Planting a Vegetable Garden - Blog

Jul 24, Starting Seeds Is Easy To Learn For Great Results

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:24:31 GMT

Starting seeds indoors by following my step by step photographs and instuctions will minimise disappointment and failure. They will have you starting seeds like a professional in no time.

Jun 8, Growing Tomatoes to Boost The Families Health

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:12:16 GMT

Growing tomatoes boosts your families health and show you care. 'Super-food' tomatoes add important nutrients to families diets and growing tomatoes is cheap and effective

May 31, Garden compost making. How To Compost With A Compost Pile - Pictures And Description

Sat, 31 May 2008 16:10:53 GMT

Garden compost will grow your vegetables faster and healthier. Learn how to make garden compost pile that's bursting with natural growth inducing nutrients

Apr 29, Cara potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:18:39 GMT

Picture and description of Cara potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Cara potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Apr 29, Planting tomatoes outdoors successfully for a great harvest

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:10:12 GMT

Planting tomatoes outdoors with instuctions and pictures! It`s easy growing tomatoes in a garden, on a patio, balcony or flat roof. Planting tomatoes outdoors give bigger flavours

Apr 26, Tomato Seeds Varieties and Health Benefits

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:22:10 GMT

Choose tomato seeds from a wide range of vegetable seed varieties. Planting tomato seeds for big crops of healthy nutritious vegetables.

Apr 19, Best Work-At-Home Solution

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:21:10 GMT

Best solution for work at home moms. Tried and tested online businesses with proof for work at home mums written by wahms

Apr 15, Building Raised Beds Review of Harrod Horticultural`s Products

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:58:19 GMT

Buiding Raised Beds review of Harrod Horticultural`s `own design` raised beds. Excellent quality and affordable prices with maximum flexibility for all situations make this Building Raised Beds review a must read.

Apr 13, Building Raised Beds For Easier, Successfull Vegetable Growing

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:01:14 GMT

Building raised beds is easy. Just follow my instructions and pictures and be a success at building raised beds for bigger vegetable crops.

Apr 12, Raised Garden Beds - How to Build Them for Better Vegetables

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:03:45 GMT

Learn how raised garden beds will guarantee you success when growing vegetables. Instructions, tips and photos on how to build raised garden beds

Mar 2, How do you make compost correctly over and over again - read on

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:18:14 GMT

How do you make compost bursting with life and energy? Learn the art of garden composting, become an expert yourself - follow my instructions and people will be asking you, 'how do you make compost`

Jan 29, Planting a vegetable garden

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:17:25 GMT

One family's experience of planting a vegetable garden. Learn how to prepare, plant and harvest safe, nutritious vegetables. Taste the good life - be healthier and more content.

Jan 29, Learn how to grow garlic for health giving nutritious bulbs

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:43:24 GMT

Learn how to grow garlic for a healthier body. Discover hidden benefits of this plant for yourself and your family - know how to grow garlic that is juicier and tastier.

Jan 29, Alphabetical List of Vegetables and Growing Guides for Planting Vegetables

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:39:44 GMT

Choose plants from an alphabetical list of vegetables. Use this alphabetical list of vegetables and growing guides to successfully plant a vegetable garden of fresh, nutritious crops.

Jan 26, It`s Always Worth a Try

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:50:09 GMT

It feels like an early spring day outside so my dormant fingers began turning green again, a sure sign that I ought try my hand at some seed sowing. No! January isn`t to early, especially if you have a greenhouse like me :0), it really gives so much more flexibility to your veg growing experiences. So out I went to my potting shed and filled a small seed tray with seed/potting compost. I always grow onions from sets but this year I am going to try them from seed. I have never grown them this way before and the onion seed I have chosen is an old favourite, Ailsa Craig. I spread the seed thinly over the surface of the compost and sieved a thin layer of compost over the seed. I then made out a label with the date and type of onion that was being grown. I don`t like watering freshly sown seed trays from the top. Place them in deepish tray partially filled with water and place the seed tray in it. Water will then be drawn into the seed tray from below. You will know when it has soaked enough because it will look soggy on the surface. (see photo right)

br> I then place it in a heated propagator in my greenhouse, cover the seed tray with a cut-to-size pane of glass - keeps in the moisture and then put a piece of paper on top of that to keep it dark until the first seeds begin to germinate. I turn the glass each day. (see 3 photos right)

Now I`ll just have to be patient - I will keep you informed. Click on the RSS feed symbol (orange) in the left column to be kept informed.

I also planted in peat cells some `Winter Density` lettuce and in the container you see on the floor of my greenhouse I have sown some `Early Nantes` carrots. I got that container ready a couple of weeks ago and put it in the greenhouse for the compost to warm up. (see photo right)

All in all a satisfying hours work heralding what is to come in a few weeks time - spring.... hurrayyyyyy.

Jan 12, Garlic - A Pearl In Your Garden

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:33:49 GMT

Garlic is an indispensable component in any savvy cooks kitchen these days - and rightly so. It not only enhances the flavours of many a meal but also has proven health benefits. Nothing beats the taste of home grown garlic. It used to be thought - and maybe still is amongst some - that garlic needed to be grown in places like the south of France. Many varieties have now been bred for cooler climates that are more akin to mine here in the UK. The secret is in planting early, ideally between November and January. There is still time though if you sow before the end of January. Don`t use the garlic you buy from food shops though, the results will be disappointing. Purchase specially produced garlic from your garden centre or seed catalogue. When you get your garlic pull it apart into individual cloves. I like to plant 3 cloves to a pot (see photo) and put them in my greenhouse. If you don`t have one then use a cold frame or place them against a fence or wall. Come the middle to end of March plant them out into rows and let them grow on to maturity. The picture shows White Cristo (soft neck) garlic which I planted on the 29 November. I aim to plant these out the end of February to early March.

Jan 7, Give Your Garden Wings

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:38:53 GMT

I used to be a keen angler. I`ve still got all the gear but I don`t go as regularly as I used to. I hope that will change this year because my 30 year old son has bought himself a fishing kayak and he has asked me to join him sea fishing whenever I can make it. I`m looking forward to these `man` trips - just gotta purchase myself a `dry suit` to keep me warm. What`s this got to do with gardening I hear you ask. Weeeell, when fishing, quietly sitting on the lake or river bank, I would often be witness to a diversity of wildlife going about their daily routine. Mink appearing out of holes in the bank, water rats probing the water margins by my feet, coots swimming under water, a fox slinking by, herons, swans, ibis - to name but a few. I have the same experiences in my garden too. I spend long amounts of time there and some jobs mean I don`t move very far so I am able to observe much of the wildlife that coexists with me - and my wife of course. It is very important to encourage the wildlife in our gardens - not least because there is such beauty there. But also for the benefit that comes through them. Slugs, aphids and other pests are eaten and plants pollinated. Make sure you leave some areas a little overgrown, leave a pile of logs heaped up somewhere and very definitely make a compost heap. I discovered a couple of slow-worms mating in mine last year - that is quite rare. Encourage birds into your garden and these will make meals of a lot of pesky pests - I know! they eat some plants too. But their benefit outways the precautions you may need to take to guard against this. Photos show a couple of bird feeders in my garden which are frequented by a flock of Golfinches.

Oct 17, Maris Bard potato seed grown for its boiling qualities

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:23:57 GMT

Picture and description of Maris Bard potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our potato seed - texture and disease resistance table - for the Maris Bard potato seed variety.

Oct 17, Nicola potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:03:30 GMT

Picture and description of Nicola potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Nicola potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Oct 17, Maris Peer potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:54:03 GMT

Picture and description of Maris Peer potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Maris Peer potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Wilja potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:05:14 GMT

Picture and description of Wilja potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Wilja potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Saxon potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:04:26 GMT

Picture and description of Saxon potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Saxon potato seed - texture and disease resistance table - for this seed variety.

Jun 14, Sante potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:02:53 GMT

Picture and description of Sante potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Sante potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Romano potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:02:13 GMT

Picture and description of Romano potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Romano potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Rocket potato seed grown for its boiling qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:01:07 GMT

Picture and description of Rocket potato seed and its cooking qualities. View ourpotato seed - texture and disease resistance table - for the Rocket potato variety.

Jun 14, Pentland Javelin potato seed grown for its boiling qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:00:21 GMT

Picture and description of Pentland Javelin potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our potato seed - texture and disease resistance table - for the Pentland Javelin potato seed variety.

Jun 14, Nadine potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:58:32 GMT

Picture and description of Nadine potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Nadine potato seed - texture and disease resistance table - for this seed variety.

Jun 14, Maris Piper potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:57:44 GMT

Picture and description of Maris Piper potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Maris Piper potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Marfona potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:55:21 GMT

Picture and description of Marfona potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Marfona potato seed - texture and disease resistance table - for this seed variety.

Jun 14, King Edward potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:54:31 GMT

Picture and description of King Edward potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our King Edward potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Estima potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:53:22 GMT

Picture and description of Estima potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Estima potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Desiree potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:51:18 GMT

Picture and description of Desiree potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Desiree potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, Charlotte potato seed grown for its cooking qualities

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:49:39 GMT

Picture and description of Charlotte potato seed and its cooking qualities. View our Charlotte potato seed - texture and disease resistance tables - for this seed variety

Jun 14, How to grow cauliflower successfully. Instructions, tips and techniques.

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:33:41 GMT

How to grow cauliflower for best results is not difficult. A very popular vegetable - it is worth learning how to grow cauliflower properly.

May 16, Experience how planting beet root is easy for tasty, successful harvests

Wed, 16 May 2007 17:56:29 GMT

Eat only the freshest by planting beet root yourself. Enjoy this vegetable all year round by planting beet root in your home garden - a very nutritious plant

May 16, You Read It On My Website First!

Wed, 16 May 2007 17:48:38 GMT

It`s great to see the big fellas catching up with little fellas like me. The survey in italics below was comissioned by Spear and Jackson. You can read what I had to say about gardening health benefits by clicking on the permalink below.

"Health and happiness benefits of gardening A new survey has found that those who consider themselves to be very healthy are more likely to spend time regularly working in the garden than heading off to the gym. Gardening could make Britons healthier, happier and less stressed, a new survey suggests. The poll of 1,500 people found that among those who consider themselves to be "quite healthy", 34 per cent spend time gardening regularly while 14 per cent go to the gym. A similar result was seen among those who describe themselves as "very healthy", with 29 per cent spending time working in the garden each week, 23 per cent heading to the gym and 12 per cent going running. In addition, gardening may have emotional benefits, the survey indicates, with 39 per cent of those who claim to lead stress-free lives being regular gardeners, compared with nine per cent who go to the gym. Over three-quarters (77 per cent) of people who describe themselves as "very happy" are regular gardeners and 36 per cent of these garden every week. Tim Hearn at Spear and Jackson, the firm that commissioned the research, said: "There's never been any doubt that Brits love their gardens and that gardening is a national obsession but it's great to see that gardening can have such a beneficial effect on us both physically and psychologically." In related news, this week the Herald reported that gardening therapy is being used in Scotland to treat former servicemen and women with post traumatic stress disorder and related problems. This news story was first published on 10th May 2007. Copyright 2007 Adfero Ltd."

Apr 24, Where There`s a Will There`s a Bowl of Lettuce!

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:26:25 GMT

I came across Mrs Walker in my job as a domestic appliance repairer. This indomitable lady is still enjoying life but at a much slower pace. She struggles to make two trips a day to her greenhouse which she does with the aid of a zimmer frame.

But whilst chatting with Mrs Walker I noticed that the plant decorating her busy window ledge was in fact a bowl of lettuce plants - and very healthy looking they were too. Her practice was to just snip off a few leaves whenever she made a sandwitch or a salad thus ensuring fresh leaves every time.

Mrs Walker has learnt from long experience that there are more ways to skin a cat - or even grow vegetables. Some, especially salad type crops, lend themselves to be grown indoors on a window ledge or the veranda of an apartment etc.

Don`t limit yourself, but with a little trial and error you will succeed.

Mar 31, Wall Posters For Recognising Vegetables At A Glance

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 21:12:43 GMT

Wall posters of popular vegatables are a great way to educate yourself and others. See what good vegetables should look like from these high quality wall posters.

Feb 1, Article - Planting a Vegetable Garden Reaps Hidden Health Benefits

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:29:20 GMT

Plant a vegetable garden in your own back yard for safe nutritious vegetables. Taste the good life - be healthier and more content from planting a vegetable garden.

Jan 23, Making Room for More Treasure

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:35:05 GMT

January is not a busy month in the veg garden. But there are always jobs to do: maintaining vegetable beds - especially if you have raised beds. Make sure the edging is secure or replace rotting wood. Clearing away debris that has gathered over the growing year. Maintaining tools. Cleaning and disinfecting greenhouse and coldframes - to name but a few. My latest project was to extend my compost bays. I always have plenty of vegetable waste so I want to make sure I can accomodate composting it all. I prefer using wood and keeping things simple. I scout around or plead for some old wooden pallets, I dig shallow channels to lower the pallets into and then screw them together. I fill in the channels around the pallets with soil, this and the screws keep them perfectly rigid. Some of the gaps in the pallets could prove to be too wide so I line the inside with wire netting (chicken wire), using a staple gun to secure the netting to the pallets. This keeps the contents in and allows plenty of air to circulate. I finish off the front with a basic frame so I can slide planks in and out for ease of access when I want to turn the compost or remove it for the veg patch. The new bay I added is the one on the extreme right of the photos. The bottom photo shows the rough frame I added to produce slots that the planks of wood can be slotted in and out of at the front of the bays. It really is important to compost your old veg matter as it reduces pressure on land fill but it is so satisfying and fascinating to see this `rubbish` break down and turn into such a treasure trove of nutrients for your vegetables. If it is difficult to locate these scavenged resources or you really don`t want to be bothered - and that`s just fine. You can get all you need to take action now - before the main growing period begins - from my favourite mail order supplier - have a visit and be inspired. There are more composting products on their website, jus click on the images. Remeber! for the best results - feed your soil and not your plants.

Jan 7, Spicey Rocket Leaves

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 20:55:10 GMT

Rocket leaves are a rich source of vitamin C and iron. A member of the brassica family (flea beatles will be attracted to them) they are also rich in glucocyanites... I must rest after typing that one, contributing to the anti carcinogenic properties of this family.

Easily grown and fast maturing, it prefers cooler weather but will grow well in most soils and conditions - prefering shade in summer. Some varieties that are now sold have been bred to resist bolting in dry weather. Ready in approximately 40 days after sowing.

Sow seed successionally from March to August for a continuous supply. Grow it all year round in milder areas - I have some in containers both outside and in a cold greenhouse (see pictures).

Pick frequently or the plant will bolt - start to flower. Picking frequently will also cause new growth to appear.

The pictures on this page were taken recently showing Rocket which I planted in August(top picture) and October(bottom picture) in containers.

The August sown plants have regrown and are mature - these are really peppery - Ros and I like the strong taste.

The other picture shows the October sown Rocket - these are younger and taste a lot less peppery.

Give some a try, they are a great addition to salads and take up little space.

View some varieties here

Dec 27, Short of Space - Potato Starter Kit

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 14:28:28 GMT

GREAT VALUE!
Patio Starter Kits - or anywhere starter kits - contain 3 Potato Buckets and 5 tubers each of:

Duke of York (First Early)
A heritage variety with delicious flavour and striking flavour.
Skin Colour: Deep Red. Flesh Colour: Light Yellow.
Uses - boil, steam, mash, chips, baked and roast;

Maris Peer (Second Early) - Firm and tasty medium to small tubers.
Skin Colour: White. Flesh Colour: White.
Uses - new, boil, steam, chips and saute;

Charlotte (Salad Type) - Skin Colour: Yellow. Flesh Colour: Yellow.
Uses - new, boil, steam, mash and saute. Award of Garden Merit.

Potato Buckets are the perfect shape (plant 2-3 tubers near the bottom and keep topping up the compost as they grow) and colour (absorbing the sun's heat) to quickly produce a really heavy crop. Simply tip them out at the end of the season. Great for growing Runner Beans too. Height 40cm (15"); diameter 40cm (15").

To purchase from Dobies - click on Photo (new page will open.

Also available: Potato Refill Pack - If you already have the Potato Buckets, all you need is this refill pack to plant them up again. Contains 5 tubers of each of Duke of York; Maris Peer and Charlotte.

Dec 26, Potato Seed Ordering Reminder

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:23:37 GMT

If you`re growing potato seed, chitting is important before planting out. Visit our our preferred supplier - Dobies... for big selections and excellent service.

Order January 2007

Suttons/Dobies is our prefered supplier. Their potato seed are inspected by the relevant certifying authority and that number is featured on the bag labels (within riddle size 35mm x 60mm). This eliminates over-large and very small potatoes.

To see a large selection of potato seed visit Dobies website and purchase with confidence - click on the photo (a new page will open)

Dec 26, Order Potato Seed Now!

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 21:06:07 GMT

Potato seed need ordering now and chitted ready for planting out. If you`re growing potatoes chitting is important before planting out potatoes.

Sep 19, Protect Root Crops

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:48:29 GMT

When leaving root crops such as carrots or beetroot to over-winter in the soil, it`s a good idea to protect them in some way. Cover them with straw held down by some protective garden fleece. You will have no problem lifting the roots as the protection will stop the soil freezing hard. If slugs are present in large numbers then it is better you lift them and store the roots in boxes.