Innehållsförteckning för February 2025 från Kitchen Garden

You may feel a little in limbo this month as you wait for the spring–I nearly wear out my seed packets as I thumb through yet again to make sureIhave everything I need for the spring. Yet if you turn to page 6 - our Jobs for the Month pages - you’ll see there is a surprising list of things to do. What better way to blow off the cobwebs than to get out into the garden for a few hours and to get it ready for the big ‘spring sow’? Among the things you could make an early start with are salads, including lettuces, and beginning on page 56 we have some handy top tips for success. You’ll also find some advice for those joining in our parsnip-grow-along on…

A WILDIFE HAVEN FROM PRUNINGS Having pruned large plum and damson trees we were left with a lot of debris. We are no longer allowed to burn said rubbish on our allotment, so decided to create a wildlife hedge/ bug haven. Three stout posts to start the wall and then we wove in all the pruned branches. Before we’d finished a couple of wrens were inspecting its interior with a view to moving in, so a successful and worthwhile job. Rob and Jackie Preece, Bucks TONY SAYS: What a wonderful creation. A labour of love, no doubt! ★ STAR ★ LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER A HAPPY ACCIDENT! I just wanted to tell you about how I accidentally found the best way to grow watercress. Every few months I would sow…

ONIONS New to Kings is ‘Walla Walla’, an American heirloom. Expect large round bulbs, sweet and crunchy with a mild taste and less of an aroma compared to other varieties, so no tears! A good one to eat raw in salads and sandwiches. 200 seeds for £2.50. If you’re looking for an overwintering salad onion ‘Starlight’ is one for you. It has excellent winter hardiness, producing clean white bulbs and dark green leaves. A good one for early spring sowing too. 200 Seeds for £2.99. (T&M) ‘Ruby Red’ is a sweet and mild salad onion with gorgeous pink flushes. It can be picked young or left to mature, with a storage capacity of five to six months. These onions keep their colour when cooked. 100 seeds for £2.99. (Suttons) If…

DESI SPANISH OMELETTE This is a classic Spanish omelette with a punchy Desi twist. You can boil the potatoes in advance to save time and cook the omelette fresh, or prepare it completely before you need it and enjoy it either cold or reheated. A 20-minute breakfast recipe SERVES 2 ■ 500g (1lb 2oz) potatoes, sliced ■ 2 tablespoons ghee ■ 1 white onion, sliced ■ 2 garlic cloves ■ 1 teaspoon chilli powder ■ 1 teaspoon garam masala ■ ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ■ 1 tablespoon tomato puree ■ 6 eggs ■ 3 tablespoons fresh coriander, chopped ■ Salt and black pepper 1. Cook your potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water until just tender, then drain in a colander and set aside. 2. Heat a tablespoon of…

Tomatoes are one of the most beloved crops in British gardens but they can be vulnerable to blight. So you might think that Yorkshire, with its chilly winds, frequent rain and unpredictable summers, would be one of the last places to breed tomatoes for outdoor production. After all, isn’t Yorkshire better known for its hearty root vegetables and brassicas than for the Mediterranean delights of plump, juicy tomatoes? Well, think again! In recent years, Yorkshire has become an unexpected hub for modern tomato breeding, turning heads in the horticultural world. At the forefront of this movement is none other than renowned tomato expert Simon Crawford, whose impressive portfolio includes beloved varieties like ‘Red Alert’, ‘Crimson Crush’, and ‘Honeycomb’. While most people picture sun-baked Italian or Californian fields when they think…

NPK IN SOIL IMPROVERS N: Nitrogen (for leaf growth) P: Phosphorus (for roots) K: Potassium (for fruits and flowers) Each expressed as a percetage, eg. NPK: 3:2:3 ROCKETGRO SOIL IMPROVER Made by RocketGro (at its farm in Somerset) from composted maize, rye and grass, this is a 100% organic, chemical-free, peat-free and vegan friendly soil improver which can be used all year round. It can be dug into existing beds or laid on top of the soil if you’re using the nodig method. It will feed soil for three months, and it can also be added to potted plants and containers. THE ORGANIC GARDENING CATALOGUE www.organiccatalogue.com TEL: 0333 240 0776 PRODUCT CODE: KF3013 PRICE FROM: £18.99 per 50L bag * Prices correct at time of publication Kitchen Garden magazine BEST…

This month Anna Cairns Pettigrew has prepped a range of delicious and nutritious dishes for us all to try, with mustards, Savoy cabbage and ‘Cavolo Nero’ kale on the menu TUSCAN WHITE BEAN AND KALE SOUP Serve up comforting bowls of Tuscan soup on an extra cold night. I love ‘Cavolo Nero’ as it holds its structure but softens beautifully. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes SERVES 6 ■ 1 tbsp olive oil ■ 1 large onion, chopped ■ A pinch of chilli flakes ■ 1 medium carrot, chopped ■ 1 sweet potato, peeled and 15mm (½-inch) diced ■ 2 ribs celery, chopped ■ 4 cloves garlic, minced ■ 950ml (33fl oz) stock ■ 1 tbsp fresh minced rosemary ■ 1 medium russet potato, peeled and 15mm (½-inch)…

PLANT BARE ROOT BUSHES Finish planting bare root fruit trees and bushes while they are still dormant, if the ground is not waterlogged or frozen. PRUNE AUTUMN RASPBERRIES Prune autumn fruiting raspberries by cutting them down to ground level, then mulching with compost. Use the twiggy stems as pea sticks or tie in short bunches to make insect houses. CHECK PROPAGATORS Check heated propagators, lights and other propagating equipment to ensure it is all clean and working well before the main sowing season begins. HOE BEDS Keep hoeing beds to remove first flushes of weeds germinating as the days get longer, even if the beds look weed free. The old saying goes: “If you hoe when you have no weeds, you’ll have no weeds.” FORCING RHUBARB Forcing rhubarb, covering the…

REGROW YOUR VEGETABLE WASTE 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 Did you know that you can turn some of your vegetable waste into more food? It’s very exciting to watch and can be done on a windowsill inside all year round. YOU WILL NEED: ■ Vegetable ends –You can use lettuce, leek, pak choi, spring onion and celery ■ Vegetable tops – You can use carrots ■ Small clear jars or yogurt pots ■ Jug of water LET'S GET STARTED… 1. Start by collecting your vegetables. You want there to be about 2.5cm of growth left, with the base still intact. 2. Place a vegetable end into a jar…

Get in touch by post, email or via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag ROTTEN LEEKS Can you tell me what has happened to my leeks? They grew well - approximately 4cm in thickness - and then they collapsed and rotted. Jan Rozputynski, Warminster ★ STAR ★ QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER STEVE SAYS: I think your leeks have probably been attacked by a pest such as leek moth. A second generation of this moth appears from August to October and feeds on the leaves and then the stems, boring into the tissues and allowing in fungi and bacteria, which then cause the plants to collapse and rot. Look out for distinctive net-like cocoons on the leaves in which the larvae pupate. You may also see larvae which feed within the leaves and…

For more than 60 years peat has been the main ingredient in growing compost for both the home gardener and professionals. But with the impending ban on peat, more reduced peat and 100% peat-free compost is now available in garden centres. The change is because the Government has committed to banning the use of peat in growing composts. For retail sales the ban was planned to come into force at the end of 2024 and for professional growers in 2026, with some exemptions until 2030. However, to date no legislation has been brought in. In theory that means home gardeners can continue to use peat if they wish, although most of the compost being sold in garden centres is now peat-free. The reasons for banning the use of peat are…

If someone had told me 10 years ago that I would not only be growing my own food but I would have set up a community growing project, I would have laughed and probably rolled my eyes! Ten years ago, despite the best efforts of my wonderful mum Ali and my dear friend Joscelyn, I had absolutely no interest in growing anything, not even planting a flower. The thought of spending time in a garden was just not on my radar. Fast forward to 2019, and a spur of the moment decision to take on an allotment to have access to some more outside space, and the rest is history. As I began learning how to grow my own food I was working in education and took on responsibility for…

There are lots of varieties of sage available from specialist herb producers but the most popular and freely available are: ■ GARDEN SAGE (SALVIA OFFICINALIS): Also known as common sage or Greek sage. This is the most common form and popular with cooks for its pungent, earthy scent and great flavour. ■ PURPLE SAGE (SALVIA OFFICINALIS ‘PURPURASCENS’): A lovely purple-leaved form, also with a great scent and flavour. A lovely contrast in mixed plantings with other sages or in a mixed perennial border. A little more compact than garden sage. ■ VARIEGATED SAGES: There are several popular variegated forms. ‘Icterina’ has lovely yellow and pale green leaves (see main picture), while ‘Tricolor’ is grey-green splashed with cream and with purple tints. Both are beautiful in the garden as well as…

The Latin name for tree spinach is Chenopodium giganteum and the last name indicates it can grow quite tall, between 1-2m (3-6ft). The young shoots are a spectacular bright magenta pink, which makes it quite an eye catcher on the veg plot. It really is quite stunning and a must-grow plant for those wanting to add botha bit of edible colour to their plots and a talking point. It is the youngest leaves of this plant that are best eaten and they can used to brighten up a salad. The slightly larger older leaves are used in cooking and taste a bit spinach or chard-like. Tree spinach is related to quinoa, so when the plants go to flower in late summer through to autumn you can save the seed for…

OUR TOP PLOTTERS STEVE AND LISA BATES FROM DORSET Steve and Lisa share the work on their allotment and grow a wide range of vegetables and flowers, including sunflowers that annually remind them of their wedding day. Do you tend your plot on your own? I work on the plot with my wife, Lisa. It’s a team effort in all tasks but she’s better at planning and keeping a tidy seed box. Do you have an allotment or veg plot in your garden (and approximate size)? We have an allotment and are lucky enough to be able to grow some things in the garden too. This is very handy as we always plant more than we can fit in the ground and can never bring ourselves to throw seedlings away!…

NEW SERIES When it comes to preserving a crop you might not immediately think of why not consider peppers and chillies? While chilli powder (found in nearly every supermarket and corner shop) may be the most obvious option, the world of pepper preservation is as diverse as it is exciting. Think pickled chillies, roasted peppers in oil, fiery fermented chilli sauces, or even tangy sauerkraut peppers. Each method captures the essence of these heat-loving plants in unique and totally different ways. Preserving peppers and chillies is all about understanding their characteristics. Thin-fleshed varieties like ‘Cayenne’, ‘Peter Pepper’, ‘Sugar Rush Stripey’ and ‘Mirch Masala’ chillies are perfect for drying or making powders. Their smaller size and low water content mean they dry quickly and store for months, perfect for makinga decorative…

The gardening grow-along has become a massive hit on social media and we reported on one last year. KG reader Jenny Winnard from Wigan (@jenny_ ourfamilyallotment) completed her first onion grow-along–a roaring success among her followers on Instagram. We wanted to get in on the action and thought the free packet of parsnip ‘Tender and True’ seeds given away with our December issue would provide the perfect opportunity. We promised at the time to give you some more details of our grow-along in this issue and to offer a few suggestions as to how you might grow a long root. We’ll be growing along too and will bring you updates on our progress in the magazine and online during the growing season. Jenny will be joining us, so do like…

■ BOX HEDGING: One that is often used for potagers is dwarf box Buxus suffruticosa. It is worth noting that a disease called box blight has been causing problems with this plant in recent years and so it may be prudent to avoid this one. Another called Buxus microphylla ‘Rococo’, is also quite dwarf in nature and has been offering some resistance to the blight. To be sure of avoiding the box blight issue why not consider other kinds of plants? See below for ideas. ■ JAPANESE HOLLY (ILEX CRENATA): Looks similar to box but doesn’t have the blight issues. Slow growing and can be kept at manageable heights with clipping. It can be kept at roughly between 30cm-1m (12-39in) in height. ■ STEPOVER FRUIT: These are great for edging…

Lettuce is that staple summer salad ingredient most of us love and it is one of the easiest and fastest crops to grow. It is also a crop that comes in the most amazing array of colours and leaf textures. If you are buying supermarket lettuce you have a choice of maybe three or four. If you grow your own you have a massive choice of different varieties, colours and textures. Lettuce is a versatile crop that can be sown over many months and with some protection you can extend the growing season. SOWING CALENDAR Timings of sowings may need to be tweaked depending on where you live and the weather you experience at the time. ■ End Feb-Early March: Sow in cell trays/ seed trays. Place on a greenhouse…

Another Christmas has passed in a whirl of twinkling lights, naff jumpers and Brussels sprouts. No doubt we smug kitchen gardeners were patting ourselves on the back after another year of home-grown delights on the dinner table. Frost-sweetened parsnips dripping with butter, tender carrots and potatoes grown and roasted by our good selves. Not to mention the swede, turnips, cabbages and other winter treats. If you’re reading this while Christmas memories are fresh, you might feel your waistline expanding just thinking about it. For some, it might even be too soon to talk about food full stop! We Brits are fond of roast dinners but outside of Christmas and possibly Easter, we wouldn’t dream of such a huge feast. For a start, in the height of summer the idea of…

There’s an old joke about someone asking for directions and the reply being ‘I wouldn’t start from here!’ It’s not the funniest joke in the world but it always comes to mind when the subject of pruning arises. It’s all very well having a lovely diagram and instructions for a new young tree – but not a lot of good for the majority of people who are faced with a tree which hasn’t seen a pair of secateurs for a long while. So what to do if you have inherited an old, unpruned tree that has escaped and no longer looks anything like the pictures in your pruning manual? Let’s investigate! Apple, pear and quince trees perform best if pruned annually. Where they have not been pruned for some years…

(AGM is the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Under RHS garden trials these varieties performed particularly well) SAVE UP TO £17! FREE* WITH EVERY ORDER 'DUKE OF YORK' (FIRST EARLY SEED POTATO) ‘Duke of York’ produces pale yellow tubers with an exceptionally rich flavour. These waxy seed potatoes are great for boiling straight from harvest as a new potato – delicious with a sprig of mint. You can also try leaving a few roots in the ground to develop into a quality general-purpose option. To maximise your ‘harvest, chit prior to planting. This process encourages seed potatoes to sprout, allowing them to establish more readily and leading to bigger crops. Simply place them in an old egg box, blunt end up, until the shoots are approximately 2.5cm (1in) long. Potatoes…

GET SET, SOW! GardenSkill’s Heated Propagator and Indoor Greenhouse with Full Spectrum LED Light is an extra-large all-in-one premium propagating kit. With a shatterproof seed tray and lid with two adjustable humidity vents, it includes a powerful LED light with a nano reflector for improved light penetration. The heating pad can be left on permanently (at 20W, energy usage is low and cost-effective), with the LED lamp switched on and off depending on the level of natural light. It measures 58cm (23in) by 37cm (15cm) and is 29cm (11in) high. Price: £52.98 www.gardenskill.com Tel: 01902 725055 SUBSCRIBER SAVING: 10% off until February 28, 2025 MESS-FREE FEEDING Leading wild bird food brand Peckish has introduced a Funnel Seed Feeder –a no-mess, no-waste, no-weeds solution to the problem of spillage from feeders with…