Don’t harvest winter squash yet…
Although they often look very tempting to harvest now, in September, winter squash and pumpkins still need a little longer to ripen before you harvest them. Fruits are usually ready…
Rocket Blog
Dealing with Slugs & Snails
Cooler weather, wetter soil and damp in the air – autumn tends to be very slug-friendly which is bad news for the veg patch. Here are some ways to protect…
Getting the best from cut flowers – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
This year was my second year growing flowers for cutting (I used Rocket Gardens’ plug plants this summer, but grew from seed last year), and I have a few learnings…
Ants & Aphids
Dry weather is likely to have provided the perfect conditions for ants to really get to work this season. For the most part, they do little harm, but do be…
Chewy, Stringy Celery?
Conditions have not been ideal for growing celery this summer – it is a thirsty plant, and the long, dry spells have been unfavourable. If you have harvested some recently,…
A Brassica Health Check
With the recent heatwave, cool-loving brassicas may need a little bit of extra care. This article looks at a few different things, from discoloured leaves and caterpillar damage, to cabbage…
Saving Fennel Seed
If your fennel has bolted, there is no need to pull it up. You can let it flower and then collect the seed to use in cooking. Like the rest…
Cut back flowering herbs in late summer
Some herbs will have flowered for a few weeks by now, and you’ll notice the leaves beginning to look a little worse for wear. You might get a second flourish…
A mistake I made in laying out my veg plot – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
So, there I was the other day, browsing the plants for autumn growing and thinking about what I’d like to plant in September, when I suddenly realised what a mistake…
A guide to Autumn Planting & Growing
Planting up in September or October will keep your veg patch productive, giving you a home harvest right through till next spring. Growing in autumn requires less work and attention,…
Mildew on peas
Late summer brings mildew to pea plants of all types, sugarsnap, garden and mangetout. You’ll recognise it from the white coating on the leaves, which will rapidly spread across the…
Futureproof for Dry Spells Next Season
This heatwave will soon be over, we hope, and autumn should bring rainfall. With this in mind, it will soon be time to put a few things in place so…