Do I need to protect autumn brassicas?
Brassicas (cabbages, kale, broccoli etc) are well known for being on the receiving end of pest damage, and whilst many pests are less of a problem now, you should still…
Rocket Blog
Where to store pumpkins & winter squash
Once harvested, winter squash and pumpkins will usually store for several months. But you do need to keep it in the right place, which is not a cold, dark &…
A few more tips for Borlotti Beans…
Last week we covered drying and storing Borlotti Beans, which prompted a few more queries about how to cook with them and whether you can freeze them fresh. Here’s the…
Protect autumn plants from slugs & snails
The wetter autumn weather is perfect for slugs & snails, and there are plenty of autumn veggies that they are fond of…particularly pak choi! Here are some ways to protect…
Autumn is a good time to nurture the soil
There is arguably nothing more important than looking after your soil when you are growing veg. Good soil will give you healthy plants that are better able to withstand pests…
Kale Making a Comeback! (Diary of a Rocket Gardener)
A few weeks ago, in August, the Cavolo Nero kale plants that I have been growing since last autumn got well and truly annihilated by cabbage whites…they were CRAWLING in…
Cauliflower Success – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
Look at my beautiful little cauliflower popping his head out finally! This plant was planted at the beginning of May, but didn’t seem to be doing much. Towards the end…
What to plant next
Don’t miss out on autumn planting. There are just a few weeks left to get those autumn and winter crops in the ground, and it is so worth it for…
5 Cakes with Veg
One thing I have found is that the majority of vegetable cake recipes share a love of cinnamon, which I am very fond of, but I wanted to get a…
Composting Dos and Don’ts
Autumn is a brilliant time of year for topping up the compost pile (or starting a new one!) If you’re unsure what to add and what not to add, then…
No Powdery Mildew on my Climbing Squash – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my squash plants quite so heavy with powdery mildew as I have this summer/autumn. They have been really badly affected with the warm, wet…
Watch out for fungal diseases this month
The recent warm, damp weather has provided the perfect conditions for fungal diseases – powdery mildew, blight, leaf spot and plenty more. Below are some images of common problems to…