Innehållsförteckning för August 2023 från Kitchen Garden

This season has shown so far just how much influence the weather can have over our crops. A slow start to the spring, then into a sunny, but chilly early summer, then – with little warning – a full-on heatwave that saw me out with the hosepipe (and in shorts) far earlier than normal this year. By the time you read this who knows what the weather may be doing, or what outfit I may be sporting! We can be sure, however, that our enthusiasm for growing delicious veg will never be dampened and it's time to make plans to grow three important crops this month – second cropping potatoes, spring cabbage and overwintering onions, as well as repeat sowings of salads. We also have winter brassicas to plant and…

ROB'S RECIPE In May's issue Rob Smith talks about the fantastic crop of rhubarb, which I have grown for years. He mentioned a rhubarb and yogurt cake which looked absolutely delicious. Is there any chance you could publish the recipe in the magazine? Kerry Jones, West Sussex RHUBARB AND YOGURT CAKE Here is the recipe. Obviously you can also cut the cake in half and fill with rhubarb jam and cream if you want even more rhubarb deliciousness! ■ 300g (10½oz) rhubarb, trimmed and chopped into small pieces ■ 200g (7oz) self-raising flour ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ 200g (7oz) unsalted butter, softened ■ 200g (7oz) caster sugar ■ 3 large eggs ■ 200g (7oz) Greek yogurt ■ Zest of 1 lemon ■ 1 tsp vanilla extract ■ Icing…

Summer is glorious in the kitchen garden, with daily harvests adding fresh flavours to meals and drinks. It feels as though this time of plenty will never end – especially those courgette harvests. Oh why did I plant so many? Regular picking maintains plant health and helps to prolong the harvesting period, naturally maximising productivity from each plant. Harvesting cucumbers, courgettes and summer squash at a small to medium size encourages the plants to produce more fruit, rather than putting their energy into mature fruits. Removing any monster fruits lurking under foliage likewise helps to stimulate more fruit production. These are great in chutneys or stuffed and baked. Harvesting ripe tomatoes, beans and peas when they are the right size for that variety also stimulates more fruit. For tomatoes, remove…

THE ECO GARDEN GET GROWING In last month's edition of Kitchen Garden, I talked about how gardens work as an ecosystem. Today, I want to talk about this in more practical terms. InMarch 2021, I stepped gleefully out into my new garden with a wheelbarrow of fresh horse manure and a few decking boards. The garden was entirely laid to lawn, save for a small area of decking. My budget was tiny, but my need for a garden was huge. With the help of a tiny flappy greenhouse, my garden was soon brimming with produce. There were carrots and cabbages, parsnips and lettuce, sweetcorn and cape gooseberries, to name just a few. For a few glorious weeks, it was perfection. But then it all started to unravel. The garden was in…

GET GROWING OUT AND ABOUT The unseasonal warmth at a time when we would be expecting the first autumnal frosts is a welcome change inThe Kirkwood garden. Last year was a year like no other – one of the hottest on record and, like many gardeners, this hardy group of volunteers had to cope with the drought. Hosepipes remained redundantly coiled since the ban was introduced so that any rainfall would help to swell depleted reservoirs. Yet, despite the long dry spell, and the warmer temperatures for the time of year during my visit to meet this wonderful team, the borders were still brimming with colour and sweetcorn, and leeks and tomatoes were on the grow despite rationed water stocks. Whatever the season there is something going on in this tranquil…

SAVE £11 (AGM is the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Under RHS garden trials these varieties performed particularly well) ALSO IN THE KG SHOP THIS MONTH FIG ‘LITTLE MISS FIGGY’ ‘Little Miss Figgy’ will produce a prolific crop of sweet, burgundy-coloured figs along the branches in summer, with each smooth-skinned fig having a sweet, juicy flesh. The fruit it can produce is delicious baked with maple syrup and served with a dollop of mascarpone cheese – washed down with an espresso or liqueur… yum! 2L potted plant only £19.95 RASPBERRY ‘YUMMY’ A compact raspberry, perfect for growing in pots on the patio. Producing fruit in its first year, this thorn-free bush will give heavy crops of juicy, sweet, red fruit, lovely for jam or eaten fresh from the bush. Easy…

TOP UP MULCHES Lock in valuable soil moisture by topping up mulches once you're done watering or after a period of rain. Lay organic mulches such as compost or spread thin layers of grass clippings. CURE ONIONS Dig up onions as the leaves begin to flop over or turn yellow. Cure onions before storing by laying therm out in a warm, well-aired place. The onions are ready once the skins turn papery. SOW GREEN MANURES Recently vacated ground can be used to grow soilimproving green manures. Sow hardy green manures like field beans or grazing rye to overwinter and dig in next spring. PINCH OUT BEANS Pinch out the growing points of climbing beans once they reach the top of their supports to stop growth getting overcrowded and top-heavy. Pick…

MAKE YOUR OWN GARDENING WAND! 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 Growing tasty vegetables from tiny seeds can feel magical! Offering care, dedication and patience to our seeds can really help them – and us – grow. Making our own gardening wand can bring this magic to life and be a fun, relaxing activity to do at home. YOU WILL NEED: ■ Your chosen stick ■ Twine or raffia – cut into single pieces of about 20cm long ■ Ribbon – colours of your choice ■ Natural materials like flowers, herbs, grasses and leaves ■ Scissors (ask an adult for help if you need it) ■ Basket or bag…

Get in touch by post, email or via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag WEEDKILLER WIPEOUT? I've been growing tomatoes for many years but this year some of the plants are distorted. Martin Gill, Plymouth STAR QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER STEVE SAYS: Your plants could be showing symptoms caused by either a virus or hormone weedkiller damage. Viruses causing these symptoms are spread by hand, tools or seeds and affected plants are best discarded (do not compost them). Weedkiller damage occurs where spray drift reaches the plants, or if a sprayer or watering can used to water your plants contained traces of such products. It has also regularly occurred in recent years where the manure of animals such as cows and horses which have eaten hay or grass treated with aminopyralid (a…

It is lovely to be planting or sowing at this time of year – the feeling that there is still plenty to do before winter sets in again and another chance to watch new crops develop and grow. It is also a great way to keep the ground occupied and productive through the winter months. Autumn planting or overwintering onions are usually produced from sets – immature bulbs which have been harvested and stored until it is time for planting, but it is possible to buy seeds of a few varieties such as ‘Senshyu Yellow’ and ‘Hi Keeper F1’, too. Sets are usually ordered now for planting in September and October, while seeds are sown a little earlier in August/early September to give them time to develop before the onset…

NO-DIG CHILDREN'S GARDENING BOOK If you are looking for some inspiration for your young gardeners, then you need look no further than this new book from no-dig gardening guru Charles Dowding. Being centred around no-dig which deals primarily with the soil, it should certainly hold the attention of little ones who tend to have a natural fascination with all things creepy and crawly. With the help of beautiful illustrations by Kristyna Litten, this colourful book takes young gardeners through the basic principles of no-dig gardening, the magic of composting, and how to grow food and flowers. There is also plenty of inspiration for teachers and parents who may wish to set up a project to promote gardening among youngsters. There are details of successful projects from community gardens to school…

This is one of the most popular blueberries in the world and there's a reason for that. It's reliable, very high yielding with an excellent flavour and ‘bite’. The mid-season fruits are a delightful powder-blue colour, the bush is incredibly vigorous and the autumn colour is tremendous with beautiful deep red leaves. Take advantage of this offer now to ensure a tasty supply for years to come. *You can claim this variety FREE when ordering at least one additional product off the page. 1 x 2L plant of Blueberry ‘Bluecrop’ despatched from August. WORTH £15-95…

GET COOKING OVEN PANCAKE WITH CHERRIES AND BERRIES If your children love pancakes as much as mine, then they'll probably love this too. It is easy to make and you don't have to stand over the frying pan endlessly flipping pancakes! This breakfast is simple and fun, and you can top it with whatever fruit you like! SERVES 4-6 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes 475ml (17fl oz) whole milk ■ 4 eggs, large ■ 1 tsp vanilla extract ■ 175g (5½Oz) flour ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ 4 tbsp granulated sugar ■ 75g (2½oz) salted butter ■ 250g (9oz) strawberries, halved ■ 250g (9oz) cherries, de-stoned ■ 1 lemon, juice of, for serving ■ Icing sugar for serving 1. Set a baking dish, measuring roughly 23…

NEW POTATOES Freshly dug new potatoes are a delight and something I always look forward to in summer. They have a wonderful flavour and can be eaten in so many ways, hot or cold. New potatoes are mainly produced from first early varieties and planting to harvesting takes about 12-13 weeks. This makes them not only a quick crop to grow, but it also means by staggering the planting you can easily extend the harvesting period over several months from mid-summer to autumn. New potatoes are also very easy to grow in the garden or in containers. SOIL CONDITIONS Potatoes are not too fussy when it comes to soil and if they have sufficient moisture and nutrients they will grow in most soil types, sandy to clay. However, for the…

WORTH OVER £339! ECONOMY RACK This useful rack, designed and manufactured by Two Wests & Elliott in the company's Derbyshire workshop, is the perfect way to make the most of any compact space – whether it's in a greenhouse, shed, spare room or outdoors! The Economy rack comes with nine full-size seed trays held within its sturdy, rustproof aluminium frame. Supplied for self-assembly, this three-tier rack is about 91cm (3ft) high, with each level 36cm (14in) apart. This Economy Seed Tray Rack can be purchased from Two Wests’ website: www.twowests.co.uk or call 01246 451077 to order or for a copy of the free 132-page catalogue. BUCKINGHAM BOOTS Also included in our prize package is a pair of Buckingham Wellington Boots from the Deluxe range of footwear from Town & Country.…

VEGETABLE SNACKS GET GROWING Welcome to the wonderful world of home-grown vegetable snacking and party food! Vegetables aren't only grown for cooking or salads, so let's talk about the joys of growing your own delicious and healthy treats right in the comfort of your back garden, or even within the constraints of containers. Whether you have ample space for a sprawling garden or are limited to a small balcony, you can still grow fresh vegetables for snacking and entertaining. Get ready to explore a diverse range of vegetables that are perfect for snacking on their own or serving with mouthwatering dips. From the satisfying crunch of celery sticks to the vibrant sweetness of mangetout, the versatility of broccoli and the flavourful appeal of cauliflower, there's something to suit every taste. If…

GET GROWING Many of us would like a magic solution to slugs. I get asked “what do you do about slugs?” most times I visit a gardening group. But I will be upfront now and say I still haven't found the ultimate solution. However, there are ways to limit their damage. Slugs must be the most maligned group of creatures in the garden. But after you've had a collection of your carefully tended plants methodically severed at the base overnight, I can understand why. But let's get some perspective on slugs. TYPES OF SLUGS TO LOOK OUT FOR There are around 40 species in the UK, but only a handful cause damage to your plants. The rest do all sorts of useful jobs, such as breaking up old rotting plant…