Top tips for kale, sprouts, cabbages & broccoli in winter
If you have any of these wonderful brassicas growing in your plot over the next few months, there are a few things you can do to keep your plants healthy…
Rocket Blog: Tag: Kale
Why your plants may not be thriving
Perhaps some newly planted winter lettuces are looking droopy, or some young kale seems to neither be dying nor growing like the Red Russian Kale pictured above which was planted…
Make sure your plants get enough sunlight
Here’s an example of how plants can have stunted growth when they are dwarfed by other taller plants, and thus starved of sunlight. Look closely at the picture and you…
Should I use fleece or mesh netting for autumn plants?
The two can seem interchangeable, but in fact they do not do quite the same job… Use horticultural fleece for warmth (and insect protection) Horticultural fleece is designed primarily for…
Plant half your plugs indoors, and half outdoors
If you have a greenhouse or polytunnel, or even a cold frame or a sunny porch then this is such a great way of staggering cropping time to keep your…
Make the most of the warm weather…
It is weird to think that last weekend we were giving you the heads up on possible frosts, and this week we’re encouraging you to make the most of the…
Storing your crops
Hopefully you’re harvesting all sorts of things at the moment, from french beans to maincrop potatoes. With so much coming out of the veg garden, it is helpful to know…
Alternaria leaf spot on brassicas
This is a common disease that strikes a lot of plants in the brassica family, like broccoli, kale and cabbage leaves. It is particularly prevalent during prolonged periods of warm,…
Is it a good idea to uncover mature brassicas? Diary of a Rocket Gardener
I don’t have any answers for you in my post this week, so there’s my initial confession or veg growing caveat. But I do have questions and ideas, and perhaps…
Late beans, courgettes, tomatoes & sweetcorn too! Diary of a Rocket Gardener
I can’t quite get over what a strange growing season it has been this year. I thought I’d do a little round up of what’s been going on. I know…
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…
When to give up on plants – Diary of a Rocket Gardener
Like so many other growers in the UK, I’ve been struggling with a lot of slugs and pests this year. My poor beans. Honestly, they’ve taken a bit of a…