Innehållsförteckning för June 2020 från Kitchen Garden

This is officially a coronavirus-free zone. We can’t claim that reading KG or even growing your own veg makes you immune from the virus, but we can promise not to talk about it (much)! Instead we will focus on the fact that the June issue marks the long-awaited start of summer and the hope that your veg plot or allotment is proving to be a haven away from the worries of the world. To help the feeling along we turn the spotlight on lots of like-minded gardeners who have found just how gardening, and growing your own in particular, can help keep us all happy and healthy. This month for example, we welcome Annabelle Padwick, also known as blogger ‘Life at No.27’ to the team. Annabelle is a great example…

STEP 1: Choose a mix of purple and light green-skinned varieties if you want to sample two types of these attractive plants. The taste is a bit like a nutty sweet turnip. Sow seed thinly in a pot or tray and just cover with compost. Germination takes 6-8 days. STEP 2: Ease out individual plants when they are around 12cm (4¾in) tall. Plant out at 15-20cm (6-8in) apart in a row. Plants grow quickly in a soil that has been dug and enriched with some well-rotted garden compost. Add a little lime to acid soils and firm gently when planting. STEP 3: Keep soil damp so plants don’t bolt in dry conditions. The stem starts to swell above ground level and this forms the part that will be eaten. Lift…

■ As the weather warms up outside, it can get very hot undercover, which can cause some plants such as chard and beetroot to prematurely flower and run to seed. Once this process starts, you can’t reverse it, but by pinching out flowers as soon as they start to develop, it will slow the process down and allow you to harvest the crop. ■ Remember that many salads and vegetables grow perfectly well in pots and containers, so when the soil borders in the polytunnel are full, carry on sowing and planting in containers that you can stand on the path or staging. ■ If you intend to propagate some strawberry plants later in the summer, don’t remove all the runners as they start to develop. Either allow all the…

This month, I want to show you how to make and grow your own cress caterpillars! Don’t like cress? Try lettuce or rocket instead! YOU WILL NEED: Egg boxes – cut into strips Cotton wool Compost Cress or salad leaf seeds Tablespoon Pens or paint Glue Wiggly eye stickers Newspaper HOW TO MAKE: STEP 1: Lay down the sheets of newspaper or a mat on to your table to protect the surface. STEP 2: Decorate your egg box caterpillar, how about eyes and feet? Is it a happy or evil caterpillar? STEP 3: Fill the base with a small piece of cotton wool, then add a spoon of compost. STEP 4: Sow a sprinkle of cress seeds into each module. STEP 5: Cover the seeds with more compost. STEP 6:…

Your guide to common pests, diseases and other problems affecting your crops WHAT IS IT? Codling moth is a 22mm long brown and grey moth whose caterpillars cause maggoty apples. It is the most important apple and pear pest and occasionally significant for quince and walnut. Adult moths emerge on warm evenings in May and June and lay single, flat, shiny eggs on leaves and fruits. After 7-10 days the caterpillars emerge and bore their way into the fruits, leaving a characteristic entrance hole. After feeding inside the fruit the caterpillars descend and overwinter beneath flaky bark and in vegetation around the tree. SYMPTOMS Fallen and damaged fruits gnawed and rotten in the middle, filled with their droppings or ‘frass’, and with a pronounced exit tunnel, perhaps containing a small,…

Most gardeners grow peas on their allotment, veg patch or in the back garden, be it small plants in pots or tall climbing ones up canes. However, there are a couple of types of peas that aren’t as popular as they should be: sugar snaps and mangetout. Before we start talking about the differences between these two species I can’t talk about mangetout without thinking of the TV programme Only Fools and Horses! Why has no comedy-loving breeder named a mangetout ‘Rodney’? When it comes to classifying mangetout and sugar snap peas, they are all part of the legume family and are technically peas, yet mangetout are Pisum sativum var. saccharatum and sugar snaps are Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon. Some may think that sugar snaps and mangetout are interchangeable names…

I have always been a scaredy-cat when it comes to working at height and much prefer to have both feet on the ground. We are not talking about proper heights here, much more than the second rung on a set of steps and the vertigo kicks in; unfortunate when I have lots of tall hedging to tame and fruit trees to prune. As a consequence, I have long lusted after a really sturdy ladder that can remain stable even on uneven terrain and to give me the confidence to let go with both hands – an essential requirement when working with power tools. When I was offered the chance to try a ladder from a leading manufacturer, Henchman, I was delighted to accept. The model I tried is a tripod…

The summer solstice around June 21 (this year it actually falls at 22:44 on the 20th) is the longest day of the year. Light increases each day before the solstice, encouraging exuberant growth in the garden. After the longest day, every day there is a little less daylight, but the summer warmth and sunshine continues to encourage abundance in my allotment and polytunnel. GETTING FRUITY June is such a fruitful month. The first few precious handfuls of strawberries and summer fruiting raspberries lead to a succession of delicious soft fruit: redcurrants, tayberries, Japanese wineberries, gooseberries, blueberries, blackcurrants and more. Delicious sprinkled on breakfast oats, munched sun-kissed straight from the plant or made into summer pudding, the fruit freezes easily too for vitamin-rich winter compotes and baking. I carefully cover the…

More and more people are trying their hand at flatbreads, falafels and pomegranate-bedecked salads. If, like me, you’ve dabbled with new cuisines, you will have probably encountered that delicious seasoning called za’atar, comprised of finely powdered sumac, cumin and thyme with sesame seeds, which is sprinkled on savoury pastries or sometimes rice. Sadly, my favourite Turkish supermarket went up in flames a few months ago – and I ran out of spices, so thought I’d have a go at making my own. Thyme I had in plenty and I still had stocks of everything else. After an energetic half hour with a pestle and mortar, it looked right but smelt of something lacking. When I came to cook with it, the flavour wasn’t quite the same. “You need proper mountain…

10 MINUTE JOBS PROP UP PEAS Some varieties of peas will grow super tall and often much taller than the packet states if conditions are favourable. Keep adding extra supports so the tops don’t tumble over in the first strong wind. And you may need a stepladder for harvesting. FEED PLANTS IN CONTAINERS AND GROWBAGS There are usually enough nutrients in fresh compost to feed growing plants for around six weeks. Use a liquid feed every seven to 10 days for the next few months to keep fruits swelling and plants growing happily. PLANT PUMPKINS Plants raised in pots can go into the garden after all frost has passed. Fill a hole with compost and settle a plant in the middle. Mark each planting point with a stick and allow…

■ LOOK AFTER STRAWBERRIES Cover fruiting plants with a net to keep birds off and protect against slugs and snails. Trim a few leaves if plants are crowded and mould affects fruit. Keep plants watered and fed so they crop at their best. Pick, relax, and enjoy the delicious ripe fruits. ■ SUMMER PRUNING Cherry and plum trees can be pruned now to avoid silver leaf disease. Prune just before you pick the last harvest so you can see where fruit is hiding and which shoots should be removed. ■ PLANT LEEKS Get young leek plants into holes in the ground so they can grow big enough through the summer and autumn months. A few broken roots are fine but do water plants into each hole and don’t let the…

CORONAVIRUS SHUTS DOWN SHOWS The coronavirus has had a major impact on this year’s flower shows, seeing events such as the Harrogate Spring Flower Show, the RHS Cardiff, Chelsea, Chatsworth shows and BBC Gardeners’ World Live all cancelled. The National Trust has closed its gated parks and gardens, houses, shops and cafes to help restrict the spread of the disease, and all National Garden Scheme (NGS) gardens have also been closed. For the most recent updates visit: RHS: www.rhs.org.ukNational Trust: www.nationaltrust.org.ukNational Garden Scheme: https://ngs.org.uk ADVICE FOR ALLOTMENTEERS At the time of writing, allotments are still open to allotmenteers, providing Government guidelines are strictly followed. The National Allotment Society offers advice for growers and allotment associations, what they need to be aware of and what precautionary measures should be implemented. For…

CAPE GOOSEBERRIES ANYONE? DIANE: Has anyone had any success with cape gooseberry? Only asking, as we went to a posh restaurant recently and my dessert was decorated with them and they were delicious. PLUM PUDDING: Yes, they do very well, but I grow mine in the greenhouse border. It makes a large plant and needs support. The fruits ripen over a long period and keep for ages. WESTI: The issue I’ve had for the last couple of years is germination though. PLUMPUDDING: If you let any ripe ones fall on the ground you get seedlings coming up all over. WESTI: Maybe that is the solution to my germinating problem, could buy some and throw them down where I want them to grow! TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FORUM VISIT:…

STRAWBERRY FLOWER POSER I planted some bare-rooted strawberry plants and have read conflicting advice online. I’m unsure as to whether I should cut the flowers off in the first year to grow a stronger plant or to let them fruit and eat the berries in the first year? Charlotte Coles, Birmingham Andrew Tokely, horticultural director, Kings Seeds ANDREW SAYS: When growing strawberries the commercial grower will remove all flowers in the first year as this builds up the plants so they have a bumper crop in year two. Most gardeners do not like doing this as they want to taste that first strawberry. You can leave some flowers on and let them fruit in the first year but in my experience the yield will be very low; hence I have…

TOP MARKS! If you’re a parent looking for educational sites for your children about growing fruit and veg, take a look at www.topmarks.co.uk. Just enter ‘growing plants’ into its search engine and you’ll find a range of resources for children of all ages. Each topic links to another website. Click on The Tomato Zone heading, for example, and this will take you to www.thetomatozone.co.uk,created by The British Tomato Growers’ Association. Here you will find interactive activities for the 5-11 and the 11-16+ groups respectively. Or click on Get Growing and your 4-6-year-olds play a game where they get to choose seeds and see what else they need to make plants grow. Plenty to explore! POTS & TROWELS  Don’t miss out on the expertise of one of KG’s long-time contributors, Martin…

How long have you been interested in growing your own veg and when did you start your first veg patch? Our first vegetable patch began when we moved to our cottage almost four years ago. I saw some vegetable plugs in the garden centre and on a whim popped them in my basket. I got home and plonked them in a desolate patch of soil and hoped for the best. Most were planted at the wrong time of the year, our beetroot and cauliflower bolted, and our carrots had holes all over them. I was left feeling rather befuddled. The few edible crops that did make it to the kitchen made me so happy. I was absolutely determined to do better next year. If farmers can produce great big fields…

THE SECRET LIVES OF GARDEN BEES In The Secret Lives of Garden Bees Jean Vernon shares her love of bees, introducing the ones we are likely to find in our gardens and what we can do to support them. There’s a quite fascinating section on bees that don’t look like bees and other insects (such as bee flies and drone flies) that do! Another chapter describes the different kinds of bees you can expect to find in your gardens, how to spot them and what you can do to help them. The text is supported by close-up pictures of different species. What will amaze you is the breadth and diversity of the bees that are out there – not surprising perhaps when you consider there are around 276 species in…

Capers are a tasty addition to salads, dressings and sauces. If you don’t have any ‘capers’ which are the garlic scapes, use the buds from dandelions, wild garlic and scapes from bolting onions or leeks. You can also add chive blossoms. WHAT YOU NEED One large glass jar with lid and one fermenting weight (a clean flat stone works well, or a glass fermenting lid) ■ Basic caper brine made of 250ml water, 125ml vinegar (white wine, cider, champagne), 65ml sea salt) ■ Extra flavourings (optional) – garlic cloves, French tarragon, dill, citrus peels, lemon balm, peppercorns, juniper berries ■ 500ml ‘capers’ – fill a measuring jug to 500ml. Make sure they are clean and free from insects. METHOD 1 Put the salt, vinegar and water in a pan, bring…

THE KEW GARDENS NEVERBEND CARBON EDGING KNIFE This edger has a carbon steel solid forged head with hammer-finished epoxy coating for improved resistance to rust, humidity and alkalis in the soil. It has an extra-wide T-shaped handle made from FSC certified ash and weatherproofed. Shaft size: 91.4cm (36in), blade width: 20.3cm (8in). SPEAR & JACKSON www.spear-and-jackson.com * Prices TEL: 0114 281 4242 correct at PRODUCT CODE: 3805KEW time of PRICE GUIDE: £35.95 publication KG VERDICT This is a sturdy edger. The blade was strong and cut into the grass smoothly and cleanly. We liked the generous tread for resting the foot on, and the stirrup was helpful when lifting the blade from each cut. Good length with a comfortable T-shaped handle for an improved grip. An excellent all-round edger…

FENNEL BAKED FISH EN PAPILLOTE Such a summery dish to enjoy (weather permitting!) on the terrace! Orange and fennel are a fantastic gastronomic match – try it here with some fresh fish. SERVES 2 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes ■ 1 fennel bulb, sliced ■ 1 large fillet white fish ■ 60g/2oz mixed olives, pitted ■ 250ml/8fl oz orange juice ■ A big sprig of flat-leaf parsley ■ Olive oil, for drizzling ■ Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/170C fan/ gas 5. 2. Fold a 30 x 60cm (1 x 2ft) sheet of baking paper in half. Arrange the sliced fennel on the baking paper, then top with the parsley, fish and olives. 3. Fold the paper over the…

FIRST POTATOES It’s always a treat to eat some first early potatoes in mid-late June. The roots may not be huge but they will be delicious. Flowering can be an indicator that a plant has produced some large enough potatoes, but not all early varieties flower. If stems are tall and healthy, then feel in around the base before digging. If you find some large enough roots then it is worth lifting the whole plant. If potatoes are very small, you may want to wait a week before lifting another plant, but don’t wait too long to enjoy some small and delectable potatoes. PICK COURGETTES Whether you grow green or yellow ones, striped ones, round or long, plants should be producing well from the middle of June onwards. All types…

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.…

Container growing, pure and simple. In this video, Emma shows how to go about it. Get a plastic bucket from a DIY store or old supermarket flower buckets – cheap to buy  It’s important to drill holes in the bottom for drainage. Add lots and your crops will thrive Fill with multi-purpose compost and you can grow a wide range of crops outside your back door! Comment ; Kenny Nicholson I am having great success in my bucket garden, with potatoes, peas, beans, carrots, onions, beetroot, and using trays for all my salad crops. Brilliant as there is no digging. Harvesting is easy too, just tip out in my barrow and wipe the veg off. I remix the compost with some Growmore or fish, blood and bone and plant something…

Time for something a little more unusual. It’s always good to occasionally step out of our comfort zone and try and push the boundaries of what we think possible. Sure, there may be failures along the way, but there will also be unexpected successes which make us challenge accepted wisdom about what we can and can’t do. Trying to achieve the seemingly impossible or attempting a daunting task is at the heart of progress, and I think that gardening is as much about the growth of the person as it is about the growth of the plant. So for the next two months we are going to look at two of the more unusual edibles you may be tempted to grow – unusual in that they are both climbing plants,…

A neatly edged lawn or veg patch is very pleasing on the eye and there is a tool to match virtually every task in the garden, in this case edgers (also known as edging knives). If you’ve only ever been familiar with half-moon edges, you’ll be surprised at the variety of models that are available these days. The half-moon-style edgers still predominate perhaps, but there are different options now for you to consider, as you will see from the ones the KG team tried out this month. GRASS TRIMMERS In addition to manual tools, there are also petrol, electric and battery-powered trimmers you can buy, which double as a strimmer and an edger (so you get double the value!). This (right) is a battery-operated MT48LI 48 grass trimmer from Mountfield…

Many smallholders will have been sowing seeds recently. On the packet there is a variety name and also often several other things: like F1 and AGM. But do you know what these terms mean? For the grower, they are important. F1 seeds have greater vigour, and therefore yield, than standard seeds. They are produced by a painstaking process of continually inbreeding the two parent lines and then crossing these ones together. Genetics dictates that many recessive genes are now masked so that dominant traits are expressed in the progeny. This is called heterosis, or hybrid vigour. This process takes time and costs money, so F1 seed is more expensive than the standard variety seed. But you will have to buy new F1 seed every year as the vigour does not…