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…
Rocket Blog
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,…
How to plant a mini wildflower meadow
With all your summer veggies growing and autumn planting just around the corner, now is a great time to plant up some wildflowers to give the bees some extra pollen……
Harvest leeks before they bolt
If you planted early in the season, you may see some leeks starting to produce buds now after the heatwave we had the other week. If so, you might want…
Powdery Mildew
At this time of year, squashes, courgettes and peas (amongst others) often start to develop a white, powdery coating. The leaves start to develop a white/grey powdery coating before they…
When to harvest sweetcorn
Homegrown sweetcorn is one of the ultimate treats, and harvesting it at the right time and eating it on the same day means you get to enjoy it at its…
A guide to Autumn Planting & Growing
Our Autumn Plants will be available to pre-order from Monday 16th August. Planting up in September or October will keep your veg patch productive, giving you a home harvest right…
An easy & effective way to clear new beds – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
I’m feeling very pleased this summer with a bed that I have finally uncovered. Previously a haven of bindweed, nettles and (gasp) knotweed, I covered it with weed membrane about…
Plant Brassicas now for a winter harvest
If you’re opening up lots of spaces in your veg patch as you harvest potatoes, carrots and other veggies, then it is a really good idea to plant out some…
Prune out tomatoes to encourage ripening
Once you’ve got several trusses growing on your tomato plants, you can pinch out the growing tips and prune out some leaves to encourage ripening. This isn’t 100% necessary, but…
Tagetes to deter blackfly and persistent weeds? Diary of a Rocket Gardener
The other day a friend observed that I had no blackfly on my broad beans. I hadn’t really clocked it until he mentioned it, but this is the first year…
When to harvest edamame beans
If you’re growing edamame beans for the first time you may feel a little unsure about when it is best to harvest them. It’s fairly straightforward – once the pods…