Why have my tomatoes cracked?
Split skin on tomatoes as they ripen is not all that uncommon, but it is quite easily avoided with regular watering… Moving from dry to waterlogged soil will cause the…
Rocket Blog
Courgette & Tomato Bake
This is a great way to use up an abundance of tomatoes and courgettes if you’re finding yourself a little overrun! It’s a simple recipe, and great with a salad…
No Aubergines? Diary of a Rocket Gardener
This is a familiar topic for me. It’s my fourth year of growing aubergines (or perhaps my fifth?) and as ever, no fruits are forming. I’m officially giving up, and…
Dealing with Aphids
One of the most common pests in the veg patch, aphids suck the sap from stems and, if numbers are too much, can be quite troublesome with your veg plants….
Harvesting Onions (and Shallots)
Dry, sunny weather is ideal for harvesting onions and shallots. You want to wait until the leaves start to turn yellow, which is a sign that the plants are no longer…
Courgettes stopped fruiting? Diary of a Rocket Gardener
I have three courgette plants growing this year, planted back in mid-May. I’d felt quite self-satisfied when I planted them, because normally I plant far more than I need. Three…
Planting & growing broccoli in Autumn
People are often surprised when we explain that they can plant out broccoli in autumn – this article explains how best to grow it and when you can expect to…
Do Autumn Veg Plants need a Greenhouse?
With our Autumn Plants now available to pre-order (with delivery from late-August through to mid/late-October), we’ve received a number of queries from customers wondering if they will need to be…
Dealing with Slugs & Snails
Cooler weather, wetter soil and damp in the air – this August is proving very slug-friendly which is bad news for the veg patch. Here are some ways to protect…
Blight on Tomato Plants?
Even if you’re growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or polytunnel you may find them struggling with blight this season. It has been so cool this August, and without the sunshine…
Check for caterpillars regularly
Don’t let your brassicas get munched by caterpillars. Even if they are growing under netting, it is wise to check the leaves for eggs and caterpillars regularly. Every other day…
Chocolate Aubergine Torte – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
My aubergines are nowhere near ready yet, but my sister made this torte the other day with some aubergines from the farmshop and I couldn’t resist sharing her recipe. Honestly,…