day is once you step outside, and how spending time in the fresh air can really lift the spirits. Spreading a centimetre or two of compost on any beds that have not had their annual mulch is a good way to burn off some energy. There’s plenty to harvest outside and under cover in the polytunnel: parsnips, winter brassicas, salads, leeks and herbs. The ‘Timperley…

For the ornamental gardener, there was a time you could put away the mower in October and, save for maybe raking up the last of the fallen leaves, be safe in the knowledge that the garden was put to bed for the winter. Nothing to do more taxing than looking through the seed catalogues, choosing old favourites and new varieties to try the following year, and perhaps keeping an eye on some pots of fuchsia cuttings lined up on the spare bedroom window. For the fruit grower, however, winter is arguably busier than summer. The last of the top fruits are to be picked and stored, greasebands need to be checked and replaced, and winter washes applied to keep the trees clean and healthy. Probably the most important job of…

TRADITIONAL STAINLESS PLANTING SPADE This planting spade has a mirror-polished stainless steel pointed blade, etched with depth markings (2, 4, and 6in) and a weatherproofed ash handle with a split YD wishbone hilt. The socket is double riveted for greater strength. Overall length 91cm (36in), weight 1.32kg. Comes with a 10-year guarantee. SPEAR & JACKSON www.spear-and-jackson.com TEL: Go to website for stockists PRODUCT CODE: 4650PS PRICE: £37.57 * Prices correct at time of publication KG VERDICT This is an excellent planting tool. The pointed blade makes penetration of the soil easy and the etched depth markings are a useful aid. Made from mirror-polished stainless steel, the blade offers excellent rust resistance plus soil doesn’t stick to the surface. The tread on the shoulder of the blade gives added comfort to…