Vegetables in April
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 »
Fergus Dowding
Vegetables in March
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 »
Vegetables in February
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 »
Vegetables in January
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 »
Vegetables in December
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 »
Vegetables in November
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 »
Vegetables in October
This is a gorgeous time of year, harvesting the fruits of your labours. Apples and pears are often confused by a hot few summer months, and some have dropped early while the rest of the crop is still on the Read more »
Vegetables in September
Hopefully after a wet August we will have an Indian summer. The hot spell in June fired up all our summer crops, with the result that most have continued yielding well in the damp weather. A high point has been Read more »
Vegetables in August
This month there is a long list of sowings to keep your soil busy and productive. For most of these crops, sowing early in the month is best for outdoor autumn picking, later in the month for indoor winter harvests. Read more »
Vegetables in July
Watering becomes an issue at this time of year, although writing about it usually makes it rain—good both ways! Almost all crops except perhaps parsnips and cabbage need help when young. It’s not a question of your veg plants ‘just Read more »