Cultivating the strawberry patch – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
This weekend I am all about the strawberry patch. This is for 3 reasons – firstly, they have put out their runners in a big way and so need tending…
Growing
Growing Broccoli over the next few months
Broccoli is a great crop to grow over autumn and winter, providing a welcome change from all the kale and cabbage leaves. Both Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Calabrese Broccoli are…
Autumn Salads in pots and window boxes
Growing salads in pots or window boxes is a great option for those of us who don’t get many spare daytime hours to tend to the veg patch over autumn…
When to cut back globe artichokes
When Globe Artichokes are flowering they are such a valuable food source for bees and all sorts of other insects, so we’d encourage you not to cut them back too…
When weeds get the better of you…
Those of you who have been reading my diary entries regularly will know that I have gone mostly no-dig in my veg patch. I have several raised beds, and the…
Slugs & Snails
This week we’re focussing on slugs and snails, as we are coming up to planting time and wetter weather. Plants are at their most vulnerable to slugs when they are…
Amazing Padron Peppers! Diary of a Rocket Gardener
Warning – this is a shameless plug for Rocket Gardens’ Padron Peppers, and also a slightly unsubtle hint that they should definitely grow them again next season! So, last year,…
Veg Patch Pesto
Whilst it was raining heavily outside yesterday afternoon I was in the kitchen experimenting with different pestos using ingredients from the veg patch. I love traditional basil pesto, but I…
Pest of the Month: Flea Beetle
This month we’re looking at a tiny, jumpy little bug that nibbles a lot of tiny holes in leaves. The small flea beetle has long back legs and hops away…
Is it worth sowing a green manure?
We’re often asked about sowing green manure crops after a summer harvest. This has its benefits and can be effective, but we find it is something that is not entirely…
Growing Herbs? Here are some jobs to do…
Herbs can largely be left to do their thing, however late summer sees many herbs in full bloom, and this means that there are a few little jobs that are…
My Low-Effort Autumn Approach…
Last autumn, I valiantly planted up a whole load of veggies in my veg patch and tended to them lovingly until early November. Then I totally neglected them until spring….