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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

‘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...

Looking for jobs to do in the garden in October? Top of the list should be feeding your soil with quality organic matter. Soil quality is the key factor in growing great produce so we need to be thinking about incorporating lots of organic matter annually in the...

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...

November and March are ideal times of the year to divide rhubarb crowns to propagate new identical plants for other parts of your garden or to share with neighbours. Divide rhubarb crowns into sections using a spade. Only divide established plants. Each section should...

You can plant garlic anytime from late autumn to early spring, but the best bet is to plant garlic in October or November for an earlier harvest in June and July.  As always, incorporate lots of quality organic matter before you plant garlic in October and try to find...