Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Kitchen Garden

Summer is in full swing and we can look forward (we hope) to some warmer days when our crops are growing at full speed as they lap up the sunshine. It is easy at this time of year to pay lots of attention to crops already growing and to forget to make those allimportant second sowings, so in this issue we have lots of advice from organic gardening guru Huw Richards and deputy editor Emma Rawlings on crops to sow now, both outside and under cover, to keep your growing space full and productive right into late autumn and beyond. Unfortunately, insects too enjoy the warmer weather and can cause frustration when they take a toll on your treasured crops. Gardening experts Ben Vanheems and Anton Rosenfeld come to the…

RAINING IT IN It's the time of year when the demand for water increases, with seeds growing and plants getting thirsty. The water is now switched on to serve the allotments and we all share the cost. After the excessive rainfall which has filled up my one water barrel during the winter I decided to make conserving rainwater my main project for April. A quick trip to B & Q, the guttering was bought (76mm) and with a few more attachments all of my newly acquired barrels are joined up to collect water from the main and small greenhouse. Truly environmentally friendly, reducing the need for piped water. Steve Watkins, Wingate STAR LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER BELT UP! When finally sorting the garden after major house renovation, we were able…

HELEN DENNETT OF LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE Helen loves her plot so much it is known as Hel's Heaven and it is her sanctuary and a place she goes to clear her head. How long have you been growing veg? I got the allotment in February 2021. Prior to that I had grown small amounts in my back garden, i.e. potatoes in old dustbins, runner beans against the fence etc. I'd been waiting for an allotment for eight years. It was always something I wanted and I loved the idea of growing my own. Do you share the plot with anyone else? It isn't shared…I get frustrated if I have to ask for help from my husband for a job that needs the brute strength I don't have! What do you find…

With recycled tubs in hand they take on their first task. The benefits of this southfacing plot are evident in the impressive growth of the succulent soft fruits being delicately picked by the young gardeners during a brambling session. Within no time margarine tubs are brimming with blackberries, plucked from bramble bushes bordering this productive growing space, ready to put into pies or whatever food takes their fancy. Growing their own is something these young gardeners have been doing for two or three years since joining the Community Kids Allotment, one of 170 plots at Low Moor Allotments in York. Dating back to around 1917, it is one of 16 allotment sites dotted around this historic city which are run by YACIO (York Allotments Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Now in its…

BOLTING It's perfectly natural for plants to flower and set seeds, but when this happens before they are ready for harvest it can be disappointing to say the least. Yet there are ways to help reduce the chances of early flowering (also known as bolting) and to take advantage of some unexpected harvests when it does. THE CAUSES If threatened, a plant will try to reproduce to guarantee survival; producing seeds is just a natural reaction. Many plants use day length as a trigger to tell them when to flower. For example, spinach will flower naturally as the days lengthen from spring to summer. However, among the most common causes of premature flowering is a growth shock or stress, and this is commonly due to high or low temperatures (or…

Getting a greenhouse is one of the first markers of being a ‘proper’ gardener. It's a sign that you're serious, no longer simply someone who buys pretty plants in flower at the local garden centre, but someone who grows plants from seed. It's a coming-ofage ritual we all have longed for at some point, as soon as budget and space allowed. There's normally an initial flush of enthusiasm, seed trays filled with all sorts, so by late April the greenhouse is bursting at the seams and you wish you'd gone for a bigger size. However, all too often, this tails off over the next year or two until the greenhouse becomes nothing more than a repository for old plant pots and part-used bags of compost, with maybe the barbecue for…

GET COOKING CHERRY & ALMOND CAKE Almonds and cherries are a great combo – this fluffy and juicy cake is one to try. SERVES 8 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes ■ 150g (5¼oz) caster sugar ■ 3 large eggs ■ 3 tbsp butter, melted ■ 2 tbsp yogurt ■ 1 tsp almond essence ■ 130g (4½oz) self-raising flour ■ 60g (2oz) ground almond ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ Pinch of salt ■ 180-200g (7oz) cherries (stones removed) 1. Preheat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, and grease and line a 20 or 23cm (8 or 9in) baking tin. 2. In a large bowl whisk the eggs and the sugar until fluffy and light. 3. Add the melted butter, almond extract and yogurt, stirring to combine. 4. Mix…

SHAKE YOUR SWEETCORN Mimic the wind and regularly but gently shake your sweetcorn to encourage good pollination. This will mean better cobs filled with delicious kernels. HARVEST SECOND EARLIES After lifting any first earlies that are still in the ground and taking them to the kitchen (they don't store very well), it is time to start harvesting second early potatoes. PINCH OUT BEANS Pinch out the growing tips of climbing beans once they have reached the tops of their structures. This helps to avoid them becoming top heavy and falling over in windy weather. EDIBLE FLOWERS Keep picking edible flowers such as calendula, viola and nasturtiums to encourage longer blooming. They are delicious in salads. If you have lots, try trading with local restaurants. SUMMER HARVESTS Warm summer days filled…

SEED AND SOIL EXPERIMENT 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 This is a fun experiment that you can try to see how well seeds transform into seedlings under different conditions. All seeds need their own personalised habitat in order to grow and succeed, just like you. YOU WILL NEED: ■ Four small plant pots or yogurt pots with holes in the base. Transparent pots are even better if you have them! ■ A packet of seeds – I suggest runner beans or peas. ■ Multi-purpose compost – cupful ■ Soil directly from your garden - cupful ■ Sand – cupful ■ Spoon ■ Seed tray ■ Plant labels and…

Get in touch by post, email or via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag RATS IN THE SWEETCORN I grew sweetcorn on my allotment last year and got a decent crop. However, I only got to eat one-third of the crop, the rats got the rest. I tried putting old socks over the cobs, slipping plastic bottles over the cobs – nothing worked. Jo Thornber, Leeds STAR QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER STEVE SAYS: I'm sure you won't be alone with your rat problem. Rats are very resourceful and likely to get around barriers if there is something they are very keen to eat and unfortunately, I can only think of a few options. Harvesting as soon as the cobs are ripe and freezing any which are not needed straight away may help,…

WORTH OVER £177! SPEAR & JACKSON TOOLS These tools from Spear & Jackson are part of the best-selling Traditional Stainless Range. The set is made from rust resistant, mirror-polished stainless steel. The handles are made from durable, weatherproofed ash and carry the traditional burnt-in brand logo. A leather cord at the end of the handle may be used for carrying the tools and to hang them up when not in use. And they come with a 10-year guarantee: ■ Traditional Stainless Dutch Style Trowel with a heart-shaped head featuring a pointed tip for creating a planting hole or shallow furrow in the soil. For use when planting out seedlings, small plants or bulbs. (RRP £23.99) ■ Traditional Stainless 3 Prong Cultivator which is a 12in midi handle cultivator for breaking…

BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS: Attract aphid-hungry hoverflies to your garden with simple, open flowers that offer an easily accessible source of nectar and pollen. As well as herb flowers, suitable blooms include alliums of all types, buddleia, hebes, poppies, calendula, thistles and Japanese anemones. LOG ON: Leaving a log pile or two about the garden or allotment is a great way to introduce the dead wood that some species need to survive. This will also attract a wide range of other beneficial bugs, such as ground and stag beetles, as well as offering potential shelter to amphibians. MAKE A LAGOON: Some species of hoverfly, like drone flies, rely on stagnant water for the early stages of their lives. Replicate a ‘rot hole’ – water-filled holes in trees – by stuffing twigs, sticks…

GET GROWING MEET THE BLOGGER How long have you been growing your own fruit and veg? Do you have a plot in the garden, an allotment or both? I have been growing my own fruit and veg for around 12 years now. I started off just growing a few tomatoes and peas in pots in my back garden and I was hooked immediately. For the last seven years I was growing in a large kitchen garden down the road from me but sadly, last year, I had to give it up so now I am just growing in my front and back gardens. You grew some great purple sprouting broccoli in the polytunnel last year. When did you start them off and do you have any top tips for a good…

COBRA CORDLESS TRIMMER GT3024V This Cobra cordless trimmer is powered with a single 24v 2.5Ah Li-ion battery. The trimmer has a cutting width of 30cm (12in) and a 90-degree tilting cutter head which allows you to trim along the edge of lawns. An integral wheel makes this task even easier. The length of the shaft can easily be altered and it has an Eco setting of 7000rpm but you can turbo boost it to 8400rpm. The battery is charged in about two hours and the run time of the trimmer is around 30 minutes. COBRA www.cobragarden.co.uk TEL: 0115 964 5915 PRODUCT CODE: GT3024V PRICE: £89.99 (includes battery and charger) * Prices correct at time of publication KG VERDICT This is a great trimmer. I also use a large heavy petrol…

(AGM is the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Under RHS garden trials these varieties performed particularly well) SAVE OVER £37 FREE* WITH EVERY ORDER THE KITCHEN GARDEN SEED COLLECTION 10 PACKETS WORTH OVER €37! FREE WITH EVERY ORDER OF ANOTHER ITEM FROM THIS PAGE* This seed collection will set you up for the growing season with delicious, flavourful home-grown vegetables and herbs to bring life to your mealtimes. Nothing truly tastes better than the freshness and flavour of crops grown in your very own garden. This collection consists of: basil, radish, runner beans, perpetual spinach, sweet pepper, tomatoes, multicoloured beetroots, carrots, onions and leeks. *Add item to basket and include offer code KG24JUL at checkout in the discount code box to get your offer. ALSO IN THE KG SHOP THIS…

LAST WORD Visit Laura on Instagram: @lottieonthehill Back in early 2020, I began to grow crops in my back garden. I had just bought my house with my partner, and it was the first time we'd had our own garden. I grew tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, garlic, and even broccoli that first year! When lockdown hit, I lost myself in transforming my garden from sad and unloved to a bright and blooming kitchen garden, complete with edible flowers. It was during this time that I realised the connection between being outdoors and my mental well-being. In a time where we couldn't go anywhere or see anyone, and working from home became a full-time matter for us, I managed to create a safe space that my partner and I could escape to.…

When it comes to growing your own food, cabbages sometimes don't have the standing of their more refined cousins, like the broccoli or cauliflower, yet there are so many to choose from. In fact, if you select the correct varieties, you could be harvesting a cabbage every day of the year! Gone are the days of foul-smelling boiled cabbage that some of us were served at school, replaced by ones which make the best slaw, sauerkraut, salads and even wraps; so, if you've always given cabbage growing a wide berth, it's time to change your mind. There are many types of cabbage, from round and red to pointed and Savoy – yet they are all pretty much grown in the same way, no matter which you choose. In all honesty,…

I consider myself a sensible adult. I manage to keep my children and dog alive, pay my mortgage, go for regular checkups at the dentist and attend parents’ evenings. The one thing I cannot do, however, is remember to fertilise my plants. Is it supposed to be once a week? Once every two weeks? Which combination of chicken pellets, potash or liquid fertiliser am I supposed to use? And, honestly, I don't care to find out. Save from in my containers, I don't use fertilisers in my garden. And the best part is that my plants are healthier for it. Consider the difference between getting your nutrients from a salad and getting them from a synthetic supplement. One of these sources is natural, and the other is not. In fact,…

WORTH OVER £899 TOP TOOLS FOR YOUR PLOT Draper Tools is giving away a bumper selection of tools and essentials to help keep your garden looking its best. For comfort while gardening, there's a Kneeler and Seat, while the Carbon Steel Fork and Spade Set will make light work of digging jobs. The winner will be able to easily transport their gardening essentials with Draper's lightweight Garden Caddy, and water their plants with precision thanks to the extra-lightweight Handheld Sprayer with its adjustable nozzle. This practical prize also includes a stylish yet sturdy 11-Piece Aluminium Hand Tool Set, complete with a handy storage bag, and a compact Four-Tier Greenhouse for nurturing plants year-round. To see more of the extensive gardening collection available from Draper Tools, go to www.drapertools.com We have…