grow your own

THE BLOSSOMS OF A FUTURE HARVEST

2010-05-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

At this time of year the veg and fruit gardens are beginning to fill up. watching all the seeds that you have sown and nurtured racing away it's more of a waiting game waiting to savour all of your hard work. that is as long as the slugs and rabbits don't get to them first. but as your crops start to bloom you no it won't be long before you will be picking those first beans or strawberry's

the first blossoms of our strawberry's

November sown pea feltenham first

November sown broad bean

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

2010-05-05T04:38:00.000-07:00

VEG OF THE MONTH

2010-05-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

AUBERGINE 'Solanum melongena'

aubergines or egg plants are best cultivated in a greenhouse or polytunel. they are not widely grown in the UK it first arrived In Europe in the 13th century from India it was mainly grown as an ornamental plant to start with more than a vegetable. variety's where mainly white fruited this changed with the breading of the larger modern types which is what we grow today primerialy the purple variety's are grown but there are a wide range of colours white, pink, green, orange and striped.
What ever type you decide to grow they all need to be started in a heated greenhouse / windowsill in February – March in good compost at a temperature of 20-25oC when the seedlings have germinated and are large enough to handle prick out into individual 9cm (3”)pots. in good quality compost and grow on in your heated greenhouse potting up into larger pots if necessary by early-mid May plants should be ready to put in there final growing position. aubergines can be grown on in either pots, grow-bags or direct into the greenhouse soil some people do grow them out side but you only get a good crop in a very sunny year. personally I would only ever grow them inside it's not worth the effort if it turns out to be a bad summer as they grow keep them well feed and watered. you may have to stake them depending on variety and amount of fruit on the bush. as there is nothing worse than having a fully loaded plant to find that it's snapped in half over night.

harvesting

your aubergines should come in to fruit from august onwards depending on when you sowed. cut the fruit before the shine goes the size depends on the variety as they vary from the size of an egg to 18cm (6”) long.

storage

best picked and eaten fresh not really suitable for freezing unless prepared as a meal such as musaca as it tends to go to mush when frozen on it's own.

the alternative to bedding plants

2010-04-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

Every year millions of bedding plants are bought and planted out in are gardens giving colour to are borders all summer long. But has any one ever considered using an alternative to are great institution the bedding plant such as vegetables. I can hear you now this man is either drunk or clinically insane neither I am afraid. Vegetables are now one of the most popular plants to grow from seed in the UK, but still when ever people are considering growing vegetables they make there was to the furvest flung corner of the garden to grow them. out of sight of the rest of the garden I have never understood why people want to do this when most vegetables are just as beautiful if not more than some of the bedding plants we grow they come in a wide variety of colours, shapes and leaf textures and are a real alternative to traditional bedding with the added bonus that you can eat them most people never stop to appreciate the beauty of the vegetable they only look at the practical use of them rather than there ornamental value.

You can use vegetables as you would with your bedding filling in the odd gap hear and there or a single bed solely planted with bedding you can do just the same with vegetables there is also a financial benefit to growing vegetables instead of bedding is a lot cheaper than bedding and you also save on your shopping bill to.

I now what your going to say not all vegetables are suited such as potatoes etc. but I still believe that there is a place for them but I must admit they are best suited to a mixed border where there is a big gap rather than a single bedding plant display but with there lush dark green foliage and flowers from white to purple they will still look just as good as some perennials carrots are a another example there real colour is in the roots under ground but with there feathery green foliage they two will look just as good in the mixed border.

Some of the best vegetables as bedding are

Kale

One of the hardest of all the brassica’s once classed as peasant food and cattle fodder is now becoming a more fashionable food. It comes in a wide range of colours leaf shapes and textures as well as heights and looks fantastic on a cold winters morning when it is covered in a layer of white frost some of the best varieties are

Redbor f1
With its deep red tightly curled leaves and reddy purple stem grows to about 90 – 120cm tall

Nero di Toscana
It has elongated leaves that curl back on its self deep green in colour with thick mid ribs the leaves are blistered in appearance this has become a very popular variety over the last couple of years

All are ideal for the back of the border or as a dot plant

Runner beans

Give some height to the border with tepees of runner beans or grown over a hazel arch which you can walk under and pick the beans as they grow above your head runner beans make the perfect companion to sweet peas and morning glory there is nothing better than a tepee of runner beans in full flower runner beans come in a wide variety of colours red, pink and white as well as a good range of leaf colour from dark green to golden one of the oldest varieties is

Painted lady

With its dark green foliage and red/white bicoloured flowers followed by a good crop of beans.

Sun bright

This variety has great with its gold tinged leaves and masses of red flowers slower growing then your standard runner beans due to its lack of chlorophyll but well worth the wait for the foliage.

Sunset

Will be covered in a mass of pink flowers set off by its lush green foliage.

White lady

This has to be one of my favourites both for colour and taste as the name suggests it has white flowers followed by long green pods

Globe artichokes

These are fantastic architectural plants giving you the most fantastic grey/green foliage and if you can resist not eating some of the buds they will open to reveal large vivid blue thistle like flowers that can grow up to 100-120cm wide and 180-200cm tall this is a fast growing perennial vegetable needing a bit of space ideal as a dot plant can be used as an annual if sown early will produce good sized heads in the first year one of the most common varieties is

Green globe

This produces good sized green heads of good flavour

Purple globe romanesco

With its purple /dark red buds which are smaller in size than green globe but has a slightly better taste.

Beetroot

This is a good purple/red foliaged plant and makes an excellent gap filler in the border can be ready in 10 weeks form sowing one of the best varieties for use as bedding is

Bull’s blood

This is an old variety and is already widely used In bedding plant displays its used for its dark red leaves it doesn’t produce much of a bulb it is mainly used in baby leaf production.

Golden beet

This is a green foliage variety with yellowish stalks with a good sized yellow/orange bulbs this makes a good alternative to the standard red varieties

Boltordy

Green leafed variety with dark red stalks and veins with deep red bulbs

Beet leaf / chard

This is probably one of the best suited to the flower border with its vivid coloured stalks in a range of colours from white to yellow and the stalks and leaves are shiny when covered in dew or rain they shimmer in the sun light available in a variety of individual colours such as

Rhubarb chard

With its dark red stalks and deep green leaves with red veins

Yellow chard

Bright yellow stems with green leaves and yellow veins

Rainbow chard

This is a good mixture of colours including yellow, red and orange and variations of the three

Cabbage

This gives a talking point to have in your border having green/red balls of cabbage in groups of 3 or 5 dotted in your border cabbage comes in a wide range of leaf shape colour and texture and will atand well through the winter if the right variety is chosen

Holland late winter

Large heads ready from November onwards light green leaves which forms a tight ball

Marner lagerot

Deep red leaves produce firm balls of cabbage ideal for pickling

Marners lagerweis

Produces tight heads with dark green leaves

Climbing French beans

This is another one to give height to the border ideal for growing up tepees or arches they have small flowers but the real colour comes from the pods available in purple to yellow flecked with red

Borlotta lingua di fuoco

Produces bright green pods splashed with red as they mature this is one for drying and used in soups and stews throe out the winter

Coron a d’ora

Pencil podded type with golden yellow pods produces a heavy crop
Peas

This is a great alternative to the sweet pea grown up a tepee or arch they will be covered in white/pink sweet pea like flowers followed by pea pods depending on the variety pick as mang tout or leave until the pods are full one of the best varieties is

Purple podded

With its fantastic deep purple pods really give a talking point as most people don’t believe you can get purple peas and yes the peas are still green they really do stand out in the border.

But if you cant get hold of any seed of purple podded varieties ordinary green peas are just as good such as Hurst green shaft another good variety but is very hard to get hold of them is parsley pea it is a dwarf variety but with tightly curled leaves which resemble parsley with white flowers followed by small pea pods well worth growing if you can get the seed of it

Lettuce

This is a really good gap fill for the border and is very suited for the border ready to harvest in 10 weeks from sowing lettuce is available is a wide range of colours leaf shapes and textures the leaves shine in the sunshine especially when the dew is still on them some of the best varieties are

Marvel of four seasons

This is an excellent variety with deep red outer leaves and green inner leaves gives a striking contrast

Salad bowl red/green

This is a well known cut and come again variety which has serrated red and green leaves

Red fire

Deep red fringed leaves, which is very uniform in shape

Tom thumb

Small green variety with good green leaves

Sweet corn

This is a great plant for the back of the border or as a dot plant with its long leaves born of its central stem culminating in its feathery flowers needs to be planted in grouped together in 5’s or more to aid pollination

early extra sweet f1

Gives good long cobs of good flavour matures from September onwards has good green foliage

Another good variety although dose not really produce edible cobs is

zea mays quadricolour

This has fantastic variegated foliage with white, green and red stripes

These are just a few of the many fantastic varieties that are available for you to use in your garden I am not saying to completely do away with standard bedding but just to look at alternatives which will make your garden stand out and give it a different look.
Also with the increase in fuel prices and the greater need to reduce food miles what better was to help than to have some of your vegetables coming from a few metres away instead of miles and don’t worry even if you have only got a balcony most vegetables grow perfectly well in containers as long as they have all the water and nutrients they require they will grow just as good as in the ground.

SOME SPRING FLOWERS AND VEG

2010-04-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

DOUBLE YELLOW PRIMROSE

SINGLE WHITE PRIMROSE

BLUE PULMONARIA

DOUBLE HELLEBORE

AURBRIETA

BLUE HYACINTH

SCUNK CABBAGE

PETASITES HYBRIDUS

ROCKET SEEDLINGS

AMERICAN LANDCRESS

SORREL

OUR FRENDLY SWANS

SEEDLINGS POCKING THERE HEADS THROUGH THE COMPOST

SPARROW HARK RESCUE

2010-03-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Wile working in the garden today i came across this sparrow hark sat on the floor as i got closer it did not fly off which i thought was strange. i got with in about 6ft of it before it ran off i realised then that it had broken one of it's wings so i went back to the shed to got a fishing net. i went back to where he was as i went to put the net over him he decided that he would like to have a swim in the lake and as you know birds don't swim. luckily i had the net to hand and quickly scoped him up we took placed him in a box. we took him to the local wildlife hospital where he is now being looked after. all being well he will be able to come back and be released in a couple of weeks.

MALVERN SPRING SHOW

2010-03-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

i must admit i was a malvern spring show virgin until last year being more of a fruit and veg man. i have been going and exhibiting some of my wares with varying success to the Autumn show for many years now but never quite made it to the spring show. for one reason or another but last year the owner of a garden i look after offered to take me up there for the day to buy plants bench's and generally get some new ideas for the garden we are restoring. so i jumped at the chance to go especially when we where buying lots of stuff and non of it with my money makes it more. fun we set of about 10am on a glorious Sunny day all was going well until the
M5 came to a stand still with only the back of a lorry to look at for an hour. but once we got past the hold up caused by a lorry changing a Tyre and and an over excited wannabe police man (sorry highway patrol officer)decided to close the outside lane. it was non stop all the way to the lovely malvern you can't get lost really just head for the hills oh the big yellow signs help as well. we finally parked up in the public car park handed over our tickets and then we where presented with an array of gardening products and plants enough to make you go weak at the knees. OK a lot of the products on offer that make this job and that job apparently easier with which have fantastic demonstrations that make want to fro money at the man. but i must admit i have a few of these purchase covered in dust at the back of the shed. used once or twice and than placed in my tool grave yard but there are many brilliant stalls there. the first one was nature first a company i have had dealings with for many years these are the people to go to if you want a big tree they brought along a few fine specimens for people to drawl over. we worked our way through the miles of stalls to be presented with the show gardens this is what we came for not a leaf or flower out of place. show gardens always make you feel that you don't do enough in you own but show garden are of for showing off they are meant to be perfect some bit's are not practical in real terms but it is theater. you always hear the same comments there is no where to hang your washing, no room for a compost bin etc. but there is not meant to be it's a place for the brave i say brave because of the amount of work that goes into a show garden. i have built a few in the past and what ever time you think you need times it by three and its more nearer the mark. weeks and months of preparation goes in to thees garden and the hardest bit about is taking it all apart at the end. its not natural gardeners build garden to last but in the case of a show garden it takes longer to built the thing than the public take to look at it but they are worth it. especially if you get the ultimate gold medal sorry I'm rambling. we got a few ideas that we may try out planting combinations etc. we was then off to the floral marque you no when you are in there the sent off all the plants you don't get it any where else except at a show. a mixture of all the scents coming off the flowers not to mention the walls of colours from the magnificent displays. this is when it was a good idea i left the wallet in the car you can get carried away very easily with buying plants. which we did but i was spending some one Else's money which is always easier to do. after many purchase and a couple of trips back to the car when are hands where full and we had spotted another plant that we have to buy. it was time to go and that was it luckily we had brought the range rover other wise one of us would have been walking back home i am looking forward to going back to visit again to see whats new.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

2010-03-26T12:42:00.001-07:00

Skunk cabbage

GET YOUR CHILDREN GROWING

2010-03-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Ive been gardening now for many years its all i have ever known to do but it only started because of my dad. ever since i could walk i was taken to the allotment to help i probably was more annoying though. i helped fetch bits and pieces from the shed help him sow some seeds. pull up a few weeds and some veg plants to the announce of my dad i no how he felt now my daughter when see was 3 pulled up all my onions and left the weeds.

although she thought see was being helpful it is really annoying. eventually my dad gave me a little corner where i grew a few of my dads left over seeds and then proceeded to dig up most of them again with my toy digger. but i was out side in the fresh air winter or summer and although it my not of seen it at the time i was learning how to grow and garden. my dad was and still is into growing veg for showing so we spent every weekend of the summer at a different show as i got more keen i wanted to have a go at entering a miniature garden in to one of the shows.

the first red card i got was at barrow flower show in Cheshire i still have the card in a box under the stirs. i entered many shows after that i was always over the moon when i won a prize but there was also the added bonus of the prize money which was a great incentive to enter as many classes as possible.

like me my children have always enjoyed being out side and helping around the garden. they have also been round many flower shows a couple of years ago they entered the local garden club show miniature garden, jewellery made from sweets and a flower display they won many prizes like i did and like me the prize money is always a good incentive. we should all try and teach are children some gardening whether it be sowing some seeds and watching them grow or planting some bulbs or just getting them to make a miniature garden for your local flower show. what ever you do make it fun teach them about where their food comes from. may be let them have there own veg plot so they don't grow up believing that vegetables come from the supermarket. let them appreciate nature and the environment around them let them explore the woods or the Meadows to see what they can find. let them get dirty wet and covered in mud it all washes off and unlike some parents beliefs you child wont die from some horrible disease because they played in the soil. just teach them to was there hands before they eat there dinner generally the more you show them the more they want to learn. yes when they get to teen ages they probably will show no interest what so ever but they will always have that appreciation of what is growing around them. when there older and have a place of there own they will start to use the skills you taught them when they where small and then they will pass it on when they have children of there own.

Photo Of The Week

2010-03-21T12:04:00.001-07:00

Ice Folly Daffodils

Spring Has Sprung

2010-03-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

Today there has been a big change in the weather compared to yesterday when we where at the chippenham food festival the sun has shined all day long may it last although the forecast doesn't look good.
the combination of the rain with the warm weather has made the seeds in the veg garden pop there heads out of the soil. you no that spring is here when the first seeds of the year come through out doors.

in the greenhouse the seeds have been growing away for a few weeks now. the cell grown veg will only be a couple of weeks away before they will need hardening off before planting out.

THE THINGS YOU FIND WHEN PLANTING SNOWDROPS

2010-03-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

we where dividing the snow drops last week and replanting them along the river when we came across some stones just under the soil. we scraped the soil of the top of them to find that the smallest was about 50cm wide and 90cm long. we got the digger out to find that they where also 30cm deep all nicely carved it turns out that they are some of the stones of the bridge that crossed the river at that point in the
17Th century. we have cleaned the stones up and put them to one side we will incorporate them some where in the garden at a later date.

under one of the stones in the clay there was the toes of a boot preserved by the clay. there was no bones inside all i can assume is that during construction the stone ended up on some ones foot no HSE in those days they got the foot out but had to leave the boot.

a bit further down we dug up a magazine of bullets probably dropped during the second world war by a solder walking past.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

2010-03-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

GIANT MARSH MARIGOLD

SPUD MANIA

2010-03-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

the potato planting season will be with us soon and our seed potatoes are all in trays in the greenhouse sprouting away. we have gone a bit over the top this year and have 70 variety's to go in we are going to plant 5 tubers of each. except for our main variety's such as swift, rocket, kestrel, king Edward, rooster we will put 10 each in as they are are main variety's for eating.
the reason we are growing so many is to compare them against each over in the same growing conditions all will be planted at the same time (well over a week) about mid march weather dependent.
we will then get fair results harvest dates, crop, disease and more important taste.
we will let you no how they are getting on through the growing season

VEG OF THE MONTH

2010-02-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

I have had to change veg of the week to veg of the month due to work load and having not another hour in the day this month asparagus

ASPARAGUS

The Asparagus some would say it is the king of the vegetables you really have to like this veg to grow it. As it takes 3 years from sowing to get your first crop or two years if buying in crowns. Even then you will only get a small crop until about year five. its a permanent crop that needs a bit of room not suitable if you have a small veg garden although i have seen it growing in the flower border as it has lovely ferny foliage which is much sort after by florists.

sow seeds indoors march - April in plug trays one seed to each cell they are slow germinate rs so you have to be a bit patient. when germinated you will get a single grass like plant when large enough and the plugs are full of root plant out in a well prepared seed bed 6" (15cm) apart and grow on for another year. the following February - march the crowns will be big enough to dig up and move to there permanent growing position.

if you opt for buying in crowns instead of growing from seed or you have just dug up your own one year old crowns. the first decision you need to make is where you are going to site your asparagus bed. it can remain productive for 15 - 20 years this also means that you need to prepare the soil very well as it is the last time it will be dug for a few years. incorporate large amounts of compost or well rotted manure in to the soil as you dig also apply some blood, fish and bone.

once the ground is prepared dig out trench 24cm (8") deep and 30cm(12") wide. the base of the trench should be on a curve so the crown sits on the top. spacing 48cm
(20") apart and 90cm (3') between the rows once the crown's have been place in the trench back fill with 6cm (2") of soil. as they grow back fill the soil bit by bit until you are back to the original soil level. as they crow keep weeded and watered in autumn cut back fronds to 6cm (2") folk over soil around crowns apply blood fish and bone how in and mulch with a layer of compost or well rotted manure. when mature and cropping in year three pick lightly to start with for a year of two until early June and then leave the rest to grow on in in to fronds this puts the energy back in to the crowns and gets them to grow bigger and stronger year on year. if looked after well it will crop well for many years.

SPRING FLOWERS

2010-02-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

photo of the week

2010-02-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

malmesbury 2nd potato day 2010

2010-01-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hi we held our 2nd potato day this weekend the weather held off for a change we had over 50 variety's available all sold by the tuber. over 300 people attended the day taffy tattie was on hand to answer every ones potato and veg questions we also had a local nursery a jam seller from south wales and wiltshire wildlife trust giving a home composting demonstration as well as lots of home made fair trade tea and cake for everyone a good day was had by all already planning next years potato day.

SORRY

2010-01-21T16:13:00.003-08:00

SORRY i have not had time to do veg of the week and tip of the week. i have been flat out organising this weekends potato day i will resume normal service next week in the mean time please find below some pics of a private garden i manage in the Cotswold's. the garden is currently 25 acers and dates back to the 10th century we are currently restoring the garden. hope you like it all the pics where taken this week in the fresh snow on Wednesday i will post more pics later on through the season

THE BIG MELT

2010-01-16T07:02:00.000-08:00

Went to bed with the garden looking like this

and woke up with he garden completely free of snow the rain cleared it all up over night. the children where very surprised and disappointed to be confronted with a green garden again. there dose not appear to be a lot of damage to plants the grass is a bit yellower but it will soon green up again when(if) we get a bit of sun sine on it. although i don't think it will be long before we get more snow it's forecast for next Wednesday lets hope they got it wrong.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

2010-01-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

Purple plum in flower, looking forward to the spring now

igloo mark 2

2010-01-13T13:16:00.001-08:00

the snow only just started to melt from when it snowed last week another 4" fell last night. still it gave us another opportunity to improve on our igloo building skills. this time it was bigger and better you can fit 6 children in this one.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

2010-01-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

SWEET CORN AT SUNSET

TIP OF THE WEEK

2010-01-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

In this cold weather it is a great time to get in the shed and clean your tools sow they are all Sharpe, clean and in working order for the coming season.
Start by getting a wire brush and brush any soil that is on the metal work. this will also get rid of any rust if they have been left wet or have got damp in your shed over winter. next is to get a flat file so that you can re sharpen the edges of your tools particularly spades, hows etc. where you need a good sharp edge to cut through the weeds and soil. finally give the medal work a good oil.
If have wooden handles get a pieces of wire wool give the rub down and then re oil them with either linseed oil or teak oil.

VEG OF THE WEEK

2010-01-08T02:56:00.000-08:00

I am going and try write about a different veg every week starting with the A's - Z's and as many letters as possible in between so hear goes with the letter A

A is for Artichoke

some people love them more people seam to hate them i must admit i am not a big fan my self.
there are several types of vegetables that we call artichoke but are completely different. they are from the family compositae with the exception of Chinese artichokes which are in the family labiatae these are very hard to get hold of.
the most popular of the artichokes being the globe artichoke where the unopened flower is eaten. next is the Jerusalem artichoke where the tuber is consumed much like potatoes are and lastly. Chinese artichokes which are still a bit of a novelty and you will find them hard to come by eaten in the same way as Jerusalem artichokes.

globe artichokes (cynara cardunculus)

there are no known wild globe artichokes they are believed to have been developed from cardoons or cynara syriaca which are found in the Mediterranean area. they have been cultivated for many years and are believed to have come to Britain by the Romans. where they became the food of choice for the kings and queens and are still classed as a bit of a delicacy today. original artichokes where raised by division of established plants now there are many seed raised varieties with larger heads fewer spines and can also fruit in the same year as sown
sow seeds February - April in good compost when germinated in a greenhouse or window sill prick out into 3" (9cm) pots grow on when the pot is filled with root harden off and plant out April - may in well prepared soil which has had a good amount of manure or compost added space 1m apart as they do get big and grow fast once they get there roots down give at least 1.5 - 2m between rows harvest flower bud between July - September dependent on variety and when you sowed in Autumn cut plants down to ground and mulch with compost or manure.

jerusalum artichoke (helianithus tuberosus)

they are native to north America and related to the sunflower they where introduced to Britain via Holland. and are a very hardy crop there knobbly tubers and are good for diabetics.
plant tubers February - march 15cm deep 30cm apart and 1m between the rows in well prepared soil. plant to the edge of your veg garden as they can grow up to 2m tall good for a summer wind break cut down foliage when frosted harvest December - January.

next week Asparagus

britain covered in snow from space

2010-01-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

this is what britain looked like today from space. no where escaped from the snow by the looks of it

winter wonderland

2010-01-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

country come to a stand still planes not flying, trains not running, people unable to drive there cars. shops striped bare of food no oil has not run out it's just snowed. looks good though and have had great fun playing with the children in the snow. we even managed to build an igloo big enough to sit in.

2010-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

ground still frozen solid its a bit frustrating as i have tons of digging to do never mind its warmer inside

merry christmas

2009-12-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

merry christmas to you all at least this year is going to be a white one

frosted cobweb on shed

2009-12-23T13:33:00.000-08:00

clean out greenhouse

2009-12-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

I've spent the day cleaning out the greenhouse. its a good time of the year to do it if you haven't already start by emptying everything out. then brush down all the walls, roof and benches to remove all the cobwebs and dirt get right in to the corners. then get your self some hot soapy water or Jaye's fluid and a stiff brush and get scrubbing. get in to all the corners and under the benches this is where your pests will be hiding. once everything is spic and span you could put a sulfur candle which will kill anything that you have missed. warning never leave any plants in the greenhouse when using a sulfur candle and ventilate well after 24h before putting any plants back in to the greenhouse and defiantly do not stay in the greenhouse with the candle burning.

leaves

2009-12-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

why is it that when you clear an area of leaves a week later more appear out of no where. there is not a leaf on any tree in the area but they always come back. is it the leaf fairy's or just that the wind blows them back from the compost heap to where they came from. it's a shame they don't blow straight to the compost heap when they start to fall in the Autumn or we could train the squirrels to collect them all up and put them in the compost heap instead of eating all the walnuts and hazelnuts.

10% discount on seed potatoes

2009-12-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

only 11 days left to get your discount on your seed potatoes for delivery in january

the frosts have arived

2009-12-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

the frosts have arrived although it is cold and you have to put on an extra pair of socks it's a fantastic site when you draw the curtains in the morning and find everything white and crisp under foot. it still makes me smile when i stand on a frozen puddle and get that crunching from the breaking ice. but the on big bonus about theses early frosts is that it makes the parsnips and sprouts taste so much better and is well worth the wait.

National Vegetable Society meeting

2008-11-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

This pic reminds me of a national vegetable society meeting i went to once

king of tomatoes

2008-11-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

not quite sure what the competition was strangest tomato or owner

Vegetable Growing Side Effects

2008-11-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you become to obsessed with veg growing

you can turn in to one your self

or as Gillian Mc Keith said 'you are what you eat'

and if you become really obsessed you can even give birth to pumpkin baby's

comparing sizes

2008-11-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

pumpkin growers meeting up in a secluded car park to compare sizes. the woman with the clip board is seeing who has got the biggest

giant veg

2008-11-23T07:45:00.001-08:00

i have recently been reading a very good book called the biggest beetroot in the world, it is a very funny and informative book well worth a read. it has also got me interested again in growing giant veg which i haven't done since i was a kid. the world of the giant veg is a misterus and close knit group of men and the odd woman but all are general friendly and willing to share information freely. what will i have a go at growing this year of course no giant veg grower would be complete with out the pumpkin growing on his patch. but the family have set a big challenge for me as the daughters want one big enough to turn into Cinderella's ca rage. so no pressure there then i also fancy having a go at marrows, longest runner bean, and heaviest potato. i will keep you informed about my progress to grow them through the year.

2008-11-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

grown your own

2008-11-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

welcome to our new blog which is all about growing your own