Autumn is a great time to be saving seeds for the following year. All the beautiful memories of this summer can easily be carried over to our hopes for the following year. Seed saving is one of the easiest jobs in the garden. Simply remember to pick a spent bloom or a well ripened vegetable […]
Beetroot: Surprisingly Huge!
I planted beetroot seeds this spring in the raised bed and they grew beautifully through the warmer months. Once the seedlings had germinated, they only needed regular watering and a little thinning. This means that seedlings that are too close to each other needed to be removed. So the thinning allowed the remaining seedlings space […]
Summer Aubergines
Aubergines have been very successful in my kitchen garden this summer. A first for me as I have never grown these before and they have been surprisingly easier than I had thought. I bought a packet of seeds and planted them in a small pot of sowing compost in early spring. I watered them and […]
New London Gardeners
This summer has seen new gardeners in inner London who have discovered their green fingers by growing their own herbs, vegetables and tomatoes! Space is always at a premium in the city but this has not curbed their enthusiasm. With my spare young plants and a little guidance, they have enjoyed gardening so allow me […]
Organic Garden in Menorca
We travelled to Menorca for our summer holiday this year and it was so delightful to find an organic kitchen garden on the hotel grounds. I tend to seek out local markets and shops selling fresh produce when we are away from home because well that’s what I love to do! So this was comparable […]
Okra and Bitter Gourd
This year as you know I have been experimenting with my new unheated greenhouse. I have never used a greenhouse so this was a first for me. As spring began I thought that the greenhouse will be perfect to house the tomato and chilli plants this year. Well, we started off with the best of […]
A New Nottingham Garden
So excited to showcase some new gardeners this summer and this is the first of these posts! My friend Andros loves his vegetables and they form a major part of his meals. Even better to reach out and harvest his own fresh greens, so he decided to take the plunge and grow his own. Let […]
Cucumbers Are Here
This summer I have just started harvesting cucumbers from my kitchen garden. I planted the seeds in late spring straight into the raised bed outdoors. After last year’s experience of giving away cucumbers almost daily, I decided to grow only a few plants this year. Lesson learnt! All my raised beds have a net over […]
Gardening with Children
So enjoyed gardening with young children and their families this summer at my local school fair! Children as young as 3 years old took part and it has been one my favourite moments this year! I was excited to set up my table early on the day with plants, seeds and water in a bucket […]
Tomatoes and Basil
Tomatoes have grown beautifully this summer and have resulted in lots of fruits to harvest! They have loved the heat but on the flip side, it has meant that we having been watering them twice a day. Growing tomatoes in pots means they dry out a lot quicker than being in the ground too. The […]
Harvesting Onions and Potatoes
Onions and potatoes are two of the easiest and undemanding vegetables to grow, even in a small space. I had great success last year with potatoes and so it was certain that they were going to feature in my garden this season. Onions are new to me and I have been inspired to grow them […]
Summer Flowers
Summer has been endlessly hot this year with just the signs of some rain this weekend and although it’s been uncomfortable for me, the flowers in my garden have just been loving it! All they asked for is regular watering and in return they have produced the most spectacular blooms. Hydrangea are simply magical with […]
Harvesting this Summer
My kitchen garden is thriving as the summer heat continues this year. Chillies are doing their thing and harvests have been bountiful! The cobra beans have grown so much that I can’t reach the topmost point of their bamboo wigwam. Of course there is a proud showcase of beautiful purple flowers and these have been […]
Spinach Beet – Delicious and Easy to Grow!
One of my favourite greens in my kitchen garden is spinach beet because it is so easy to grow! It is a fail safe way to begin your journey into growing your own food, especially if you have never tried it before. I love spinach beet as it is produces lots of leaves and does […]
Summer Greens
The garden is thriving in the heat this summer! We have been watering and harvesting endlessly as the sun shines on this season. The greenhouse which protected the young seedlings and plants with such caring endeavour is now almost empty as all the tomatoes and chillies have migrated. With the heat beating down for days […]
Kitchen Garden Thriving
As the weather becomes warmer this spring, all the seedlings seem to have found their joy! Pak choi planted among the rows of onions in the raised bed suddenly have come to life, and needing watering everyday as they put on their healthy green leaves. Can’t wait to taste their fresh crunch in my stir […]
Vegetables Thriving in the Spring Sun
May has brought sunshine and lots of vigorous growth in my kitchen garden this spring. Tomato and chilli plants are now in their element, having had a roller coaster ride with the fluctuating temperatures in April. Fortunately they have had the sanctuary of the greenhouse and although it was unheated, it has protected them from […]
Spring Planting
Spring seems to be showing itself a few days at a time this year and I have been making the most of the sunnier spots as my tomato and chilli seedlings are so ready for their outdoor ventures. Even better as I am now the proud owner of a greenhouse, oh so exciting! This came […]
Winter Hardy Herbs
The best herbs to have in your kitchen garden are the winter hardy sage and rosemary. March means spring here normally but this year we have almost been snowbound and with the windchill factor, temperatures have been at a record low. The grass may have hidden by a thick layer of snow but the fragrant […]
Seedlings Potted On
A set of true leaves on my tomato seedlings now! Winter might be too stubborn to give way to warmer weather this February but it certainly hasn’t stopped the tomato seedlings from putting on some fabulous growth. Once the seedlings show true leaves they are ready to be transplanted into their second homes as I […]
Easy Flowers for Summer
As spring comes nearer, I am considering all the flowers that brought beautiful splashes of colour to my garden last year. More importantly, these blooms were a real attraction for the bees and butterflies. Spring saw chives spring to life and as the weather became warmer, the garden was soon dotted with lilac blooms. Chives […]
Chilli Seedlings
Indoor planting in winter does have exciting moments especially when you see the the first green baby leaves from the chilli seeds planted less than two weeks ago! The seed trays were covered with a plastic cover to conserve the moisture and warmth, and for this I placed the trays near the boiler in my kitchen. I’m […]
Tomato Seedlings
I planted tomato seeds last weekend and not expecting much action for a while, was so delighted to see little seedlings popping through the dark compost. These started their life near the boiler in the kitchen which is the warmest place in my house. Now that they have germinated and produced their first two baby […]
Planting Seeds
Planting chilli and tomato seeds indoors in January means the best harvests before the cooler weather of autumn sets in. It’s always amazing to think these little seeds will become plants bearing fruits this summer in my kitchen garden! So on a very cold and dismal January weekend, I have popped into my local garden […]
Beetroot and Pak Choi
This year I planted beetroot and pak choi for the first time and was so surprised that they were so easy to grow. I started by planting seeds straight into my raised beds in spring. Then as they germinated and grew, it was a case of thinning the seedlings, which means removing weaker seedlings to […]
Dahlias This Autumn
Autumn has truly set in and there is no better way to celebrate it than with dahlias. Now before you ask, I do not have dahlias in my garden as I have not grown them .. yet! However, like me if you love these gorgeous flowers then a visit to Aylett Nurseries in St. Albans […]
Last Harvest
The last of my homegrown vegetables which I have now harvested as summer comes to an end and autumn brings in the cooler weather with its long dark evenings! Courgettes that were started indoors from seed were planted out in May, after the last frosts were over. Although I provided them with support for them […]
Apple Sauce
So what do you do when you visit your aunt and she gives you a bagful of her homegrown apples? Some are for the apple crumble and this year I have decided to have a go at making my own apple sauce as we don’t seem to have much in the supermarkets here. The first […]
Tomato Harvest
I planted tomatoes for the first time this year from seed and they have been very successful in my raised beds and planters! There have been bunches and bunches everywhere I looked, from cherry tomatoes to the larger varieties. They have been ripening gradually, with the final harvest coming in this September. I have found that […]
Cobra Beans
I planted cobra beans for the first time this spring and I started them indoors by planting the seeds. Then gradually they were moved outdoors to their final position in the raised beds but unfortunately they didn’t do well. So I planted the next batch of seeds straight into raised beds outdoors in May and […]
Pak Choi Seeds
This spring I decided to grow pak choi, a Chinese cabbage that is also known as bok choy. I love pak choi for its sweet taste and crunchy texture especially in stir fries. I planted the seeds straight into compost in a raised bed, following the instructions on the seed packet. When the seedlings appeared, they […]
Easy Delicious Potatoes
Homegrown potatoes are so delicious as we have found out this summer when we harvested our first lot! Phil, a friend of mine gave me four little seed potatoes to try and I planted them in reusable plastic grow bags in early spring. To our surprise, after 5 months we harvested two whole bowls of […]
Two Sides of a Garden
This summer I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit my friend Julia who lives in Anglesey, Wales. Her front garden is only in my dreams and one I would like to wake up to everyday, so tranquil and picturesque! Next to her front garden is this lovely little stream that goes through a waterfall […]
Food Festival This Summer
When I heard about a food festival taking place in Hampshire, I couldn’t have bought those tickets sooner! On a bright Saturday morning in August, my husband and I made our way to Leckford Estate in Stockbridge where Waitrose had promised a showcase of British produce alongside a variety of events and celebrity chefs. I […]
Planting Kale
I have decided to plant kale again this summer after last year’s success. I had bought the kale seedlings from a garden centre in September and planted them in a raised bed. I was so amazed at how lush they were over autumn and very early spring, while happily surviving the hard winter frosts! Well, this […]
Herbs In My Garden
This summer I have herbs growing everywhere I look … in the raised beds, pots and planters! I am particularly excited by the ones I have grown from seed this year. I planted basil seeds in early spring on my window sill. Once they grew their true leaves, which pop up after the first two baby […]
Tomatoes Are Here!
Cannot believe that the weeks have gone by so quickly from when I first planted the tomato seedlings outdoors to picking my own tomatoes! Tomato seedlings that were all started from seed indoors were hardened off gradually in spring. This means that they were gradually introduced outdoors but still brought inside at night to protect […]
Pickling Cucumbers
I am harvesting so many cucumbers this summer that even after sharing with friends and neighbours, I am left with more than my family can eat! This has inspired me to preserve them this year and I have decided to make pickles. So another batch harvested this week and I am going to try my hand […]
Cobra and Dwarf Beans
In the middle of summer with all the days and nights of rain we’ve been having, there are green pickings ready for my kitchen …beans, beans and more beans!! Cobra beans have been racing up the very crude support made for them from bamboo canes and some string. They don’t seem to have minded the […]
Easy Potatoes in Containers
When my friend Phil gave me four little seed potatoes, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to grow them in my shallow raised beds as potatoes need some depth filled with good soil. My garden soil has heavy clay and it is the reason I have found raised beds such a treasure for […]