Blisters on your chard?
This is a very common sight for growers of chard and other leaf beet, like perpetual spinach. It is the work of the leaf miner, and it’s not a disaster,…
Growing
Dealing with Blackfly Infestations
We’re definitely experiencing more blackly infestations than normal around here, probably something to do with the cold spring and natural predators not being in such abundance as they normally are….
Dealing with pervasive weeds
What’s the best way to tackle those persistent weeds, like bindweed, brambles, creeping buttercup, ground elder and couch grass? Well, assuming the weeds are growing in areas where you are…
Planting in June? Things grow fast
As soon as June arrives, we find that a lot of people start to panic, thinking that they’ve missed the season if they haven’t planted out yet, and this isn’t…
Quick Growing Herbs for the Summer
Some of the faster growing herbs are just the ticket for adding flavour to summer salads and veggie dishes. Here are a few of our favourites that are easy to…
Success with Sweetcorn
There is nothing more joyous than eating your own homegrown sweetcorn. It is SO much sweeter and tastier than shop-bought corn. Having said that, it can be incredibly disappointing when…
5 Ways to Get Veg Plants Off to a Good Start
Getting things right in the early days will make all the difference as we move through the growing season and through to harvest time. Here are 5 things you can…
How to use wormcast fertiliser
Our worm cast fertiliser comes in sacks (as pictured), and it has a kind of sandy, soil-like texture. Worm castings are among the most nutritious of natural fertilisers. They are…
Recognise & prevent flea beetle damage
These tiny bugs are already active, and with the dry weather will become more so over the next few days. You’ll recognise damage by the tiny holes in leaves, particularly…
Which bean support works best?
If you’re building your own bean support using bamboo, there are 3 standard styles – the A Frame, the Wigwam and the X Frame. Here are the pros and cons…
How to support peas, sugarsnap & mange tout
When it comes to planting peas, mangetout and sugarsnaps, you will need to give them some support to climb. Here are three easy options… Chicken wire & bamboo Make a…
Do I have to chit seed potatoes before planting?
The short answer is “no”. This is not a mandatory gardening task and you can happily grow potatoes without chitting them. It’s more of a trick of the trade, used…