For those of you out there who like to see a lovely garden, but would rather not have anything to do with the back-breaking work it involves, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is on from
7 - 13 July, starting with the Gala Evening on the 7th. The show is a great day out for all the family and there is something for everyone. There will be loads of tips on growing your own food and you can purchase the relevant garden tools to help you get started.
One of the highlights of the show is a feature about growing and cooking fruit and vegetables from the Mediterranean, Asia and Britain, which is sure to draw the crowds. The fruit and veg are grown in the 'Growing Tastes' garden, designed by Michael Balston. This is a 'must visit' for anyone planning a kitchen garden. Several top chefs have been roped in to demonstrate what delicious food you can cook from stuff that you have grown in your garden.
For this year's show the RHS has teamed up with the Met Office and there will be a presentation about climate change and its effect on the way we garden. There will also be a family weekend and first the first time ever a scarecrow competition, which should be great fun for the children.
8 and 9 July are members' only days, but from 10 July it is open to everyone. Just like at the Chelsea Flower Show there is a sale on the final day starting at 4.30pm and there will be many bargains to be had. You just have enough time to plan how to get a huge bamboo plant on the London Underground.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Still time for fast veg
If you have really got into veg growing this spring and summer you might want to consider sowing or planting some veg to take you through winter and there is still enough time to get organised.
If you have never grown Kohlrabi, now is the time, It is a member of the turnip family and looks a bit like a space ship. It has a delicate flavour and can be eaten raw in salads as well as cooked. Try both the white and purple skinned varieties and see which you prefer. If you sow it now it will be ready for eating in autumn. You should harvest it when it's about the size of a tennis ball, any larger and it starts getting tough.
There is also still time to sow purple sprouting broccoli and carry on sowing salad leaves and the cut and come again oriental vegetables. Try sowing some fast growing varieties of French beans, some of them are ready in eight weeks.
If you would like to have a supply of home grown vegetables over the winter but don't have a greenhouse don't worry, there are plenty of veg that can be grown outdoors. Get hold of one of the many seed catalogues and you'll be surprised at the variety of veg that can be grown over the winter, even without a greenhouse. I'll be posting a selection of catalogues as well as some ideas for a winter supply of veg.
If you have never grown Kohlrabi, now is the time, It is a member of the turnip family and looks a bit like a space ship. It has a delicate flavour and can be eaten raw in salads as well as cooked. Try both the white and purple skinned varieties and see which you prefer. If you sow it now it will be ready for eating in autumn. You should harvest it when it's about the size of a tennis ball, any larger and it starts getting tough.
There is also still time to sow purple sprouting broccoli and carry on sowing salad leaves and the cut and come again oriental vegetables. Try sowing some fast growing varieties of French beans, some of them are ready in eight weeks.
If you would like to have a supply of home grown vegetables over the winter but don't have a greenhouse don't worry, there are plenty of veg that can be grown outdoors. Get hold of one of the many seed catalogues and you'll be surprised at the variety of veg that can be grown over the winter, even without a greenhouse. I'll be posting a selection of catalogues as well as some ideas for a winter supply of veg.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Growing Fruit and Veg in Pots
If you want to grow your own fruit and veg, but don't have a big enough garden or the time to tend an allotment, you can still grow a variety of delicious fruit and veg to feed you and your family. Many lovely varieties of fruit, veg and salad will grow well in containers, that can be placed on patios, balconies and in window boxes.
There is a huge choice of crops that can be grown in containers, from mixed sald to strawberries. You might want to try compact plants, such as sweet pepper, aubergines and tumbling varieties of tomatoes. Courgettes, beetroots carrots and potatoes also grow well in pots. When it comes to growing lettuce try the 'cut and come again' salad leaves, and herbs are absolutely ideal to grow in containers and tubs.
Blueberries, figs and apricots can be grown in tubs on the patio but make sure that you select a large enough tub. You should use a good multi-purpose compost and include some water retaining crystals, to keep in the moisture. Make sure that your container is big enough for the plant, tomatoes can grow to quite a size. Be aware that root vegtables need quite a deep container, while lettuce and radishes can be sown in shallow trays. Above all, do remember that container-grown vegetables need plenty of water and on very hot days you might need to water twice a day.
There is a huge choice of crops that can be grown in containers, from mixed sald to strawberries. You might want to try compact plants, such as sweet pepper, aubergines and tumbling varieties of tomatoes. Courgettes, beetroots carrots and potatoes also grow well in pots. When it comes to growing lettuce try the 'cut and come again' salad leaves, and herbs are absolutely ideal to grow in containers and tubs.
Blueberries, figs and apricots can be grown in tubs on the patio but make sure that you select a large enough tub. You should use a good multi-purpose compost and include some water retaining crystals, to keep in the moisture. Make sure that your container is big enough for the plant, tomatoes can grow to quite a size. Be aware that root vegtables need quite a deep container, while lettuce and radishes can be sown in shallow trays. Above all, do remember that container-grown vegetables need plenty of water and on very hot days you might need to water twice a day.
Growing your own Fruit and Veg
As prices in the shops are rising growing your own fruit and veg is definitely becoming more popular. Once the pursuit of old men on their allotments it has now become the 'in' thing and you are more likely to see young families, as well as single men and women growing their own food. Just take a trip to your local garden centre and where once you only found ornamental shrubs and plants you now see whole sections dedicated to young vegetable plants and soft fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries and currants.
If you are a seasoned veg grower you will have had your seeds delivered early in the year to get the widest choice and a headstart. If you are a beginner and like to start growing your own, it is not yet too late. While it is cheapest to grow from seed it is also much more labour intensive and time consuming and, ideally, you should have a greenhouse. There is nothing wrong with buying young vegetable plants to start you off and you could try tomatoes, courgettes, beans and various lettuce. If you would like to start growing from seed try the various varieties and lettuce and radishes, which are easy to grow and you see very quick results.
If you are short of space all of the above can be grown in tubs on the patio, in window boxes and even in hanging baskets. There is nothing quite like nipping out onto the patio to pick some fresh veg and herbs for dinner.
If you are a seasoned veg grower you will have had your seeds delivered early in the year to get the widest choice and a headstart. If you are a beginner and like to start growing your own, it is not yet too late. While it is cheapest to grow from seed it is also much more labour intensive and time consuming and, ideally, you should have a greenhouse. There is nothing wrong with buying young vegetable plants to start you off and you could try tomatoes, courgettes, beans and various lettuce. If you would like to start growing from seed try the various varieties and lettuce and radishes, which are easy to grow and you see very quick results.
If you are short of space all of the above can be grown in tubs on the patio, in window boxes and even in hanging baskets. There is nothing quite like nipping out onto the patio to pick some fresh veg and herbs for dinner.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Fabulous Strawberries
Wimbledon is upon us once again and Wimbledon means strawberries - whether in a bowl with cream or in a tall glass of Pimms, you simply can't imagine the one without the other. How often have you been disappointed when you bought strawberries in the shops and have found them to be hard and sour with absolutely no taste? There is only one solution - grow your own! Strawberries are among the easiest fruits to grow and you don't need a huge garden - they can be grown in tubs on the patio and even in hanging baskets.
If you are planting your strawberries in the soil you should digg it and remove any weeds. You might also want to add some manure to give your plants a good start. Don't forget to put down slug pellets if you want to enjoy strawberries whole rather than half eaten and you should also net them to prevent the birds from having your entire crop. If you are growing strawberries in tubs or baskets feed them once a week with tomato feed, which is high in potash, once the fruit has set.
Once the strawberries begin to ripen check them daily and pick the ripe fruit before it rots on the plant. That way you will extend the growing season. Once the harvest is over remove the old leaves, leaving the crown and any new leaves. This allows the sun to get to the centre of the plant and you will get a better crop next year. You should continue to feed and water well and you can now remove the netting which will enable the birds to pick off any insects on the strawberries.
If you want to extend your strawberry season you should plant early varieties, such as 'Elvira' which produces fruit from June to early July, as well as mid-season and late varieties. A good mid-season strawberry is 'Hapil' which grows from early to late July, while you might like to try 'Florence' which produces dark, sweet fruits in late summer.
If you are planting your strawberries in the soil you should digg it and remove any weeds. You might also want to add some manure to give your plants a good start. Don't forget to put down slug pellets if you want to enjoy strawberries whole rather than half eaten and you should also net them to prevent the birds from having your entire crop. If you are growing strawberries in tubs or baskets feed them once a week with tomato feed, which is high in potash, once the fruit has set.
Once the strawberries begin to ripen check them daily and pick the ripe fruit before it rots on the plant. That way you will extend the growing season. Once the harvest is over remove the old leaves, leaving the crown and any new leaves. This allows the sun to get to the centre of the plant and you will get a better crop next year. You should continue to feed and water well and you can now remove the netting which will enable the birds to pick off any insects on the strawberries.
If you want to extend your strawberry season you should plant early varieties, such as 'Elvira' which produces fruit from June to early July, as well as mid-season and late varieties. A good mid-season strawberry is 'Hapil' which grows from early to late July, while you might like to try 'Florence' which produces dark, sweet fruits in late summer.
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Doesn't time fly!
I realised today that I have not posted anything to my gardening blog for quite a while, but I had no idea that it had been that long! Summer, such as it was is over and the garden looks magnificent in its autumn colour. The awful weather for most of the summer has delayed a number of projects that I had planned in the garden - I was hoping to have finished my long L-shaped mixed border, but that will have to wait until next spring.
For now I will concentrate on tidying up for the winter and planting a few bulbs for spring. Some of the roses are still blooming and the hydrangeas are still magnificent. The rabbits have had a go at the perennial geraniums and I am still desperately searching for a rabbit repellent. I've been told that the only effective repellent is a gun, but I don't like firearms, so that is not an option. Unfortunately next door's lurcher shows no inclination to chase the rabbits - he sits on the lawn and watches them - it takes all sorts!
Two squirrels appeared and helped themselves to the entire crop of walnuts, they've evidently never heard of sharing. Needless to say, I had made the necessary preparations - I wound thick plastic sheeting around the trunk of the tree and covered it in oil. The squirrel took a run and literally shinned up the slippery trunk - I give up! I guess I'll just have to buy my walnuts this year.
For now I will concentrate on tidying up for the winter and planting a few bulbs for spring. Some of the roses are still blooming and the hydrangeas are still magnificent. The rabbits have had a go at the perennial geraniums and I am still desperately searching for a rabbit repellent. I've been told that the only effective repellent is a gun, but I don't like firearms, so that is not an option. Unfortunately next door's lurcher shows no inclination to chase the rabbits - he sits on the lawn and watches them - it takes all sorts!
Two squirrels appeared and helped themselves to the entire crop of walnuts, they've evidently never heard of sharing. Needless to say, I had made the necessary preparations - I wound thick plastic sheeting around the trunk of the tree and covered it in oil. The squirrel took a run and literally shinned up the slippery trunk - I give up! I guess I'll just have to buy my walnuts this year.
Monday, 9 April 2007
Easter Gardening
What a glorious Easter weekend we are having - it is not often that here in the UK we get warm, sunny weather for the entire Easter weekend, especially when it falls early in April. The last three evenings we have sat on the balcony, enjoying a glass of wine until after 7 o'clock, without shivering from the cold.
We also got much work done in the garden. Looking at my trellice and noticing many bare spaces I had a trip to the market on Saturday where I managed to buy a whole bunch of clematis and honeysuckles. They were virtually giving them away at £3 each - I think I will definitely have another trip to the market next Saturday.
Since I've got the week off work it is going to be a major gardening week. I will at last finish my large L-shaped border on which I have been working for the last couple of years. I need three more large thin conifers and about half a dozen large shrubs, which I will plant this week. Then, all that is left to do is fill the gaps with herbaceous plant and do the underplanting with bulbs and groundcover plants. Then back to work for a nice rest next week.
We also got much work done in the garden. Looking at my trellice and noticing many bare spaces I had a trip to the market on Saturday where I managed to buy a whole bunch of clematis and honeysuckles. They were virtually giving them away at £3 each - I think I will definitely have another trip to the market next Saturday.
Since I've got the week off work it is going to be a major gardening week. I will at last finish my large L-shaped border on which I have been working for the last couple of years. I need three more large thin conifers and about half a dozen large shrubs, which I will plant this week. Then, all that is left to do is fill the gaps with herbaceous plant and do the underplanting with bulbs and groundcover plants. Then back to work for a nice rest next week.
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