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…
Rocket Blog
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…
Green Tomato Chutney
If you’re still finding lots of green tomatoes growing on your plants, then don’t despair. There’s still time for them to ripen if they are undercover, or you could try…
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…
When to harvest pumpkins & winter squash
Many gardeners are finding that their pumpkins and winter squashes are ripening earlier than normal. It’s not surprising given the lovely weather! Look for the two key signs for perfect timing,…
Harvesting & Storing Borlotti Beans
Borlotti Beans are such a great crop, and if harvested and stored in a certain way you will be able to keep them for several months, ready to bung in…
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…
Why I’m planting leafy veg where my beans grew
I’m looking forward to planting up all my autumn veggies soon. I’ve had a great harvest this year, and have quite a few bare patches in the garden, so it’s…