Innehållsförteckning för August 2019 från Kitchen Garden

In this issue we have some great features to ensure that your plot just keeps on giving. Ben Vanheems brings you his top 10 salads to sow in August, while I turn the spotlight on tasty oriental veg. This is the time to sow autumn onion seeds and you will find a packet of one of the best – ‘Senshyu Yellow’ – free with your copy of KG this month. Starting on page 36 we show you how to get the best from your sowing. Keen South London plot holder Rekha Mistry is busy harvesting on page 82 while organic gardener Wendy Pillar shows you how to beat your weeds – by treating them as another crop. Don’t miss your chance to win part of our £2000 prize package which…

RUNNER BEANS Plants are in full flower in early August and you should have plenty of beans to pick and enjoy before the month is out. Flowers can be slow to set pods in dry weather and it helps to lightly dampen pollen with a fine mist of water. Some beans can grow taller than the frame that supports them. Try to drape the excess over the top so it tumbles on to the far side. This puts less pressure on the stem than if there is a tight bend and plants are more likely to grow on and crop near the top of stems. Keep flowering plants watered in dry weather. MAINCROP POTATOES I always plant maincrop potatoes in late March and dig them in August rather than leaving…

Trees had an abundance of blossom this year and this can translate into lots of fruit from August to October. If there is plenty of sun while fruit is ripening, then sugar levels rise and dessert apples are sweeter to eat. Early varieties are ready to eat in August. Lift fruit gently and it should come free from the tree without having to tug. Some early varieties don’t keep in perfect condition for more than a few days after picking. Enjoy these fresh from the tree for the best flavour and texture. Later varieties will usually store better than these early ones. If there are too many to eat raw, then make some purée to freeze and use in the winter months. This is a good way to use windfalls.…

■ If you haven’t already done it, pinch out the tips of your indoor tomato plants to stop them producing more flowering trusses and fruits. This ensures that all the plant's energy goes into the existing fruit on the plant, meaning it will fully develop and ripen by early autumn. If allowed to carry on flowering and fruiting, you’ll end up with lots of smaller, unripened fruits! ■ During hot weather keep vents and doors open during the day and even overnight if temperatures are high. This helps to prevent plants from over-heating and becoming stressed. ■ Warm weather can bring on an epidemic of pests such as aphids and whitefly, which if not controlled can ruin crops such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in later summer. If you use…

Send us your tips and pictures and if your letter is published you will get a £10 Dobies voucher. If you are lucky enough to have yours chosen as our Star Letter you will get a £25 voucher. Your voucher will be sent out with a Dobies catalogue and you can choose to spend your winnings on a fabulous range of seeds, young plants and gardening sundries. You can get hold of a copy of the catalogue now by phoning 0844 701 7625 or go online to www.dobies.co.uk You can reach us by letter, email or via our Facebook page: FACEBOOK.COM/KITCHENGARDENMAG to tflanagan@mortons. co.uk or post to Letters, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR…

Here is a bit of holiday fun for children and bigger kids too. Spot and circle the differences between these two pictures. There are five to find. MAKE PRESSED FLOWER PICTURES A nice little project for little ones in the school holidays is pressing flowers. You can pick small flowers from the garden such as daisies from the lawn or sweet pea flowers and press between sheets of paper inserted into a book. Place more books on top and leave for a minimum of a couple of days. A week or more would be ideal. Then arrange the pressed flowers on a fresh piece of paper and use a little glue to hold in place. Daucus would like to know your top tips for getting children interested in growing fruit…

BROWN ROT Brown patches, then yellowy-white pustules in concentric circles on the fruit. Often follows damage by birds or insects. HOW TO CONTROL: Remove infected fruit to prevent the disease spreading and then burn. Don’t add to compost heap. PEACH LEAF CURL A problem for peaches and nectarines more than apricots; leaves thicken, curl and twist, turning yellow with patches of red, and white spores. HOW TO CONTROL: Remove affected leaves and burn. Gather up leaves from beneath infected trees. Grow resistant varieties such as ‘Avalon Pride’. BACTERIAL CANKER Cracks or lesions in the branches of the tree become infected, followed by the presence of a gum-like fluid. This disease can cause infected branches to die. HOW TO CONTROL: Cut out all affected areas back to healthy wood in summer.…

Beans shelled from their pods are not just a casserole crop – they are highly versatile, particularly if you grow different varieties yourself. First you have the opportunity to use them freshly shelled, like peas, when they have just plumped out but before they are dried. They are rarely found like this in the UK markets, although they are sold in other countries, for example as ‘shelly beans’ in the US. They are less mealy than their dried counterparts and much quicker to prepare and cook, and their fresher flavour makes them good cooked and cold in salads, for example, or in a medley of autumn vegetables. If you dry them, they store well over winter. Before cooking, soak them for a few hours or overnight. Drain off the water…

As mentioned above, flea beetles are public enemy number one for these crops, especially as young seedlings. These persistent little black, shiny beetles nibble the leaves, leaving tiny pin-prick holes in them. In severe cases seed leaves can be reduced to lace and young plants may die as a result. The beetles have a habit of hopping (hence the name flea beetle) when disturbed so moving a sticky yellow whitefly trap over the top of the plants will often trap some. Keeping the soil moist at the roots is also said to help as is dusting the leaves with very fine, dry soil. Growing mint nearby as a companion plant (in sunken pots to avoid a mint invasion) may help to deter the pest. Covering the crop with very fine…

Steve and Emma reach for the skies as they make a lettuce tower. Great if you don’t have a lot of space or if you want to try something different. There are 48 lettuces in this tower, so a very efficient use of space. All you need is some wire mesh 60 x 60cm (2 x 2ft), a deep pot, a permeable membrane such as Mypex, multipurpose compost, and lots of young lettuce plug plants that you will have grown previously. Bend the wire round and stand it in the pot, place the membrane inside the wire cylinder, add compost in stages, cut holes in the membrane and then add lettuces from the bottom upwards, adding compost as you go for the next layer of planting. Give it a good…

1 Pick leaves little and often, taking one or two leaves at a time from the base of each plant. Cut or carefully twist off the leaves. 2 Ensure enough leaves remain at the centre of the crown to keep the plant growing. In the case of lettuces, a minimum of five to six leaves. 3 Harvest again once plants have recovered. Growth picks up as soon as the weather warms up in spring, allowing ample pickings to resume. 4 By mid-spring winter salads will go to flower, rendering them tough or bitter-tasting. Some flower stalks, such as those of land cress, are good eating though.…

MOUNTFIELD Mountfield has been one of the UK’s leading lawnmower manufacturers for over 50 years and its lawnmowers, lawn tractors and garden care products all share a reputation for outstanding quality and reliability. Why not view all the ranges on the Mountfield website: www.mountfieldlawnmowers.co.uk WOLF-GARTEN The WOLF-Garten gardening tool collection offers the total solution for soil and cultivation, lawn care, tree and shrub care and general garden maintenance. The WOLF-Garten philosophy is to provide gardening tools and machinery of premium quality and performance. Tel 01869 363674 www.wolfgarten-tools.co.uk HARROD HORTICULTURAL This company has been producing top quality garden products for 60 years and is innovative in bringing new designs on to the market. It offers an excellent mail order service and, as well as being renowned for its sturdy fruit and…

■ Don’t overthink it. Jam is really simple to make, just remember to add equal parts fruit and sugar and that is all you need. ■ Get a jam thermometer. For just a few pounds a jam thermometer can make all the difference and ensure your jam boils down to a good consistency. ■ Ask for flavour suggestions. Friends, family and neighbours can give you inspiration for delicious new flavours to try. ■ Use new jars. Even if you thoroughly clean them, they can still retain a smell or taste which may affect the taste of your jam.…

We’re continuing to follow the fortunes of our intrepid gardeners as the growing season develops. KG ’s deputy editor Emma Rawlings and staff writer Tony Flanagan join Carole, Rekha and Martin to share updates. TONY FLANAGAN FROM LINCOLNSHIRE KG staff writer Tony has been growing along with the five and this month he gives an update on how the kohl rabi is doing. MARTIN JORDAN FROM CHEPSTOW, MONMOUTHSHIRE ■ First place winner in our Passionate Plotter competition last year ■ Has two allotments ■ This is only his third season growing fruit and veg CAROLE BLYTH FROM FIFE, SCOTLAND ■ KG reader and allotmenteer. Her partner Gavin helps on the plot ■ Been growing veg for about 20 years ■ Likes to do things a bit differently and grows many…

What is an allotment for? I’ve been pondering that question ever since my wife, Sally, and I began to wrestle back from nature our overgrown 600 square metre plot late in 2017. Opinions differ quite widely, even on a small site like ours. I mentioned earlier in the series that one plot holder let it be known that we and neighbour, Simon, hadn’t got a clue what we were doing and, most wounding of all, were all over 70! From what I can tell, he cuts his grass and has a lot of bonfires and that’s it, and he is still closely wedded to his patch of earth. “One plot holder let it be known that we and neighbour, Simon, hadn’t got a clue what we were doing” Another plot…

There is quite a range of options available when it comes to what to mulch with. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so your choice will normally be based on cost, availability and appearance. ■ PINE CHIPS The longest lasting of the ‘natural ‘ mulches, and one of the more decorative. Can have a low pH, so excellent around blueberries but be careful around more lime-loving plants. As it breaks down it can use up nitrogen in the soil, so your plants may need an extra feed. ■ COMPOSTED BARK My favourite – easy to handle, natural in appearance and none of the acidity problems of pine chips. Because it has already started to decompose, it doesn’t take nitrogen out of the soil. ■ ROTTED MANURE Another good choice,…

HAND PRESSURE SPRAYER This Gardena hand pressure sprayer has a 1¼ litre capacity. Pressure is built up using the simple pump action handle. It comes with a fully adjustable spray nozzle – ranging from jet to fine mist – and a pressure release valve. TWO WESTS & ELLIOT www.twowests.co.uk TEL: 01246 451077 PRODUCT CODE: SKU: TOHS PRICE: £19.99 * Prices correct at time of publication KG VERDICT This really is a handy sprayer to have in the greenhouse or polytunnel or for indoor plants. It has a good capacity for its purpose – so isn’t too heavy when filled. Comfortable in the hand with an easy pump action, creating sufficient pressure in no time at all. The adjustable nozzle offers a steady, continuous spray with all the range…

Call the credit card and debit card order hotline on 0845 371 0532* (open 8am to 8pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends). Only orders above £10 by phone please. *Calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Or send a cheque made payable to D T Brown Seeds to Kitchen Garden AUGUST Offers (KG19AUG), D T Brown Seeds, Bury Road, Newmarket, CB8 7PQ. Items will be despatched from late June (unless otherwise stated). Offer subject to availability, only one, FREE collection per household. D T Brown reserves the right to substitute with a product of equal or greater value. Please note that the £5.95 p&p charge will still apply should you not take up the free item. ORDERING ONLINE? VISIT WWW.KITCHENGARDENSHOP.CO.UK AND ENTER CODE KG19AUG WHEN PROMPTED…

10 MINUTE JOBS USE BEETROOT Lift and use beetroot before plants bolt and before roots become too large. You can still use big beetroots for pickles and chutneys, or put them to store in a cool dry shed, but they taste best when they are smaller than tennis ball size. SOW PARSLEY There’s still time to sow seed thinly and prick out seedlings into individual pots. Plants can go out in the garden when they are 10cm (4in) tall. August sowings will provide a plentiful late winter/ spring crop. Buy in small plants now if you want this herb for autumn/winter. WATER FRUIT TREES These trees will survive many days of hot, dry weather, but they need plenty of water if they are to grow good-sized fruits. As a rule…

■ Lift spring planted onions when bulbs are fully formed, and dry the tops until they can be made into strings. These onions usually last longer than autumn planted ones and they can feed you through until May next year. ■ Plant out, or pot on, sowings that are outgrowing their pots. You may have to wait until other things clear before these can go in the ground, but don’t let a small pot stunt growth or tangle roots. ■ Teach children how to pick and enjoy peas fresh from the pod. They will do this anyway, but there is less stress for gardeners if children know how to do it without harming the rest of the plant. ■ Protect all ripening fruit from birds – pecking can destroy ripe…

BERRY BLUES I had planned to email last summer regarding my blueberries. The first few photos are from last year and show a bush which was full of fruit which just withered and died. I did lose two plants last year. We have extended it this spring and planted four new plants, all the same variety but one of them looks like it is dying and the pink blueberries at the other end don’t look too healthy. They are planted into ericaceous soil and then topped with cuttings from my conifers to serve as a mulch and keep the soil acidic. The healthy plants give lots of fruit but I can’t understand why some are dying. Lynn Shilton, Bedworth Steve, Ott, editor Kitchen Garden magazine STEVE SAYS: Blueberries should not…

Mangetout peas are probably my favourite type of pea; I just love the crunchy sweetness of the young pods which can be picked and eaten straight from the plant. And if they get away from you and the pods become too large and tough to eat, the peas inside are still as delicious as any maincrop pea. Dual-purpose pods! I’ve tried a few that are new to me this year and one, ‘Sweet Sahara’, appeared in a number of catalogues for the first time, so I just had to give it a try. SOWING THE CROP My seeds, which came from Mr Fothergill’s, were sown on February 9 into Rootrainers to give them the nice, deep root run that all peas love. I used a peat-free multi-purpose compost and sowed…

Stir-fry Chinese kale with garlic and a little oil before boiling briefly until tender. Serve with soy and oyster sauce to taste. Chop or tear Chinese cabbage into bite-sized pieces and stir-fry in a very hot wok with a little oil and garlic. Serve immediately with a little salt or soy sauce and lots of black pepper. If you like more of a bite, add some fresh or dried chilli flakes and chopped spring onions while stir-frying. When cooking pak choi, bear in mind that the soft leaves cook much quicker than the thick, succulent stalks, so you may decide to cook the stems first, throwing in the green part for a minute or two at the end of cooking. For a tasty side dish, mix a tablespoon of oil…

Many of us start our onions off either by sowing seeds very early in the year or planting onion sets – immature little bulbs in March. However, now is a good time to start thinking about growing this versatile veg for the earliest harvests next season. Providing your soil is fairly well drained and not too wet or waterlogged over winter, you should be able to grow onions successfully. You will need to choose the right varieties for this and the seed catalogues and garden centres will start to stock the sets about now, giving you a choice of some cracking varieties for planting next month. Alternatively you can grow your crop starting in August using your packet of ‘Senshyu Yellow’ seeds that come free with this issue. SOWING YOUR…

■ ‘WINTER IMPERIAL’ – A very hardy variety for autumn sowing. It is a butterhead type with dark green, plain, crunchy leaves. This variety can be brought on a few weeks earlier by placing cloches over the crop in January or February. (Widely available) ■ ‘WINTER DENSITY’ – A semi-cos variety, producing dark green heads with crisp leaves and outstanding hardiness. Sow in autumn for cutting in spring. Slow to bolt. (Widely available) ■ ‘RELAY’ – Resistant to downy mildew, this has medium-sized, tightly packed heads. Fast growing, it has succulent leaves with a brilliant red colour. Perfect to grow in a greenhouse over winter. (Organic Gardening Catalogue) ■ ‘BRIGHTON’ – One of the best varieties for sowing outdoors in September to provide you with a tasty winter harvest. It’s…

THERAPEUTIC PLOT In 2011 I was struck down with a long-term illness. After several years hiding indoors my aunt got herself an allotment and convinced me to come over just to get me out of the house and the deep hole of depression I was in. Things started off slowly with me mainly watching and then I was given one raised bed that I could tend from my mobility scooter. I had a great year there getting to know my neighbours from the village. The following year we noticed the half plot on the end of my aunt’s plot was getting overgrown and when we asked about it was told I could have it. Well two of my uncles, my aunt and cousin promptly set about clearing the plot, building…

Flower pounding is a magical process: using natural materials each impression will be a little different from the last. Some images are almost perfect replicas of the flower; others give more of a creative impression of the plant matter. Use it to preserve the summer garden, create holiday memorabilia, make unique gifts and other crafts including collages, bookmarks, table cloths, gift cards, wrapping paper, napkins and framed prints. It is fun to enhance your creations with watercolours or pencils. Some artists have used embroidery and quilting on hammer printed fabric. Once you start, it can become quite addictive! Easily transportable, this is a great activity for all the family on days out and holidays. Suitable for all ages, flower pounding uses simple household equipment and natural plant dyes to print…

The following seeds were kindly given by Kings Seeds, who also supply the seeds that are given away with Kitchen Garden magazine. Three of the trial seeds – sweetcorn ‘Golden Bantam’, kohl rabi and butternut squash –were given away free with the April issue. So if you had these, we hope you are growing along with the Five Grow Live; please let us have your feedback on how they do. Other seeds being tested are snap pea ‘Purple Magnolia Snap’, radish ‘Cherry Belle’, dwarf French bean ‘Mistik’, tomato ‘Honey Moon’, spinach ‘Matador’ and courgette ‘Zucchini’. REKHA MISTRY FROM LONDON The courgette needs no helping hand; it’s racing in a plant race. The sweetcorn and squash have my own saved seeds of runner beans added to grow them all in one…

Commercial tomato grower George Evans couldn’t find the automated watering system he needed, so he designed and built his own. Understanding how useful the system could be for all gardeners, he refined the equipment and put it into commercial production. Now his company, Irrigatia, sells its automatic watering products globally. Irrigatia’s solar-powered systems work on a wonderfully simple principle. Water is pumped out to the plants through soaker hoses, or drippers, on a timer, every three hours. The more the sun has been shining and drying the soil, the more water is pumped out and vice versa. Additionally, the flow from the combined solar-panel and pump unit can be adjusted so the system delivers the right amount of water to match the specific needs of the plants being watered and…

■ DO prioritise newly planted trees and bushes. In the first year, until a good root system is established, regular watering is essential. ■ DO water gently – if the water is applied too quickly, it just runs off and doesn’t go down to the roots. Mound up a pile of soil around the plant, to create a natural well. ■ DO incorporate lots of organic matter when planting. This helps improve soil structure and moisture retention during the critical first few months. ■ DO prioritise plants in the month before the fruit will ripen. This is normally the critical time for fruit to swell. After the fruit has been picked, put the plant to the bottom of the list – it will need a lot less water once it…

STEP 1: If cobs are small and there is still pollen falling from the tassels above, then keep giving a gentle shake to ensure good pollination. If cobs are large and plump then they are almost ready. Keep an eye on the thread-like silks at the end of the cob – if these are still green then it is too early. STEP 2: The silks start to shrivel and turn brown as the cob ripens. This usually happens on one or two plants first but others soon follow. If you have grown more than one variety, these may ripen at different times, even if you sowed the seed on the same day. STEP 3: Peel back the green outer leaves and reveal the top of a cob. Kernels should be…

Carrots sown in April will have grown some good-sized roots. Enjoy them fresh from the garden for a taste that can’t be matched by supermarket options. Try pulling carrots straight out of loose sandy soil, or, if you must use a fork, then take care not to damage roots in the process. Most people wait a few weeks more before lifting a large crop of carrots to store for the winter. If roots are fully buried, they should keep a good colour throughout, but some do push up above soil level as they are growing. The top of these roots will turn green if they are exposed to sunlight. You can’t reverse this on roots that are affected, but you can protect others by drawing soil up to bury any…

■ Harvest your crops regularly when they are at their best, because if you leave them too long, they may spoil. ■ Mist cucumber plants with water during the day to help deter red spider mites that dislike cool, moist conditions. ■ As salad crops come to an end, clear the old plants and prepare the ground for another crop. ■ Keep on top of weeds growing between your veg as they rob them of valuable water and nutrients. ■ Feed all fruiting plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, peppers etc., weekly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser to help the fruits to develop and ripen.…

Our Star Question winner will receive vouchers worth £25; the writers of all other questions printed will receive a £10 voucher. They can be redeemed against any products in the latest Mr Fothergill’s catalogue, which will be sent out with the vouchers so you can choose from the massive range of quality products, including seeds and garden equipment. To receive a free catalogue, call 08453 710518 or visit www.mr-fothergills.co.uk Email questions to tflanagan@mortons.co.uk or post to Question Time, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Please include your full address on letters and emails. We do not publish full addresses.…

Beans of all sorts, with their amazing range of colours, shapes, sizes and flavours, are one of Pippa Rosen’s passions. She has well over 100 varieties of French bean – some used for their tender pods, some for their soft, freshly shelled seeds and others for seeds that are dried and stored for winter recipes. Her beany addiction began more than 30 years ago when she tried a few unusual types from Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library. Now she runs a flourishing seed company specialising in organic beans and herbs, and she grows all the unusual types herself – either in her half-acre garden or on her allotment in nearby Warminster. “Beans are an excellent source of protein and are extremely productive,” she says. They can form an important part…

KG WEBSITE COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE CRUCIAL Carole Wright from South London was so fed up with the tarmac outside her block of flats not being used that she set up a community garden. Following the introduction of a few simple flowerbeds, a communal shed and a water tank, the space is now the heart of the inner-city estate. Acting as a volunteer manager in the garden, Carole, 52, spends her days weeding, watering and, most importantly, chatting with her neighbours. “The garden is a space outside of the flats where people can come and grow, learn, chat, swap seeds, talk about gardening but also talk about anything else that is going on with them,” she explains. “It’s not about people’s ability to grow, there’s no competition here, and we all…

■ ‘SENSHYU YELLOW’ (seeds or sets): Mild white flesh from attractive globe-shaped bulbs. (Kings Seeds) ■ ‘HI KEEPER’ (seeds): Great winter hardiness. Can also be sown in spring. Harvest late July to September (T&M, Unwins) ■ ‘AILSA CRAIG’ (seeds): Can be spring or autumn sown. Capable of producing large bulbs and has been popular as a show variety for many years. The flavour is mild and it is ideal for salads and sandwiches. (Widely available) ■ ‘AUTUMN CHAMPION’ (sets): A mild-flavoured onion maturing from late July. (Suttons, Dobies) ■ ‘RADAR’ (sets): Hardy bulbs. Harvest July to September. (Mr Fothergill’s, Marshalls, T&M) ■ ‘ELECTRIC’ (sets): An attractive red onion for overwintering. Harvest July to September (D T Brown, Dobies)…

Salad leaves, in all their wonderful and eccentric variety, are more often associated with the benign months of summer. But if you’re after a truly palate-blowing range of tastes and textures you’d be better off looking towards the colder half of the year. Winter salads may not be as frequently grown as their fairweather counterparts, but they are undoubtedly more interesting. Soft and smooth winter lettuces, corn salad and winter purslane are joined by a slew of spicy staples such as rocket, mizuna and mustards. Together they make for a beautifully balanced blend of flavours, heat levels and textures that will definitely liven up winter mealtimes. WHEN TO SOW The journey begins in late summer for salads that will crop from autumn, through winter and on to early spring. August…

Hook is a village like many others. Small, quiet and with an ageing population due to young people moving away to bigger places. Such villages can be lonely places for older people, isolated from transport links and with fewer recreational activities on offer. But thanks to Justine Dixon, 46, Hook now has a gardening club, providing green-fingered advice and a social space for villagers. Justine began the club nine years ago. “I wanted to meet like-minded people to share gardening tips with and give the villagers something to do,” she remembers. Since then it has grown tremendously, increasing in numbers and hosting speakers from the world of gardening. The club will even be hosting a secret celebrity guest for its 10-year anniversary. GETTING STARTED Understandably, you might be thinking ‘Where…

We all love a neat row of vegetables. There are times, however, when things don’t go to plan: crops fail, pests win the battle. Then there’s the hungry gap when, unless your planning has been meticulous and you have been lucky with the weather, there is little to harvest. There is an answer to this situation – eat the weeds! Weeds are, by definition, vigorous plants that grow themselves. There is a long tradition of eating wild plants, but it was associated with poverty, and once the supermarkets arrived, bringing cheap food, such knowledge died out. The tradition survives in places in Europe though, particularly in Italy, where in spring it is common to see someone with a basket picking greens for dinner on their way home. When it comes…

Four of our gardeners have social media pages and you can follow them here: BILL LOVE: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billagardener/365745710489361/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billsallotmentbelfast/ YouTube: https://bit.ly/billgardener RACHAEL SMITH: https:/wwwyoutube.com/channel/UC_RGKS5btt2A3RW8DxvceQ (or search YouTube for Colliery Garden) Instagram @collierygarden REKHA MISTRY: Instagram @rekha.kitchen.garden@rekha18rekhagardenkitchen.com MARTIN JORDAN Search for Hanley Plotter Allotment on YouTube…

Polytunnels and greenhouses are terrific assets, boosting temperatures and providing a sheltered environment for plants and for gardeners! Undercover growers get earlier crops and higher yields, and work when it suits them, whatever the weather is doing outside. However, growing undercover can also tie gardeners down to an unforgiving watering routine. And anyone who neglects this critical task will suffer withering plants and reduced yields. Automated watering can reduce the chore of watering and prevent the soil ever drying out. And, if set up well, it can cover for you while you are away on holiday. The simplest solution for automatic watering is a timer-valve attached to a mains water supply, and the delivery infrastructure to get the optimal amount of water to the plants. However, if you prefer to…

The summer last year was a scorcher. Every day seemed to be picture postcard weather, sun streaming down from endless blue skies. Fantastic news if you owned a business selling barbecues perhaps, but not good news for many gardeners and fruit growers. The sun and heat were ideal for ripening fruit, and the sugar levels were generally very high. However, the lack of any significant rainfall for several months last year caused many problems – yields were lower, fruit size was generally on the small side, and some plants just didn’t make the amount of growth that would normally be expected. In this month’s article we are going to look at the watering and water conservation of fruit trees, so we may all continue to enjoy bumper crops even if…

Summer salads are a real must in our household and so we grow and eat lots of lettuce. Always on the lookout for something new and novel to ring the changes, I came across a variety with a truly unusual story – the first to be grown in space on the International Space Station. Well, what with that and the fact that it produces eye-catching red leaves that are bound to make a splash in the salad bowl, I just had to give it a try. GROWING THE CROP I sowed my seeds in small batches from March and continued at monthly intervals through the summer. The seeds were sown into cell trays, one seed per cell. The first batch was sown on March 9 and kept in a frost-free…

EXCLUSIVE POULTON'S RHUBARB COLLECTION  Rhubarb is a crop very close to our heart and both ‘Poulton’s Red’ and ‘Poulton’s Pride’ are two of our favourites. With both plants offering different variations of the classic rhubarb flavour we all know and love, you can expect a good lengthy harvest of long, flavoursome stalks. Both varieties carry a hint of the characteristic sharpness to be expected with rhubarb, but with an exceptionally sweet and fruity flavour. Unlike other rhubarb types, which go dormant during the summer, these varieties have had the dormancy bred out so you can enjoy harvesting from as early as February (if forced) and continue through to November – that’s for 10 months of the year!…

GRAPES ON TOAST WITH CASHEW CREAM CHEESE The longer you soak the cashews, the creamier the cream cheese will be. It can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to five days until needed, or even frozen. SERVES 4  Preparation time: 30 minutes FOR THE CREAM CHEESE: ■ 200g/7oz cashews, soaked overnight ■ 2 tbsp unsweetened non-dairy yogurt ■ 1 tbsp lemon juice ■ 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar ■ ½ tsp salt ■ 1 tbsp nutritional yeast FOR THE TOAST: ■ 4 slices of wholegrain bread ■ 16 grapes ■ A drizzle of balsamic vinegar 1. Drain and rinse the soaked cashews, and add them to a food processor. Add the yogurt, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt and nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape the…