Carrot, parsnip and red lentil soup
Serves 4-6 The sweetness of the carrot and parsnip is complimented by the tang of cumin and garlic. A great way to use up a glut of parsnips in winter. 1-2 tbsp olive oil 4 cloves garlic (more if small …
Kitchen garden
Saffron! My first ever saffron harvest
I am so excited I can barely contain myself. My first ever Saffron, Crocus sativus, has flowered! I’ve tried growing Saffron in past gardens, but the bulbs seem to have just disappeared. Not even a green leaf came up. I …
Keeping blackfly off Broad Beans
Broad beans in the kitchen garden. You can see the first beans are almost ready to pick. It’s the time of year to start planning those broad bean meals, as the first crops should be ready to harvest soon. …
My top tip for keeping cats, foxes and birds off your newly sown beds
Frequently I see people comment on social media about the difficulty of keeping cats, foxes and other creatures, off their newly sown beds. I thought I’d share my tip, which pretty much always works. Right: Parsnip seed These are newly …
Crop rotations: the basics for urban growers
My kitchen garden and forest garden border now. The raised beds currently have garlic, broad beans and corn salad. Now it’s warming up, I can start more seed sowing and really get the season going. When I published my …
Planning the crop rotations for the kitchen garden
The raised beds that form the kitchen garden. The new growing season is fast approaching. As of this year I have my full complement of raised beds for growing edibles in, so I thought I better work out a crop …
Garlic giveaway 2019
Update Thursday 5th September 2019 This offer has now been oversubscribed, so I can not take any more requests Garlic drying in the sun My garlic did really well this season. I’ve sorted through it, what I’m keeping to sow …
New veg beds – aka finally making a decision on the final layout of my kitchen garden
The kitchen garden? Not an inspiring photograph, is it? I mean, yes, you can see my slowly developing Forest Garden Border around the edges (the blueberries are nearly ready!), and some raised beds with garlic. But the lawn dominates. However, …
Garlic scapes
Updated: 21st May 2024 Garlic scapes grow on Hardneck Garlic, and occasionally on Softneck Garlic (usually only if stressed). If you aren’t sure what type of garlic you are growing, if it starts producing a scape, it’s most likely a …
Reviewing my permaculture designed garden
Mid-Summer 2016 In 2013 I made a permaculture design for my garden, which was implemented at the end of the year. Now that I’m leaving this garden, I thought it would be useful to review the design. Did the design …