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Just-sown onion sets are vulnerable to ‘frost heave’ which means that the expansion and contraction of soil as a result of warming and cooling due to fluctuating temperatures can literally heave the little sets from the soil. In our garden the more likely problem is the occasional errant hen who (despite clipped wings) will hop over the picket fence in to the veg patch and start ...
Rhubarb is abundant at this time of year and this cracking recipe from The Cake Shelf (http://www.thecakeshelf.com) turns it in to a lovely moist cake. Ingredients: • 400g Rhubarb – washed and cut in to 2-inch pieces • 250g butter • 150g of ready to use custard • 250g self-raising flour • 2 tsps of baking powder • 4 eggs • 2 tsps vanilla extract ...
A relatively mild April means it’s the perfect time for sowing onions. Generally most GIYers grow onions from “sets” (basically baby onions) but you can also grow from seed. Sets will mature quickly. Sow sets 10cm apart in rows 25cm apart. Push the set in to the soil so that the tip is just about visible above the surface. Firm in well. Frost c...
I made a pragmatic and (for me) highly rebellious decision this week to allocate an additional bed to onions from the beds allocated to the brassica family (cabbages, kale, Brussels sprouts etc). The luck of the crop rotation draw sees my onion family (garlic, onions, shallots and leeks) get the short straw in terms of allocated space this year. As a result when I sowed the onions this...
We always end up sowing WAY too much celery, which is a waste because it's a veg that doesn't keep well in the ground. Once it's ready to be eaten you really only have a couple of weeks before it starts to go past its best. It will keep in the fridge for a week or so, and of course you can try blanching and freezing some as a way to "store" it. But the best approach i...
Leeks are a wonderful vegetable to grow because they provide valuable stores of food right through the winter and early spring when very little else is growing. Make sure to factor them in to this year’s GIYing. We still have some of last year’s leeks in the ground. Ingredients: • 50g butter • 6 large leeks – white part only, sliced • 750g p...
Peas can be sown direct in the soil, or in module trays for later transplanting. Since they tend to germinate quite reliably when sown direct in the soil, I think it saves time (and space in the potting shed) to sow them direct. If sowing direct in the soil, make sure the temperature is consistently above 10 degrees Celsius outside. Before sowing get the soil ready by turning it over w...
April is an incredibly busy month in the veg patch. I see it as a great catch-up month – any growing tasks that I missed in March through laziness or misadventure can be caught up on relatively easily. In fact, in many ways the going is a lot easier in April for most seedlings and with a little more growth in the air they will catch up quickly on those sown last month. In the e...
I don’t sow my courgette plants until late April or early May, but it’s possible to do a sowing for the polytunnel (or greenhouse) early this month. Once sown, the pots should be placed on a heated propagator or warm windowsill and when planting them out in May, you still may need to protect them from occasional cold polytunnel nights with a fleece cover. These early-sown...
The more spring-like the weather gets, the more I’m getting in the mood for lighter food. Here’s a nice hybrid winter/summer salad, using some fresh green leaves and the last of last year’s squashes! Ingredients: • 1 large squash, peeled and chopped • 4tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced • 1 red chilli, seeded and thinl...