Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Kitchen Garden

It’s the beginning of a new year and we have a whole new gardening season to look forward to – the perfect antidote to what for many has been a rather gloomy time. So rather than look back in this issue we look forward and make plans for all the delicious crops to come. Deputy editor Emma Rawlings has 10 great ideas to make your veg plot more productive while fruit expert David Patch brings you the first of his timely two-part series which takes you back to basics with tree fruit - in plenty of time to order and plant your trees for 2021. KG’s staff writer Tony Flanagan brings you a roundup of some of the best new seed introductions to be found in the new catalogues and…

I live in Moray, way up in Scotland, and I was wondering if you could recommend a garlic that would grow well up here. It gets very cold in the winter as you can imagine, with heavy frosts and snow. Lindy Robertson, Moray EMMA SAYS: Garlic is generally very hardy, having adapted to life at high altitudes and a winter covering of snow, so I think most autumn planting varieties should be happy in your conditions. In fact you have a major grower only about an hour away from you and a little further north called The Really Garlicky Company. Hardneck types are usually considered to be hardier than softnecks, but don’t store for as long after harvest. Having said this, there are softneck types that are sold for autumn…

1 GO WILD Wildflower patches and more naturalistic planting are very popular right now. Just a small area of wildflowers on your plot somewhere will encourage pollinators to your crops. Naturalistic planting creates a softer look to the garden and you could incorporate areas of grass allowed to grow longer, perhaps planted with bulbs or wildflowers. Cottage-style borders with a wide range of flowers and maybe ornamental grasses intertwined will create an informal look. Fruit and vegetables can be planted among the flower borders to make the garden productive too. Neatness and order should be discouraged and flowers allowed to seed to provide food for the birds and even a nettle patch here and there will provide food for many moth and butterfly larvae. 2 PLANT A TUBTRUG GARDEN If…

How the years have flown since a field of dreams became an allotment site at Hook Cross, Hook in Hampshire. March 2020 saw Hook Allotment Association mark 10 years of allotment gardening on its 5.35 acre site. Originally arable farmland, it was bought by the community for the community and we think it could be the largest privately owned allotment site in the country. Sadly, due to Covid-19 we weren’t able to celebrate our superb achievement. Wouldn’t it have been lovely to have partied? While fundraising in the early years we had lots of memorable, fun get-togethers to help swell the coffers. We raised the purchase money in just over three years, to repay a wonderful village couple who loaned the original purchase amount over a much longer period. During…

I love the creativity of gardening, finding different ways of growing my own as cheaply as possible. Having grown some food in corners of gardens and on windowsills since my teens, I created my first veg plot while pregnant with my daughter (she is now 26) with a budget of £0, using my grandad’s old tools and seeds and transplants donated by friends and neighbours, plus potatoes I’d found sprouting in the veg basket. That year I gathered harvests of herbs, tomatoes, beans, strawberries, potatoes and sunflowers, all grown for free. Over the years the size of my veg plot (and family!) has grown and I now produce most of my vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers year round. For much of this time I had to be as frugal…

I don’t know about you, but alongside browsing seed catalogues and plenty of pen circling, I see the chilly winter months as a chance to look over how the last growing year went – thinking about my harvests, disasters and also how my general garden design worked for me and my lifestyle. Once spring arrives, it’s non-stop gardening, so I like to use these early months to make any changes for the upcoming year. While pondering my design changes, own fitness goals, time availability and vegetable growing ambitions for 2021, I decided to give Jan Broady a call to see if he had any tips for you and me about how we can make our gardens perfect for us and any personal well-being goals. Jan is a senior horticultural therapist…

The start of a new year is always an exciting one for vegetable growers. Since the new catalogues have come out, many of us will have been flipping back and forth through the pages of each one – or similarly online – thinking about ordering old favourites or trying something new. As usual, there is a good range of new varieties on offer – some new altogether, some new to a particular seed company. So here are some that stood out for me – but also look out for more on our What’s New pases in the coming months! JUST TOMTASTIC There always seems to be something new on the horizon when it comes to toms and more are offering resistance to blight – especially significant if you grow your…

Charles Dowding is acknowledged as a world authority on no-dig gardening and his latest book Charles Dowding’s No Dig Gardening Course 1 draws from his popular online course. This volume contains 19 essential lessons to help you get started with no-dig gardening and covers everything from an introduction to no dig, to making your first no-dig beds, types of mulches and planting and cropping. KG readers can obtain a copy of the book for just £17.50 (normal price £22.50) by simply visiting the website (www.charlesdowding.co.uk) and filling in the coupon using the code KG21 when prompted. Offer ends December 31,2020.…

RESPONSIBLE RUBBISH REMOVAL If you’re planning a landscaping or DIY project that will create waste you can’t compost, HIPPOBAGs are a great-value, convenient solution. Available in three sizes and easy to order by phone or online, they come flat-packed so don’t take up space until you’re ready to use them. Collection is included in the price, and they can be picked up without you being at home – ideal given the current Covid circumstances. Prices: from £134.99 for the Midi Bag www.hippowaste.co.uk Tel: 0333 999 0999 RAKE IT ALL IN The Clear ‘N’ Collect makes gathering up garden debris a breeze. This unique, large-capacity hinged rake glides over lawns, gravel and hardstanding, and pulls together to contain debris within its interlocking teeth. You then just open the Clear ‘N’ Collect…

LOOK AFTER SPROUTING BROCCOLI Check stakes and ties are still strong. Plants may have lost a lot of lower leaves in a hard winter, but if there is a good cluster at the top they can still produce an excellent crop. BUY SEED POTATOES Early varieties appear in shops this month. Buy while there is plenty of choice and before tubers have started to grow long, weak sprouts. Remove from bags and put to chit with the eye end upwards in a light, cool place. FEED FRUIT TREES AND BUSHES Dry feeds can take a few months to break down and become available for uptake by roots. Scatter a good organic feed, plus some powdered seaweed, in a circle around each tree. Roots run roughly as far out as the…

■ Pick over salads and any veg being overwintered and remove any dead or yellow leaves. ■ If you have heat, such as a propagator, sow early onions in plug trays or pots to produce seedlings ready for planting out in spring. ■ Continue to prepare the main planting beds by topping up with compost to produce a rich, fertile soil. ■ Order or buy onion sets and seed potatoes as early as possible and keep them dry and in a cool place. ■ Check broad bean seedlings growing in trays or pots in the polytunnel that were sown back in October or November. ■ This is a great time to carry out improvements such as putting up shelves to increase growing space.…

★ STAR ★ LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER UP, UP AND AWAY! Loving the recommendations to grow upwards in previous issues! We tried it with some ‘Serpente di Sicilia’ (‘Serpent of Sicily’) at the allotment last year and it loved it! Kayleigh Beirne, Gwent TONY SAYS: Now why does this remind me of the Garden of Eden, Kayleigh? JACK AND THE GIANT… MARROW Here’s my grandson Jack with the BIG marrow from grandad’s garden. Gillian Green, Swindon TONY SAYS: Well, it’s nearly as big as him! Well done Jack (and grandad of course). WORK IN PROGRESS I’ve recently purchased a digital subscription of the magazine and loving the contents. I thought I’d share a few pics of my work-in-progress kitchen garden. We moved home early last year and there’s loads to…

APPLE FLUFF! I was wondering if you could help me by identifying what has happened to my apple tree. Back in March and April I noticed white cotton-like fluff on the tree. Each day I was spraying the tree with water to get rid of it, only to find the next day it was back. Elizabeth Kimber, Surrey STEVE SAYS: Your apple tree is suffering from an attack of woolly aphids – a particular type of greenfly that lives in cracks and crevices in the bark of apple trees and others and sucks the sap. They do cause swellings on the branches and the bark then cracks, allowing access to other pests and diseases such as apple canker. The pest will be dormant now, surviving on the tree over the…

When it comes to growing fruit and veg we all know that different plants need different levels of feed and differing nutrients to perform to their best in the garden. There are lots of different fertilisers and feeds on the market for almost every plant you can think of, but they can be quite expensive, especially if you are feeding all the plants on your allotment or veg garden. Therefore, why not have a go at making your own fertilisers from plants and other things you’ll readily find or can grow in your garden or allotment? One of my favourite fertilisers that I’m constantly making in the garden is comfrey ‘tea; but don’t think it’s a tea that you can drink; it’s a ‘tea’ or liquid feed for your plants.…

Sometimes the most wonderful things are staring us in the face. In my humble opinion, seeds are one of them. We grow pumpkins for their rich autumnal hues but few can be bothered to take their snack-worthy seeds seriously. We admire the lofty spectacle of a sunflower in full summer splendour yet are prone to skip the seeds that follow. And how many of our beautiful ornamentals bear not just edible seeds, but really very tasty seeds that we simply overlook? Maybe it’s because they are just so, well, small. But I would like to make the case that seeds should be taken far more seriously. They’re superfoods beyond compare. Every morning I enjoy a pint-sized smoothie comprising fruits, a green – home-grown spinach, kale or chard – plus a…

If your hedge is not too closely clipped or is planted along its length with small trees, there is the opportunity to make it productive as well as practical. For example, brambles will almost certainly spring up, seeded by birds, and can be allowed to flower and fruit; hazel can be allowed to form a small tree when it can be coppiced for hazel rods and also harvested for nuts. Sloes can be used to make sloe gin and rosehips, elderflowers and berries, crab apples and fuchsia berries to make syrup, jelly and cordials. You might even consider planting a cherry tree in your hedge, both for you and the birds! SITE AND SOILS Most of the above will grow on a wide range of sites and soils. Coastal locations…

Getting your seeds off to a good start is one of the basics of growing crops successfully. In spring there are some seeds that need very little help and will germinate in cooler conditions. But some crops will benefit from a little extra warmth and there are some – such as peppers and aubergines – where it pays to start them off just that little bit earlier. So what are the options? HEATED If you want to get things going a bit earlier, you could opt for a heated propagator. These are good for seeds that need that extra bit of warmth to get them to germinate and to flourish. You can buy thermostatic controls too which will automatically regulate the temperature to the degree you have set it at…

RED CABBAGE & CLEMENTINE SALAD A welcome burst of colour at this time of year. Serve as a side salad or in a pitta bread for a satisfying lunch. SERVES 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes ■ 1 red cabbage ■ 3 clementines ■ 1 little gem lettuce ■ A handful of walnuts, chopped ■ 1 tbsp olive oil ■ Salt and pepper 1. Thinly slice the cabbage and little gem, place in a large bowl. 2. Peel and chop the clementines (any spare juice can be poured on to the salad). 3. Pour over the oil and mix in the walnuts. Season with salt and pepper and serve. THAI RED CURRY SALMON WITH RED CABBAGE & PEAR SLAW A fragrant Thai-style fish dish which is perfect with a crunchy side…

■ RODENTS Rats and mice can wreak havoc if they get into a vegetable store. Keep doors closed and block any gaps so your potatoes, apples and pumpkins remain intact. Protect sprouting pea and bean seeds too - mice dig up seeds and nip off shoots. ■ MEALY APHIDS These grey aphids can survive on brassica plants in a mild winter. They spread quickly and make leaves unsightly and inedible. Be vigilant and squash small numbers or remove badly affected leaves. Repeat applications of soap spray will kill the pests. ■ FROST Persistent sub-zero temperatures will kill some plants and set other ones back. Hardy winter greens are seldom killed by a few days of low temperatures, but root crops and leeks can turn to mush as they thaw out.…

■ A maximum-minimum thermometer is an essential piece of kit in the greenhouse or polytunnel and is something that should be used and checked all year round. It records the highest and lowest temperature over a given period, allowing you to monitor temperatures, adjust the heating at night or ventilate during the day if needed. It also helps when regulating propagators or heaters to maintain the correct temperature. ■ Have a check around to make sure that all gutters and downpipes are working properly and, if connected to a water butt, make sure the diverter in the downpipe isn’t blocked with rotten leaves and moss. ■ Seed catalogues are all out now and it’s worth sitting down in the warmth with a cup of tea to browse through them to…

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 Email your letters to tflanagan@mortons.co.uk or post to Letters, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR…

OUR SERIES FOR YOUNG GROWERS Hi! I’m Belle and I’m here every month to share lots of fun activities for you to do at home, on your own or with your family Would you like to start growing your own food now and not have to wait until it’s warmer outside? Sow some sprouting seeds and mini greens inside! You could be eating the tasty, fresh shoots in less than a week. You can grow sprouts at any time of the year and there is a variety of different sprouting seeds to choose from, including pea, beetroot, kale, broccoli, lentil and radish. All you need is: ■ A germinator like the one pictured or a clean glass jar, a piece of muslin cloth and an elastic band ■ Sprouting seeds…

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.…

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support with Plotter of the Month: THE POSH SHED COMPANY This company produces high-quality sheds that are well designed, beautiful and practical too. It also makes bespoke sheds for customers, plus other accessories, including planters. www.theposhshedcompany.co.uk ENVII Envii is a family-run business specialising in unique premium-quality garden, pond and home products. The company believes you deserve the ultimate performance to suit your needs. That’s why it invests time and attention into adding powerful, naturally derived active ingredients that make for stronger, more effective solutions and happy customers. Tel: 01246 240880 www.envii.co.uk HARROD HORTICULTURAL This company has been producing top-quality garden products for 60 years and offers an excellent mail order service. Renowned for its sturdy fruit and vegetable cages and…

The last year has seen interest in gardening skyrocket. While this is a welcome side effect of lockdown we mustn’t forget that the climate crisis hasn’t gone away We need to ensure that our surge in enthusiasm is having a positive impact, not only on the immediate environment within our garden but also beyond the confines of our fence. This advice is not new. National charity, Garden Organic, has been promoting this way of thinking for more than 60 years. But too often organic gardening is considered as too difficult and so not attempted. But if you consider what it actually involves it is much easier than you think! In this bi-monthly series I will be helping you to make this journey of change. WHAT DOES ORGANIC, LOW IMPACT GARDENING…

KG YOUTUBE CHANNEL STARTING A NEW PLOT Steve is outside on one of the KG plots with tips on starting a new site. It might be overgrown so a good idea is to cover with weed suppressant fabric and cultivate little by little. Ideally, a plot should get plenty of sunshine, some shade if possible, shelter from the wind and fertile, free-draining soil. You can always improve the soil, however, by adding plenty of organic matter such as well-rotted manure and in time you will create a perfect place for your crops to grow. Visit: www.youtube.com/kitchengardenmagazine and search: new plot KG FACEBOOK CARROT ENVY We loved this picture from Tracey Elliot on the KG Facebook pages. What a whopper! She wrote: “Thought I’d share what I just pulled up for…

One way or another, it’s certainly been an unusual year. While there have been many changes to our daily working practices on the nursery to make sure we keep everyone as safe as possible, the day-to-day jobs of grafting, budding, training and pruning have continued pretty much as normal. However, for many people their working life has been substantially altered and the large increase in people working from home has led to many reconnecting with their gardens and outside spaces. To try and help people who may be novice gardeners, or are just new to growing fruit, for the next two months we’ll be covering some of the basics on how to choose a new tree for your garden or allotment, so you can start growing fantastic fruit. WHAT TO…

Berberis can be regularly pruned or allowed to become a lax hedge Hawthorn hedges are tough and impenetrable As well as offering security, birds will love the berries of female hollies The glossy berries of pyracantha are highly attractive and long-lasting ■ Berberis (barberry): An evergreen that can be clipped or allowed to become more lax when it will produce arching stems with small flowers and berries. ■ Hawthorn: Thanks to the tough, well armoured stems, hawthorn is a little like living barbed wire! Long-lived, and loved by nesting birds for the protection it provides. ■ Holly: The generally spiny glossy green or variegated evergreen leaves make this an attractive option. Berries will be produced only on female forms and then only when grown less formally. ■ Pyracantha (firethorn) will…

FREE WITH EVERY ORDER SPRING PLANTING ONION, SHALLOT AND GARLIC COLLECTION An essential part of any kitchen garden has to be alliums. With endless culinary uses, onions, shallots and garlic have become a real staple in virtually every cuisine throughout the ages. This specially selected collection contains some of our best-selling spring planting varieties, picked for their flavour and performance in British gardens. The collection contains two bulbs of ‘Picardy Wight’, a popular softneck variety, a 500g pack of shallot ‘Bistro’ and a 250g pack of onion ‘Stuttgarter Giant’. Take advantage of this collection now to ensure a tasty supply this summer. **You can claim this collection FREE when ordering at least one additional product off the page. SAVE UP TO £17.90 ALSO IN THE KG SHOP THIS MONTH SPRING…

I was delighted to be given a subscription to Kitchen Garden by one of my daughters for Mothering Sunday 2020. What a wonderful gift, which I avidly read from cover to cover each month. I keep all the free seeds in a shoe box and have enjoyed planting some this year, and eating the proceeds. As a passionate and fairly new allotmenteer, I find plenty to interest me in every issue. However, the October issue was particularly exciting for me as it took me right back to my childhood. I have recently retired from my work as a vicar, which I’ve carried out for nearly 30 years here in Cornwall. Now that I have more time, I can devote many happy hours to my allotments, just over the road from…