Should you let things self-seed or not?
This can be a surprisingly difficult question, especially if you are new to growing. In this article, we take a look at some of the plants that readily self-seed and…
Rocket Blog: Category: Planting & Growing
What to do if your squash plants are only just fruiting
If you’re growing winter squash or pumpkins and the plants are only just beginning to form fruits now, then there are a few things you can do to help them…
The Next Few Weeks – Mid Aug-Mid Sept
We are at a kind of turn around point in the season now, with most of our attention being on harvesting (hopefully). There is a last chance to get a…
August in the Veg Patch
August is such a great month for harvesting, and usually the most productive month in the vegetable garden. There’s still a little time to get a few extra vegetable plants…
How to prevent veg from splitting
Some vegetable plants are prone to splitting – particularly root veg like carrots and beetroot, as well as fruits like tomatoes and some brassicas, including cauliflower and cabbage. The main…
Strip tomato leaves for a better crop
Once you’ve got a few trusses of green tomatoes on your plants, it’s a good idea to strip off some of the excess foliage. This will help the plants to…
Excellent Follow On Crops for Pots…
If you’ve already harvested spring onions, lettuces, beetroot and even potatoes from pots and containers, then there is still time to plant up again for a quick second flurry of…
Quick Growers for Summer Planting
To make the most of the summer, pop some quick growing veg plants in the ground or in pots in the next week or two. Some, like wild rocket and…
Check for eggs (& caterpillars) regularly
Absolutely the best way to avoid caterpillars from chomping through your brassica crops is to regularly check for eggs over the next few weeks. Even if they are growing under…
How to feed plants over summer
As we come into the full swing of harvesting season, with tomatoes forming, beans and peas cropping, sweetcorn cobs developing and so on, it’s time to start feeding plants regularly….
Harvesting Onions (and Shallots)
If you planted onion plugs in spring, you may find that they are ready for harvesting in July. Here are a few tips to help you get them ready for…
Courgettes & Squash – Male Flowers Come First
When Courgette, Squash, Pumpkins and Cucumbers start to flower, they normally produce male only flowers for a week or so… The male flowers, which you will recognise as there is…