When does a herb start being a pest?
Spring is upon us (allegedly) the clocks have gone forward in the UK which is a bloody silly idea and the first green shoots of a new season are begining to show. Lovely. Or is it? With any garden, particularly a kitchen garden comes the dreaded weeds. I […]
You can always rely on nature….
My friend’s work van sits idle in his driveway, a year ago he faced months of guaranteed work, his work gave others work, their work fuelled other businesses and around we all went blissfully ignorant of what we now face. Today he told me that I looked knackered, I admitted […]
Summer’s a long way off……
I need cheering up, I decided to give into the manflu for a couple of hours today and rest up. After a brief walk in the snow to buy The Times I returned to watch two hours of political commentators tell me I’m doomed. First the VAT is going down-yippee! income […]
How to grow and cook cardoons
I must confess to a chequered past when it comes to growing the noble cardoon. Cynara cardunculus (Latin for pain in the arse) has caused me considerable grief since I introduced it to my kitchen garden, I originally grew them as an ornamental/edible border which would serve as a means […]
Canteloupe melons fresh off the vine….
Do you remember a recent post I wrote on growing melons? Well, my hothouse has produced the goods once again and despite the distinct lack of sunshine I have managed to pick two ripe canteloupe melons for my breakfast today.
Now they might not be the biggest melons you’ve ever […]
Preserving a summer glut….
Onions have been good to me this year, despite difficulties, correction, nightmares with brassicas the onions and shallots have come up trumps. I’ve always done well with these, fewer have bolted this year which is a bonus, I was quicker to nip out the flowering shoots which made a difference and a […]
I’ve done it!….
Well folks, allow me if you will a certain amount of web space in which to gloat. I have realised my ambition and grown one of the hottest chillies in the world in an English climate.
The Naga Morich, or Snake Chilli as it is otherwise known is one hell of a hot chilli […]
Growing melons underglass in England
I decided to grow one or two melons this year, I liked the idea of eating some fresh fruit for breakfast instead of the usual porridge or muesli. As is the case with my chilli growing I can never grow anything in small amounts. In a hot house at the bottom […]
How to Grow Cauliflowers….or not!
Earlier in the year I had high hopes for my newly planted cauliflowers, the young plants were strong, the ground suitably prepared and the watering and general nursing exemplary (though I say it myself)
Tragically all of this effort was in vain, whatever devoured my broccoli got stuck into the cauliflowers […]