Food Growing
Things to do in the garden in November
Temperatures are significantly down, the clocks have gone back and the days are drawing to a close early. But there are still loads of things to plant, harvest, and do in the garden in November, including our most important job of the year – feeding the soil!
In praise of tasty weeds. By Gillian Alexander
Gillian Alexander is at ease with what is and reflects on the pleasure and nutrition she harvests from her tasty weeds and self-seeding vegetables.
Our Garden. By Victoria Harvey
When I think about the first five years we spent in our new home, I smile and remember fondly the way our new build garden looked; roughly turned soil, no definition and a request to the builders to leave a border around the garden before they started to turf. ...
My Story. By Christine Battiston
With the right mind set, growing food is very rewarding for my family and community as it reduces our carbon footprint, encourages seed and produce sharing with our neighbours, and gives my children the opportunities to develop strong life skills. Home...
A healthy hobby that brings the family together. By Linda Lovatt
We moved into our neglected little steading 16 years ago. Before we even started work on the house we built some raised beds and fixed up an old wooden greenhouse we had been given. We had very little experience of growing vegetables but read the seed packets,...
The Accidental Gardener. By Katrina Malone
When I moved to the country last year it was for the peace and the views. The garden is big but I still had no intention of growing and cooking my own produce. I have never planted anything I have eaten before and I wasn't planning to start. It was autumn when...
My Veg Garden Journey. By Carole George
As a child in the 60s, I grew up on homegrown veg – tomatoes picked straight from the vine, carrots pulled out of the soil and eaten raw, and podding peas for a snack. About three years ago, I tired of eating tasteless veg wrapped in needless packaging, so...
My Veggie Garden Story. By Sandra Bossowska
Growing some veggies and herbs always was a dream of mine but with a busy work schedule and 6 rescue dogs it has never been quite possible… not only because of the lack of time but also because of the surplus of dog wee splashing around! Once the lockdown...
Our Lockdown Garden. By Sandy Brown
When lockdown down hit, I found myself out of work and out of money. My 21 year-old son was furloughed and with the Scottish weather glorious, our sights turned to an unloved patch of land at the end of the garden covered in rotting pallets. ‘We must dig that...
Things to do in the garden in October
The days are getting shorter and there is that autumn chill in the air. Lots of things to do in the garden in October to get warm! Hopefully lots to harvest, much to sow and plant and important preparations for the coming year. Here is a list of things to do in...
Vegetables to sow in the autumn
Here is a simple guide explaining which vegetables to sow in the autumn. The main growing season may be drawing to a close, but now is a good time to get crops going for picking during the winter months. There are also vegetables to sow in the autumn such as broad...
Things to do in the garden in September
It’s the last few weeks of summer but there are still many things to do in the garden in September with lots of plants to sow for the winter and lots of great fruit, vegetables, and herbs to harvest and enjoy! Here is a list of things to do in the garden in...
Things to do in the garden in August
The days are getting shorter but there is still time to get seeds and plants in the ground and lots more things to do in the garden in August. This is the time of year to appreciate and reflect upon all your hard work and give yourself a well deserved pat on the back,...
Things to do in the garden in July
Long days and lots of lovely fresh, tasty, healthy, eco-friendly, plastic-free, homegrown food to harvest and enjoy! Lots of pleasurable things to do in the garden in July!! Here is a list of things to do in the garden in July: Keep on top of your weeds (mulch,...
Money saving tips for growers
As soon as you start growing your own food you are on the way to saving lots of money, but here are some money saving tips for growers to help you grow efficiently and successfully. If anyone can think of any more money saving tips for growers, please lets us...
Things to do in the garden in June
June is a great time for food growers in the UK. The weather is warm (well, maybe) and the days are long. Lots to do in the garden in June! Here is a list of things to do and watch out for in our gardens and allotments. Things to do in the garden in June: Keep...
Living with rabbits – Food plants that rabbits don’t like
For every problem there are solutions and I have found that a good way to avoid a lot of stress and disappointment when rabbits live nearby is to focus on growing food plants that rabbits don't like eating. Different garden environments have different challenges. Some...
Walking Onions – Interesting perennial crop to grow if you aren’t already
Walking Onions (also called Tree Onions/Egyptian Onions/Topsetting Onions) are a hardy perennial that grow back every year from their bulbs. You can purchase Walking Onion bulbs and sow them anytime after the winter cold. Once established they will shoot up each...
Protect from late frosts in May – Things to do in the garden
Even in late Spring there is still a risk of frosts, so keep an eye on your local weather forecast for any days when temperatures are likely to drop below 0ºC (32ºF). Spring frost can damage tender young growth and blossom so it’s a good idea to be prepared to protect...
Control weeds – Things to do in the garden in April and May
Weeds spring up with with a vengeance in April and May and it is really important to control weeds now to ensure they don't go to seed when they will spread all over the place and to weaken them and stop them establishing themselves with long deep roots. A Weed is...
Simple way to convert your lawn into food growing beds
Convert your lawn into food growing beds to take the strain off our farmers and supermarkets. You don’t have to convert your lawn entirely and you can easily grow it back if you want to in the future, but let’s prioritise growing food over growing grass. Increased and...
Edible Weeds: Enjoy wild food in April and May
Many of our common weeds are perfectly edible and highly nutritious. Early spring is the best time to be eating these edible weeds, when they are at their most tender. A Weed is just a plant growing somewhere we don’t want it to. Weeds could also be defined as plants...
Harvest times for fruit in the UK: Looking forward to fruit!
Here is a list of harvest times for fruit in the UK. These are approximate dates for fruit grown outside. Of course other fruits can be grown undercover and similar fruits will be available for harvesting sooner, but this list will give you a good idea of typical...
Grow your own Broad Beans – Easy-to-grow, tasty plant protein
Broad beans are a fantastic, easy-to-grow, super-tasty source of protein and fibre. In the UK broad bean seed can be sown directly into the ground outside either in October or November or in March, April or May. Here is some simple guidance on how to grow your own...
Grow your own Elder trees from cuttings in March and April
Early spring is a good time to prepare to grow your own new Elder trees from cuttings. It’s a quick and easy job that creates new trees for your garden and/or to give to neighbours. Elder is a great garden tree or hedge producing loads of tasty elder berries and...
Grow your own fruit bushes from cuttings in March and April
Early spring is a good time to prepare to grow your own new fruit bushes from cuttings such as currants and berries. It’s a quick and easy job that creates lots of free new plants for your garden and/or to give to neighbours. Take cuttings from the new wood on the...
Fast growing UK vegetables to grow from seed in April
Here is a list of fast growing UK vegetables that we can grow from seed straight into the ground outside in early spring for a quick harvest. How quick and successfully these fast growing UK vegetables actually grow will depend on the weather (fast harvest if we’re...
Indoor home growing in the UK
Indoor home growing in the UK is sadly undervalued and largely unexplored. But it is a vital factor in us becoming more self sufficient and growing our own food all year round. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a good sized garden equipped with greenhouse or...
Things to do in the garden in February
Spring is in sight! And there are lots of excuses to get back into the garden in February. Good winter preparation is really important for growing loads of wonderful fruit, veg and herbs. JOBS TO DO IN THE GARDEN IN FEBRUARY: Order your vegetable seeds and plan...
Chit potatoes in February to get them off to a good start
‘Chitting potatoes’ means leaving your seed potatoes to sprout in a cool, frost-free place with lots of light. Chit potatoes in February to get them off to a good start ready for planting in the spring. Potatoes are a really easy vegetable to grow and incredibly...
Feed your soil in October with good organic matter
Looking for jobs to do in the garden in October? Top of the list should be to feed your soil with quality organic matter. Soil quality is the key factor in growing great produce so you need to be thinking about incorporating lots of organic matter annually in...
Plant Spring Cabbage in October to enjoy in the Spring
Spring Cabbage is one of the first crops we can enjoy in the spring. To achieve this we need to plant Spring Cabbage in October and leave to overwinter. Spring Cabbage is best sown in trays in the greenhouse or on a window sill in July or August, hardened off a bit...