Can I grow tomatoes outside?
Most gardeners grow tomatoes in a greenhouse or polytunnel, as these plants do best in warm temperatures. This can make growing them outside difficult for some growers, but if you…
Growing Tips and Advice
When can I chit seed potatoes?
It’s a little early now, but soon we will be dispatching seed potatoes for you to start chitting at home before you plant them out. We dispatch the majority of…
Befriend a tree surgeon for a good compost supply
Woodchip is an excellent source of compost, so making friends with a local tree surgeon who is happy to provide you with a load of woodchip from time to time…
Are woodlice eating my winter purslane? Diary of a Rocket Gardener
Back in late September or early October (time lines are blurry this year!) I planted out my winter purslane. It’s in a raised bed right next to some spinach and…
It’s a good time to pull up invasive weeds
Depending on where you live, you may find that the mild and wet weather has made it very easy to get rid of some of the more persistent weeds. So,…
Could those holes be earwig damage?
Earwigs don’t cause a huge amount of problems in the veg patch, but they can nibble holes in leaves overnight, and it’s easy to confuse the damage with slug damage….
Who’s eaten my spring onions? Diary of a Rocket Gardener
I was a bit annoyed this weekend to go out to the veg patch and find that something has eaten through the stems of nearly all my spring onions. I…
An easy way to protect your crops
If you need to prop up some netting or fleece to protect your crops from frost, pigeons and so on, then a jar, small plant pot or something similar upturned…
Little Jobs for Autumn
Use the last few days of October to get some autumn tasks done before the weather gets much colder. The clocks go back and the days get shorter and shorter…
What’s wrong with my leeks?
Autumn is a great time for harvesting leeks, but they’re not always in tip-top condition when it comes to pulling them up. Here are a few possible problems that you…
Are your plants getting enough light?
If you’re about to plant autumn veggies, then be sure to choose a place that exposes them to maximum light levels. The days are getting sorter and shorter, and every…
Are mushrooms in the soil a good or bad sign?
If you’re spotting lots of mushrooms in your veg patch, then it’s a good sign that you have nice, healthy soil… Mushrooms grow in a different way to your veg…