It looks like this month will again be all about water management, with little rain in sight until at least September. Crops that need most water are newly sown seeds and transplants, followed closely by leaf crops such as salads Read more »
Intercropping is a great way of boosting the amount you get off your ground, especially in the valuable but limited ‘hot space’ of a polytunnel. Examples outdoors are to sow lines of carrots or parsnips between lines of established crops Read more »
It’s irresistibly dangerous predicting the weather in a monthly magazine, but after such a cold spring, the wind centred in the northeast may treat us to a flaming June. Even if not, June is a busy month. We have been Read more »
May is a critical month for establishing so many crops, and if time is in short supply, don’t rush it, as early plantings need more work than when all is warm. It is five years since we have had such Read more »
How many ways of getting it wrong are there? Every year of sowing my seeds seems to discover a new way of getting it wrong. But all newly sown seed need is warmth, moisture, nutrients and light, so it must Read more »
As the spring gap looms, it makes sense to use as much of last year’s labours as you can. Even though the veg garden is now looking a little empty, it often holds more than you think. Parsnips are heroic Read more »
Coke of Norfolk made a big name for himself in the 18th century through doubling the production and profit on his 44,000 acre farm. His trick was to sow stubble turnips after wheat, so growing two crops a year, feeding Read more »
Pruning fruit trees is a perfect health remedy for humans suffering daylight deficiency in the dead of winter, and makes the tree healthier and more productive too. The main aim with all fruit trees and soft bush fruit is to Read more »
Christmas is a good time to reflect on what you eat, or over-eat. Every week scientists reveal ways of changing our diet and extend our lives by another few years, so the good news is that we will all live Read more »
Does that extra inch matter, I hear you ask? It does! All high performance crops blossom far better with an annual 2” dressing of compost than with only 1”. We all know the benefits of a layer of compost scattered Read more »