Innehållsförteckning för December 2025 från Kitchen Garden

Days for dreaming As I write this, the rain is hammering on the windows – those sideways sheets that soak into everything and makes even the hardiest gardener think twice about heading outside. It's the kind of day that reminds me how much of gardening happens away from the soil. With the ground sodden and the days closing in, there's real pleasure in coming indoors, warming up and starting to dream of next year's plot. This month's issue is all about that sense of looking forward while taking stock. You'll find features on caring for perennial veg through winter, keeping greenhouses and tunnels frost-free with off-grid heaters, and plenty of ideas to carry you through the quiet months. There's advice on pruning, planning, and using this pause in the growing…

Soft fruit bushes such as blackcurrants, gooseberries, and red and white currants are easy to grow in the garden. They will provide you with plenty of tasty, nutritious fruits through the summer, which can be enjoyed fresh or frozen for later use. To get the best from your fruit bushes, they really do need to be pruned on an annual basis. This not only prevents them from growing too large and congested, but also helps keep them healthy and producing plenty of high-quality fruit. Yes, they will still fruit if not pruned but, over time, the size of the fruits will reduce, growth will become a tangled mess, and there is a greater chance of diseases attacking the plant. Fortunately, pruning is easy and can be done at this time…

A huge thank you to everyone who entered our annual search for the nation's most inspiring plot holders. The standard was incredibly high, and judging was no easy task! We're delighted to reveal this year's winners and runners-up, each of whom has shown exceptional skill, creativity and passion for growing their own. Full features on our 12 Top Plotters 2026 will appear in Kitchen Garden throughout the coming year FIRST PRIZE WORTH £774.87 Strulch 12 × 13.5kg bags £204* Gardening Naturally 1.2m × 1.2m × 3m cage with Veggiemesh insect netting £101 Kent & Stowe ultimate garden bundle: watering can, gloves, secateurs, Capability trowel, Capability digging spade £100 One box of 12 × 500g Shaker tubes of Premium Grade Pro-Grow Rockdust £59.88 Nemasys Biological Fruit & Veg Protection £9.99** VegPlotter…

As we near the festive season, our thoughts inevitably turn to replenishing our seed stores or those of friends and family. If you haven't saved seeds yourself, then there can be a dizzying choice from seed catalogues or garden centres. The main priority for many of us when we choose a packet of seeds is will it germinate well, then develop into something that we can enjoy? However, it's useful to consider the wider impact of our actions beyond the garden fence. Here we delve into the implications of how our choices can influence our heritage, food security and biodiversity. SO WHAT DOES SEED SOVEREIGNTY MEAN? Seed sovereignty is the right of a farmer or grower to save, distribute or breed seeds without restrictions imposed by corporations. However, in the…

FESTIVE SEEDS WITH A TWIST She Grows Veg are known for their heirloom seeds, and this Christmas you can both give and receive them in two festive forms. First is the Advent Calendar, which includes 25 (yes, you get that extra day!) individually wrapped, numbered envelopes in thick, brightly coloured, veg-inspired paper – each containing a packet of heirloom seeds. The envelopes come in a reusable eco cotton sack that can later hold tools, seeds or small garden bits. Each packet features a QR code linking to a Sow, Grow and Taste video for that specific plant. I won't give any spoilers by revealing what's inside mine (I had to peek to assess it, didn't I?), but if heirloom varieties are your thing, you'll love it. The second option is…

Books, catalogues, and websites categorise raspberries into two main types: summer-fruiting and autumn-fruiting. Summerfruiting types are also known as ‘floricanes’ and generally produce their fruit on one-year-old wood. After planting, in that first summer it will produce a long, tall stem, normally with no side shoots, and no fruit. It's in the second summer that these canes produce side-shoots and bear fruit. Autumn fruiting raspberries, as the name suggests, fruit in the autumn – but crucially on the new growth, called ‘primocanes’. So, if planted this winter, they will grow away and will produce berries in August/September next year. For pruning, the golden rule is to prune out any canes that have borne fruit that year, either in the summer or autumn. Autumn types are easy – you basically cut…

PEAR AND HAZELNUT SALAD This is one of my favourite salads to serve in the colder months. Ripe pears, crunchy nuts and seasonal leaves all come together to make a hearty and filling salad Serves 4 Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Ingredients 2 tbsp honey 1-2 large rosemary sprigs 3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp walnuts Zest and juice of half a lemon 150g (5.2oz) mixed winter leaves 2 pears, thinly sliced 50g (1.7oz) Gorgonzola or Cambozola cheese Method: 1. Heat the honey and rosemary in a small pan with 1tbsp boiling water. Bring to a simmer and let it bubble for around 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse. 2. Heat a frying pan and drizzle in a little oil. Add the hazelnuts…

INSULATE Protect external water pipes with insulation and, if possible, turn off the water supply to them to reduce the risk of burst pipes OPEN UP Open fruit cages to allow birds free access. Their foraging will help reduce pest build-up, benefiting both the fruit bushes and the birds, who will enjoy much-needed protein CUT BACK Trim hedges while they are dormant, cutting back to the desired size and shape for healthy growth in the spring TOP UP WATER Keep putting out water for wildlife. Fresh water is vital for drinking and bathing. Make sure all dishes are clean to reduce the risk of any potental disease transmission December's festive meals showcase frost-hardy vegetables that thrive in the UK, and can be grown right through the winter, including parsnips, Brussels…

CONTACT US: RACHEL GRAHAM kg.ed@kelsey.co.uk A BUMPER CROP OF CUCUMBERS I was given a grafted cucumber plant as a present, so my great-grandsons and I decided to keep count of how many we grew. The final count was 122 cucumbers! The boys are already planning next year's cucumber count. Jenny Stutley, Herts Ed: 122? That's amazing! Do you remember which variety it was? STAR LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER DID YOU KNOW? – GRAFTED CUCUMBERS A grafted cucumber is really two plants in one: a strong, disease-resistant rootstock joined to a top chosen for flavour and fruit quality. Once the two have fused, the roots do all the heavy lifting, producing a tougher, longer-lived plant with better resistance to problems like fusarium wilt. Most are grown under cover and can crop for…

Herbs are the true flavour powerhouses of the vegetable garden. You don't need much, just a handful of basil, a few sprigs of thyme, or a scattering of chives, and suddenly an ordinary dish is transformed. They're the smallest plants with the biggest impact, the kind that make you stop and breathe in before you taste. I've always thought herbs capture the spirit of the garden better than anything else. They link the seasons, the soil, and the kitchen in one fragrant loop. Whether it's mint pushing up after winter or rosemary standing proud through the frost, herbs remind us that flavour doesn't come from abundance, but from essence. The beauty of herbs is that their flavour doesn't end when summer does. Around the world, gardeners have found clever ways…

When it comes to growing our own veg, the choice can feel endless. From seed catalogues bursting with possibilities to shelves lined with heritage varieties, it could take a lifetime to try them all. That's why I always say ‘talk to other gardeners’. Ask friends, family, or your allotment neighbours which varieties they swear by. You'll be amazed at what gems you uncover. Some of the best plants in my garden have come from a passing recommendation over a cup of tea. I love trying something new each year, even if it's completely unfamiliar. There's real excitement in sowing a seed you've never grown before and waiting to see how it performs. So, with next year's plans already taking shape, here are 10 vegetables I'll be growing again – tried,…

AT A GLANCE Harvest time: March-November Height: 12-18in (30-45cm) Spread: 8-12in (20-30cm) Soil: Moisture-retentive, moderately fertile compost Position: Full sun to partial shade Difficulty: Very easy GROWING GUIDE SOIL PREPARATION Use moisture-retentive multipurpose compost Add 20% well-rotted garden compost Incorporate slow-release fertiliser when planting Ensure adequate drainage Fill container to within 2.5cm (1in) of rim PLANTING Sow seeds directly or plant divisions Plant at same depth as original clump Space 20cm (8in) apart if planting multiple varieties Water in thoroughly Best planted in spring or autumn KEY AFTERCARE Keep consistently moist but not waterlogged Feed monthly with balanced liquid fertiliser Harvest regularly by cutting leaves 2.5cm (1in) above base Remove flowers to maintain leaf production or leave for ornamental value Divide clumps every 3-4 years in spring POTENTIAL PROBLEMS Some…

Get in touch by post, email or via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag BARK ON PLUM TREE CRACKING STAR QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER Q. Our plum tree has a very damaged trunk with deep vertical cracks, but nothing seems to be weeping from them. The black coating in the picture below is grease applied last autumn. Despite the damage, the tree produced a spectacular crop this year. Could painting the cracks with a protective compound help, or would it seal in a problem? We do get roe deer in the garden and wondered if they might be to blame? Priscilla Roberts, Somerset A. The damage probably began as deer rubbing, which removed patches of bark, and over subsequent winters frost has enlarged the wound into a long vertical split. This combination…

Although it's a working plot, the Sculpture by the Lakes garden also forms part of the visitor experience. Paths wind between beds of colour and texture, with tall arches and trained fruit echoing the sculptur beyond. “We wanted it to have structure and beauty,” says Chi Chi. “People walk through and see where their lunch has come from – it connects them to the food.” A graduate in forestry and resource conservation from National Taiwan University, Chi Chi later trained as a biodynamic gardener and is currently studying for an RHS Level 3 diploma. When she arrived in July 2022, the garden was already well established. “It had been no-dig since 2017,” she explains. “It began as a kitchen garden for Mo and Simon Gudgeon, the owners. They care deeply…

BESPOKE BIRD B&B Keep your garden birds well catered for with GardenSkill's range of feeders and houses, which are designed to be safe, stable and attractive to a variety of species. The range includes an Eco Hanging Bird Feeder and Garden Seed Station for Small Birds, made from recycled bamboo and resin, a choice of two Hanging Bird House and Nest Boxes – one made from coffee husks, the other from nut husks – and ceramic Garden Peanut and Seed Bird Feeders, which come in two sizes. Prices: from £14.95 plus £1.99 p&p gardenskill.com Tel: 01902 725055 SUBSCRIBER SAVING: 10% off GardenSkill bird feeders and houses SUBSCRIBER SAVING: 10% off until December 31, 2025 WATER MONITOR SealStop is a British-made water saving device. Just attach it to your garden hose…

(AGM is the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Under RHS garden trials these varieties performed particularly well) SAVE OVER £12 & 20% ON SELECTED SEEDS REVIEWED BY Which? Best Seed Suppliers February 2025 SAVE ON KINGS SEEDS! 20% OFF CHILLI AND ONION SEEDS Kings Seeds is offering KG readers the exclusive chance to save 20% on chilli and onion seeds. To take advantage of this offer, simply visit: kingsseeds.com/kitchengarden and enter the code KGDEC25. Offer expires December 31, 2025. SAVE 20% HESSIAN POTATO SACKS Store your potatoes well with these strong hessian sacks that allow your potatoes to breathe and aid the exclusion of light. Each sack will hold approx 18kg (40lbs) of potatoes. 50cm × 75cm (25” × 30”) 5 sacks, was £9, now £8.10 10 sacks, was £16,…