EDITOR’S LETTER

WELCOME Although there is plenty to do in the garden this

month it’s also important to take some time out
to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labours. With
this in mind we have a special feature on patio
produce, including original suggestions on how
to make some mouthwatering barbecue dishes
from your home-grown delights.
If the pruning of stone fruits, which includes
some of our most delicious summer harvests
such as cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and
nectarines, is a bit of a mystery to you, turn to
page 66. There our resident fruit expert David
Patch explains how to go about it in easy steps.
We also have great features on growing your
free seeds this month which include Cape
gooseberries and borage. We show you how to
make your own organic liquid feeds and a ladder
shelf for your home-grown herbs and salads.
Last but not least, do check out the launch
of our Passionate Plotter competition 2017 on
page 48. You could win a share of our great prize
packkage worth more than £1900!
EE MOR
+S E
G
DIGITAL K

IN

Steve Ott, editor

DIGITAL K

Contact me at: [email protected] | 01507 529396

IN

G
+S
EE MOR
E Find us at www.kitchengarden.co.uk
Contact subscriptions: 01507 529529

KitchenGardenMag KitchenGardenUK @GrowWithKG /kitchengardenmagazine

HELLO FROMTHEJULY KG TEAM

SUE STICKLAND STEVE NEAL TONY FLANAGAN ANNA PETTIGREW MARTIN FISH SUSIE KEARLEY
Former head gardener Steve is a keen plotter Staff writer Tony has an We just love editing In this issue Martin If you are a tea drinker
Sue turns her attention and last year helped allotment and two large Anna’s pages, but suggests a simple and let’s face it, most of
to those exotic- to open his allotments polytunnels at his home try never to do it project for building an us are – you may have
looking fruits, Cape under the National in Lincolnshire. In this mid-morning – one look attractive display shelf wondered why your
gooseberries and Garden Scheme. Read issue he explains how at the mouthwatering for your pots of herbs or compost heap contains
tomatillos this month about his experiences to get the best from a pictures and we are just salads as well as offering some strange ‘webbing’
and explains how to starting on page 26 crop that can be a little desperate for lunchtime! his advice on all the that refuses to rot.
turn your free seeds into and perhaps you’ll be challenging, but well This time Anna has essential jobs for the Turn to page 98, where
succulent golden berries opening your site, too worth the effort: melons recipes for the barbecue month for your plot Susie explains all

START SAVING CASH NOW: VISIT WWW.KITCHENGARDEN.CO.UK

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 3
 CONTENTS
EXPERT ADVICE TO HELP YOU GROW GREAT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

10 42
✪ ON THE COVER
@GrowWithKG YOU YOUR PLOT
KitchenGardenUK 6 ON THE VEG PATCH
Freeze herbs, harvest broad beans and kohl
KitchenGardenMag rabi, feed tomatoes, sow autumn crops,
harvest soft fruit
@GrowWithKG
10 IN THE GREENHOUSE
Watch out for blight, ventilate the
/kitchengardenmagazine greenhouse, tend to watering, harvest chillies,
pollinate sweetcorn
FOR OUR CONTACT DETAILS
TURN TO PAGE 15 12 WHAT’S NEW?
The latest news, comment and advice from the
world of kitchen gardening

14 YOUR LETTERS AND TIPS

81
Learn what other KG readers have been up to
and pick up some great first-hand advice 95 NEXT MONTH
Some of the highlights to be found in your
20 QUESTION TIME August issue plus news of great free gifts
Our panel of leading experts from
the gardening industry answer your 98 LAST WORD –
NEVER MISS
AN ISSUE... £20 gardening queries TROUBLE BREWING ON
THE COMPOST HEAP?
48 BRITAIN’S MOST Garden writer Susie Kearley investigates the
PASSIONATE PLOTTERS ✪ problem of teabags that just won’t rot
We launch the 2017 competition
ON PAGE 24
HAVING TROUBLE FINDING
and reveal our great prize package for
the winners 70
A COPY OF THIS MAGAZINE? 92 DIARY DATES
Just Ask your local newsagent to Plus giveaway entry coupon and details of
reserve you a copy each month seed and young plant suppliers

4 | JULY 2017
 JULY 2017

RECIPES 88
✪ More great recipes from
our resident chef Anna
Pettigrew to help you make
Scan this, and
the most of your seasonal veg.
we’ll tell you!
This month Anna has some
delicious barbecue ideas

Pg 88
37

48
16
GET GROWING
16 ON THE PLOT WITH THE
THREE MUDKETEERS 46 HERBS FOR HENS WHAT TO BUY
More fun and top tips from the KG team as We reveal a new range of herbs aimed at
they tend to their Lincolnshire plot keeping your flock healthy
24 SUBSCRIBE TO KG
22 GROWING ONLINE 54 FRUIT AT A GLANCE: MELONS ✪ ...and make savings of up to 40%!
The latest news from the world of online Top tips for growing this most mouthwatering
gardening of summer fruits 47 YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A
LUXURY HOME FOR YOUR HENS
26 THE POWER OF YELLOW 58 KEEP YOUR COOL ✪ WORTH £500
Steve Neal reveals his experiences of Veg expert Ben Vanheems explains how
opening an allotment site for charity to prevent your undercover crops from 53 GARDEN STORE
overheating this summer Catch up with some great new products for
32 BEE THANKFUL FOR BORAGE ✪ kitchen gardeners
KG editor Steve Ott shows you how to get 62 MAKE IT! LIQUID FEEDS ✪
the best from your free seeds Joyce Russell has some recipes to help you 56 INSTANT SAVERS
make your own organic liquid feeds This month save up to 15% on leading
34 A VEG FOR ALL REASONS ✪ gardening goodies – from mulches and pest
This month Sally Cunningham turns her 66 PRUNING STONE FRUIT ✪ controls to planters and young plants
attention to a traditional veg that is as Fruit expert David Patch helps you get the
beautiful as it is delicious – sea kale. best from your cherries, plums and peaches 83 TRIED AND TESTED –
WEEDKILLERS
37 GO HERITAGE FOR BEANS ✪ 70 HERBAL HARVEST ✪ The KG team road test some popular
Heritage veg fan Rob Smith explores the Gardening and cookery writer Gaby Bartai weedkillers for value and effectiveness
history behind French beans and shares his offers her expert advice on storing herbs
favourite varieties through the winter months 84 READER OFFERS ✪
Claim 35 free brassica and broad bean
40 EAT YOUR WAY 74 LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE WITH plants worth £17.90, plus save on runner
TO A HEALTHY WEIGHT LANTERN LOVELIES ✪ and dwarf French beans, courgettes, broccoli
Nutritionist Susie Kearley explains Sue Stickland encourages us to try two and herbs
why beans are an essential part of all lesser known fruits, Cape gooseberries
our diets and tomatillos 86 GREAT GIVEAWAYS WORTH
OVER £1665 ✪
42 FROM PATIO TO BARBECUE ✪ 81 MAKE A LADDER SHELF ✪ This month you could win garden tools,
Top tips to help you get the most from your Martin Fish brings you a simple project to watering equipment, biological controls and
patio this summer brighten your patio mini greenhouses

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 5

JOBS FEED
TOMATOES
Tomatoes growing outside
should be making good growth
TASKS FOR YOUR VEGETABLE PATCH now and starting to develop several
trusses of fruit. It’s important that
IN JULY BY MARTIN FISH the plants get plenty of nutrients,
especially potash, so feed once
a week with a high-potash
fertiliser to help the fruits
develop and ripen.

CHECK
APPLE TREES
When the natural ‘June drop’
on apples has finished, which is
often July in the north, check your
trees to see how much fruit has
remained. On cooking apples aim
for one or two fruits per cluster
and on eating varieties leave
two or three.

LIFT
GARLIC
Lift bulbs of garlic from the
garden as you need it or
when the foliage starts to
die down. When freshly lifted
it has a sweet flavour and if
allowed to dry naturally it
will store for months.

INSPECT TIES
ON FRUIT TREES
Young fruit trees should be in
full growth now and making
new growth. If they are being
supported by stakes and ties,
check the ties to make sure
they aren’t too tight as the
trunk expands. If very tight
slacken the tie off a little.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk
 JOBS FOR THE MONTH

CUT KOHL RABI PICK ASPARAGUS PEAS FREEZE HERBS

Kohl rabi is a vegetable with a difference For something a little different on your dinner We are very much in the herb season now
and some describe it as a cross between plate have a go with asparagus peas. A member and there’s plenty that can be harvested to
a turnip and cabbage. It’s really easy to of the legume family, the plants produce very eat fresh or dried. Many herbs also freeze
grow and will grow quickly if kept watered pretty, red flowers that develop into triangular very well and if you enjoy a summer glass
in dry weather. The swollen stem is what shaped pods that have a delicate flavour and of Pimms or a G&T, try dropping a few
is eaten and if eating it raw in salads it resemble asparagus, hence its name. The whole borage flowers into ice cubes. Fresh leaves
needs to be picked before it gets too large pod is eaten and you need to pick them while from lemon verbena can also be frozen this
and woody, ideally about the size of a they are still young and tender, otherwise they way and when dropped into a drink they
tennis ball. soon become tough and chewy! release their lemony flavour.

onthe
SOW NOW
Lettuce, salad leaves,
dwarf beans, leaf beet,

v
vegpatch
Chinese cabbage, radish,
peas, carrots, onions,
leeks, beetroot, chicory,
sprouting broccoli,
calabrese, cauliflower, kale,
kohl rabi, spinach, parsley,
courgettes, turnip, spring
onions, pak choi and chard.
SOW
NOW FOR PLANT NOW
HARVESTING AUTUMN Winter cabbage, Brussels

BROAD BEANS VEG sprouts, sprouting

broccoli, savoy, calabrese,
Broad beans are in full swing now Thinking ahead to cauliflower, kohl rabi,
and the crop will be at its heaviest early autumn and some runner beans, French
with long pods full of tasty beans. different veg, now is beans, courgette, marrow,
At the start of the season we tend a good time to start squash, cucumber,
to pick just enough pods at a time planning and sowing a sweetcorn, tomatoes,
for boiling, but when we want to range of fast-maturing herbs, celery, leeks
pick a larger amount for freezing vegetables. Many and lettuce.
I simply cut the main stalks off fast-growing types
at ground level. It’st s then much such as 60-day
60 day
easier to sit at a taable to broccoli, CChinese cabbage, pak choi, Florence fennel HARVEST
pull off the pods than
t and sp pinach can be sown through July and into Peas, dwarf beans, summer
it is to bend over August to mature in September and October cabbage, carrots, broad
the plant in the to fill the gap between summer and winter beans, spinach, globe
garden. It also vveg. The majority can be sown directly into artichokes, rhubarb, radish,
means the roots prepared beds in shallow drills and when the lettuce, courgettes, salad
are left in the In hot weather when container seedlings are thinned they can be used in leaves, spring onions,
ground where grown plants such as tomatoes salads. Alternatively, if the garden is full at over-wintering onions,
the nitrogen and peppers need plenty of the moment, start the plants off by sowing garlic, kohl rabi, rhubarb,
nodules will water, stand the pot in a saucer in cell trays and when the seedlings are herbs, strawberries,
help to feed the and add some fresh water each established in a few weeks, plant out and
e cherries, raspberries,
next crop to be morning to keep the plants keeep well watered. gooseberries and currants.
grown there. moist all day.

www.kitchengarden
n.co.uk JULY 2017 | 7
 START CHECK
■ Basil likes warm HARVESTING FOR
growing conditions
and young plants that SOFT FRUIT PESTS
have been raised in Soft fruit bushes once Woolly aphid
pots can be planted established and maintained will can be a
out into a sunny part of produce a good crop of fruit, and d serious pest
the garden where they by planting a selection of different on fruit trees,
should be fine. types you can extend the season over especially
several weeks. Home-grown soft fruit that’s allowed apples. In
to fully ripen on the bush has much more flavour and mid-summer
is sweeter than shop-bought fruits. Where the crop the pest is
is heavy, prop up the branches to prevent them from at its most
breaking before you harvest. active and eassy
to spot by thee
white waxy co overing

SUMMER that protects the small

brown aphidss beneath. The
PRUNING aphids feed by suck king sap th
hrough
the bark and this can lead to problems
h

Once you have picked your including canker, which can girdle a
blackcurrants, gooseberries, branch and cause dieback. Control
red and white currants you isn’t easy as very often the aphids are
can carry out some summer hidden in deep cracks in the bark, but
pruning, which helps to keep they also attack young trees and set up
■ Continue to earth-up the bushes in good condition colonies on smooth bark. If you spot
main crop potatoes as and to prevent them growing them on a young tree, it’s important
the stems grow. To make too large. With blackcurrants to control them before they become
this a little easier, use try to prune out as much too established. Some contact sprays
a three-tined drag to of the older wood that has including organic insecticides containing
loosen the soil between fruited as low down the bush fatty acids and plant extracts will help
the rows and then use a as possible. Gooseberries and to control them. Alternatively, I find
draw hoe to pull the soil other currants can have their a strong jet of water is effective at
up to form the ridges. long new shoots pruned back blasting them off the tree.
by half or two-thirds.

■ To keep runner beans

growing and fruiting,
water along the rows
to thoroughly moisten
CHERRIES
the soil and then apply There is nothing nicer than a fresh,
a good thick mulch of ripe cherry picked straight from
grass clippings around the garden. The trees are hardy and
the base of the plants to reasonably easy to grow and, as well
seal in moisture. as providing delicious fruits, they
have very attractive spring blossom.
The main problem that you are likely
■ Courgettes can start to encounter is birds, and unless you
to run out of steam by protect the ripening fruits, blackbirds
mid-summer, so feed and starlings will strip them as soon
them once a week with as they start to ripen.
a high-potash liquid When it comes to choosing a
fertiliser to keep them cherry tree, there are two main types,
growing and more sweet and acid. Sweet as its name catalogues, they are very inviting. and it makes it easier to protect
importantly producing suggests produces sweet fruits that All need pollinating and many of them from birds. Blossom and
new fruits. can be eaten straight from the tree. the older varieties need a compatible fruit is produced on two- and
These prefer a warm position to allow tree nearby that is in flower at the three-year-old wood and when
the fruits to ripen. The other type same time. Fortunately, there are also training as a fan the aim is to get a
■ When you’ve finished is acid cherries and these are mainly some excellent self-fertile cherries system of branches against the wall.
picking strawberries, used for preserving and cooking that do not need another tree to Pruning is only done in summer
trim back all the old because they are not as sweet. These pollinate them. For sweet cherries and long new growths should be
foliage. This tidies up can be grown in cooler conditions try ‘Sunburst’, ‘Stella’ and ‘Lapins’, pruned back through the summer to
the plant, removes and traditionally are grown on a and for acid cherries ‘Morello’ and maintain the shape and encourage
any pests and diseases north-facing wall as a fan. ‘Nabella’ are good choices. spurs. Immediately after fruiting,
and encourages a There are lots of varieties of cherry An easy way to grow cherries is some of the old wood can be
new growth. to choose from and when you see to fan them on a fence or wall. This thinned out and new shoots tied in
pictures of ripe, plump cherries in allows you to control their vigour to fruit next year.

8 | JULY 2017
www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 9
 ■ Start sowing for
winter crops this month.
More can be sown until
October, but July sowings
ensure some plentiful
autumn, winter and early
spring harvests.

■ Sow Swiss chard, spring

cabbage, Florence fennel
and parsley, in pots, or
deep trays, and plant out
when other crops clear.

■ Sow spinach, pak choi, WATER TO SUIT

beetroot, oriental leaves EACH PLANT
and winter turnips in drills Damp down paths on hot days to
in situ. help lower temperatures. Cucumbers,
melons, courgettes and pumpkins
all like a spray over the leaves as
well. Don’t wet leaves on peppers,
tomatoes, beans and aubergines
unless plants show signs of
red spider mite.

INTHE
WITH
JOYCE
RUSSELL

GREENHOUSE
Pictures by
Ben Russell

J
uly is a gloriously
TIPS FROM A SMALL
L GREENHOUSE productive
month in the
■ Nip out the tops of tomato ■ Compost dries out greenhouse. All
plants when they reach the roof fast in growbags. those tiny tomato plants
and four or five trusses are set. Remember to water have grown into strapping
Remove lower leaves too and every day, or get adults and are producing
make sure fruits dangle away someone to do it for delicious and fragrant
from the walls. you if you are heading fruits; peppers are swelling,
away on holiday in a hot cucumbers are ridiculously
■ Sow some greens, such as dry month. abundant, there are enough
spinach and chard, for winter use. beans to fill a freezer, and
Start these in pots in any space ■ Remove any plant that’s before we mention
that you can and protect from that looks as if it sweetcorn, melons or
slugs. Plants can go into spaces is ailing and won’t courgettes. Keep up with
left in a few weeks’ time, when produce a worthwhile the harvest and enjoy
heads of lettuce etc are removed. crop. Replace it with the taste of the freshest
something new like vegetables and fruits, but be
■ Keep picking basil if you French beans, fennel vigilant too: this is a month
have grown this herb in the or a row of rocket: when pests and diseases
greenhouse. Keep soil barely there isn’t room to should be thwarted before
damp if you are growing basil nurse sick plants in a they gain a hold.
in pots. small greenhouse.

10 | JULY 2017
 JOBS THIS MONTH

STRAWBERRY RUNNERS TOPJOBS

FORJULY
Strawberry pots should be moved outdoors
when they finish fruiting. Keep them watered
and weeded and some plants will produce
long shoots with a tiny new plant at the end ■ Check plants daily and deal
of each one. New fruiting plants can be grown with problems early
from these runners, but only use ones from
plants that have cropped well. These new young ■ Good watering and
plants can be grown on to replace older and less ventilation are vital in the
productive ones. summer months; get these
Use a staple to peg each runner down, so the right and you are well on the
small plant sits on top of a pot of fresh compost. way to healthy harvests
When the roots are established, the stem can be
cut. Some runners produce two or more small ■ Make sowings now for
plants, but the first one is the strongest. If there autumn and winter crops
are plenty, then discard the second small plant
on any runner. ■ Use a liquid feed every
seven to 10 days on any
plant that is swelling a crop;
choose a high-potash one for
tomatoes and peppers
FIERY PEPPERS
Chillies are often the first peppers to ripen and plants
look stunning when covered with small bright fruits.
Peppers usually crop earlier and better in the slightly

BLIGHT
drier conditions of a glass greenhouse than they do in
a polythene one. Remember that more exposure to
sun can lead to hotter chillies and also that fruits on
the same plant can have different levels of heat. Play Early blight can be a problem
it safe and test before using raw or in cooking. in a warm, humid July. Spores
are blown over long distances
and even new gardens can be
SWEETCORN POLLINATION affected. Outdoor potatoes
usually show the first signs,
Plants can be two metres tall at this point with male tassels but spores can spread
at the top and female silks part way up the stem. Think of through open doors to affect
outdoor plants stirred by the wind and give greenhouse greenhouse tomatoes. If blight
plants a gentle shake each day. This allows pollen to fall was present in previous years,
from the tassels down on to the silks. A fully fertilised cob
swells packed rows of kernels. Incomplete pollination can TOMATO CARE or if contaminated seed was
used to raise new plants, then
lead to a disappointing scatter of kernels in the cob. Keep tying stems to supports as plants grow. there is a higher chance of the
It’s better to have too many ties than have disease appearing.
the stem break under the weight of heavy Keep foliage dry, don’t
trusses of fruit. Nip out sideshoots and check crowd plants, let air circulate
round the base of plants for rogue shoots too. to avoid muggy conditions,
Remove some lower leaves to let light and air pick off any leaves that show
reach ripening fruit. Remove any discoloured signs of disease and destroy
leaves or those that show signs of disease. Feed these as soon as you spot
plants every 10 days if in the border soil and them. You can’t always beat
every week if in growbags or pots. Harvest ripe blight but you can do your
tomatoes and enjoy the different sized, shaped b t to
best t limit
li it the
th
and coloured fruit. problem.

FABULOUS FRUIT
Fig trees fruit best when grown in Don’t starve the plant, however,
a relatively poor soil, provided they and do feed a little every year or two
get some water and plenty of sun. if the tree bears lots of fruit.
Roots should be restricted, either Greenhouse figs ripen earlier than
by growing in a large container, or outdoor fruit. They can also be sweeter
by making a contained space in the and are less likely to split in a wet
ground. If roots can stretch out they summer. A small tree can easily bear
will soon roam the greenhouse border, 80 fruits. Remove any small figlets that
soaking up nutrients and sprouting are larger than a pea if these are still
leaves at the expense of fruitlets. attached in early winter.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk | 11
YOU YOUR PLOT

WHAT’S NEW?
ALL THE LATEST NEWS, PRODUCTS & FACTS FROM THE WORLD OF KITCHEN GARDENING

SHOW GIVES IT SOME WELLY

As part of the HortCouture award went to a fine chainsaw
theme at the Spring Harrogate carving of a tall tree of wellies
Flower show this year a called The Giant Wellington-ia
gardening item of clothing – the Tree by Wood Actually
welly – was featured throughout (www.woodactually.co.uk).
the showground. There was a There was also a wonderful
competition for the best dressed veggie-themed pair of wellies on
wellies and many exhibitors took the National Vegetable Society
part, including stand. They took
Kitchen Garden third for their
magazine. We had tomato, herb and
a rather fetching cauli wellies. The
pair of ‘leeky’ NVS ladies had a
wellies, sporting a rather painstaking
hole with compost job of sticking
spilling out and cocktail sticks
planted up with topped with
two handsome cherry tomatoes
leeks. We didn’t through the holes
win with our which just kept
wellies – that s
sealing up!

CRUELTY TO CUCUMBERS
Cucumbers used to be spelt and
pronounced ‘cowcumbers’ and was not
an edible that went down well with
everyone. According to Dr Johnson, the
18th century essayist, biographer and
general wit about town: “A cucumber
should be well sliced, and dressed
with pepper and vinegar, and then
thrown out, as good for nothing.”
Now that’s harsh!

Thrive is a national charity which individual garden plots and other including home-
uses gardening to help people areas of interest such as the pond, made cakes.
who have a disability or mental ill cottage garden, secret garden and Garden tours led
health, or those who are isolated, the five disability show gardens. by horticultural
disadvantaged or vulnerable. This These will include the 2010 gold therapists and
year the charity will be opening its medal winning garden which was clients will be running
gardens near Reading over three created according to Thrive design every afternoon and there
weekday afternoons between 2pm principles for people with disabilities will be the chance to buy Thrive
and 4pm. The dates are Thursday, by Jo Thompson. merchandise, produce and plants.
July 27, Tuesday, August 15 and Entrance is free, but donations For more information visit:
Wednesday, September 20. Client are very welcome and there will www.thrive.org.uk and
gardeners will show visitors their be plenty of refreshments on offer, www.carryongardening.org.uk

DO YOU HAVE SOME HOT STORIES FOR OUR NEWS PAGES? SEND THEM TO [email protected]

12 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 WHAT’S NEW?

BRITAIN’S FIRST
GARDENING MUSEUM
Dedicated to the art, history and
design of gardens, The Garden
Museum opened its doors at the end
of May after an 18-month, £7.5 million
redevelopment project, made possible
by National Lottery players.
The museum is housed in the
deconsecrated church of St Mary’s-at-
Lambeth. The innovative design means
that visitors can take in the spect
ctacle
t of
the building while viewing the collectctions
t
which reflect
ctt all aspect
cts
t of gardening, According to the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch,
from 1600 to the modern day. UK gardens have seen a rise in the number
The museum is open daily, 10.30am of visits from unusual migrant birds such as
to 5pm (Saturdays 10.30am to 4pm). waxwings (pictured left) and that the numberr
For more information visit: of robins seen visiting gardens is at its highestt
www.gardenmuseum.org.uk level for more than 20 years. (For more
information about the RSPB Big
Garden Birdwatch results, visit
www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch)
spb.o g.u /b d atc )

CALL FOR ACTION

ON PEAT-FREE GARDENING
A recent Friends of the Earth
(FOE) survey has revealed
Tudor there is a lack of choice for
watering can consumers looking for peat-
free composts at garden centres
and other outlets. The survey
also highlights the need for
more determined action to
phase out peat use from the
A recent survey by Colourfence (http:// gardening industry and to
colourfence.co.uk/) has found that Brits are protect wild peatlands.
garden obsessed, so much so they would In March, 238 volunteers ■ Half of respondents who encourage consumers to buy
pay an average of £35k on top of a property responded to a survey by FOE, checked prices found peat-free peat-free composts.
price to have their own garden. Of the 2000 Plantlife, RSPB and the Wildlife compost to be more expensive
men and women interviewed, the survey Trusts. They found that: than peat-based options; Environmental groups
also revealed that more than one in 10 use ■ Only 19% of almost 1300 ■ There was often little are calling on industry
their gardens to grow their own food, with products on sale were clearly awareness or concern about the and governments to take
people from the East Midlands, Yorkshire and labelled as being peat free; impact of peat among retail staff; determined action – and
Humber and the east of England most likely ■ A third of respondents did ■ Most respondents reported urgently – to protect remaining
to be found in the vegetable patch. not find peat-free compost a lack of product choice, price peatlands from the potential
clearly available; incentive or clear labelling to impacts of this trade.

COOKS THAT CARE IN JERSEY

The number of primary school kitchen beetroot and other vegetables in their new
gardens in Jersey has doubled thanks to garden, under the expert eye of Graeme
local charity Caring Cooks. Six of the island’s Le Marquand, chairman of the Jersey
primary schools now have their very own Association of the National Vegetable
kitchen gardens, supported by funding from Society in Jersey.
local businesses. Discussing the project, Graeme said:
More than 1200 children currently enjoy ”I think school children growing their own
the opportunity to grow food from seed, food, and learning how to prepare it, is a
to nurture plants and then harvest them wonderful idea.
themselves. Children from the three latest “It’s not only the adults that are growing
schools to sign up to the project have veg from the plot to the plate and to educate
been busy planting beans, carrots, the children in Jersey as well is fantastic.”

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 13

YOU YOUR PLOT ★ STAR ★
LETTER
WINS £25
WAITING LISTWISDOM
M VOUCHER

After three years on the waiting list I can now:

‘Cultivate’ lasting friendships
‘Sow seeds’ of respect and kindness
Receive ‘sage’ advice from others
Have ‘thyme’ to myself, with ‘peas’ and quiet.
With no one ‘vining’ or ‘bugging’ me!
Mrs Tina C Vowles, Gloucestershire

TONY SAYS: Now I knew there was something good

about this gardening lark.

HAVE YOUR SAY

CONTACT US WITH YOUR LETTERS AND TIPS: [email protected]

RHUBARB LEAF MULCH SOWINGWITHOUT

Now that it’s rhubarb season again, I thought you
BENDING
might be interested to see what I use the leaves Do you think this idea might help people with
for. Last year I successfully used them as a weed back problems or difficulties with bending to
suppressing mulch under my gooseberry bushes, plant the larger seeds using a length of hollow
and am using them again this year. The photo is for tubing? Make a drill with a rake, drop seeds
the bed that I will be using to plant sweetcorn and into it and then backfill with the rake.
pumpkins, so won’t be planted up until the latter part Keith Jack, via email
of May, so I have covered the bed in rhubarb leaves
until then. The leaves don’t take long to break down,
but keep the weeds down in the meantime, and you
can even plant through them.
gg, Torquay
Phil Rigg, q y
DRYING HERBS
Following your encouraging article on growing
herbs (March issue) I would like to impart my
method of drying them. In my garden I have the
usual rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, mint, basil
and coriander. I regularly pick the herbs and place
them on a flat baking tray and then on to my
south-facing windowsill. When they are dry –
about a week – I strip off the stalks and blitz them
in my grinder before putting them in spice jars.
I find that two full trays usually fill one jar. The
mixed herbs are very strong and they are used
so much in the winter. I also make them into
presents with the addition of a pretty label and
ribbon. They are always appreciated.
I also have a rosemary and lavender hedge and
use the clippings in a small vase in my porch. Such
a lovely calming welcome to my home.
Amanda Dale, Dorset

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 YOUR VIEWS

FROM PEN TO POT

A tip that I use when planting any small seeds is I
water the compost in the pots or trays first, and then
if sowing four or five seeds in a small pot, I dib a biro
pen into the compost and as it is damp it will pick up EDITORIAL
Tel 01507 529396, Fax 01507 371075
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It saves seed waste. I plant all my carrots in containers [email protected]
like this. It’s a slow job, but I don’t have to thin them STAFF WRITER: Tony Flanagan,
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FROM THE FORUM WATERING TOMATOES... illustrations. www.kitchengarden.co.uk

ADVERT DEADLINE: June 7, 2017

HOW MUCH? NEXT ISSUE: June 29, 2017

MIKE J: I’ve been reasonably successful with greenhouse

tomatoes in a border but I’ve never got to grips with how
much to water. Advice I’ve read varies between watering
every day to twice or three times a week, but it doesn’t
say two litres per plant for example. It seems the weather
plays a part, e.g. more on hot days. What I would like to
know is how much to give on an average day so I can vary
it according to the weather.
TONY HAGUE: I grow mine in 15L bottomless pots, MEDIA PARTNERS WITH:
standing on a bed of sand/gravel. I water pretty much
daily in summer, about a litre per plant, maybe more in
hot weather.
PA SNIP: The definitive answer to your question will vary
considerably subject to the soil type the tomatoes are
planted in and whether the plants are indoors or out. I KG is media partner
with NAGTrust – helping
KG and the National
Vegetable Society –
avoid watering on leaves and try and only water at base to make Britain’s together helping the
allotments better nation to grow better veg
of plant. I try to keep them lightly moist. Not always
possible so sometimes in summer they do dry out but do
try to avoid it.

To have your say on the forum visit: http://forum. NSALG recommends Kitchen Garden Magazine, the
kitchengarden.co.uk number one magazine for growers of fruit and veg

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 15

 GET IN TOUCH by post, email or via our Facebook page:
YOU YOUR PLOT

QUESTION TIME GOT A FRUIT OR VEG PROBLEM? ASK KG FOR HELP

THIS MONTH’S
EXPERT PANEL:

GUY BARTER EMMA RAWLINGS DAVID PATCH ANNE SWITHINBANK STEVE OTT
RHS chief Deputy editor, Kitchen Professional nurseryman, Contributor to Radio 4’s Editor, Kitchen
horticulturalist Garden magazine R V Roger Ltd Gardeners’ Question Time Garden magazine

OLD WIVES’ CUT & RUNNERS

TALE OLD BEAN What do I do with strawberry runners when my plants
are fruiting? Should I just cut them back? Also, when
I read somewhere that you should spray your runner can I leave them on (and how many per plant?) to create
beans with water when they flower to help them set. more plants?
Is this necessary and if so, how does it help? Barbara Innes, Isle of Wight
Tom Fawcett, Durham
DAVID SAYS: Strawberries crop best in the second, third
ANNE SAYS: Spraying runner bean flowers with water and fourth years of their lives – after that they can start to
is now widely considered to be an old wives’ tale and I produce less fruit. If your plants are still young, cutting
agree. Should the weather be dry, you’d be better off off the runners as soon as they emerge will let the plant
directing the water at their roots and then spreading a put all its energy into producing a bumper crop of large
good mulch of well-rotted compost over them to seal tasty fruit. If you think it is time to start replacing your
moisture in. Hot weather at night (above 16C/61F) plants, leave the runners on, and then in early autumn when they have
can affect beans setting because high temperatures rooted carefully cut the runner from the mother plant, and pot up. The three or
hinder pollen grains from germinating and producing four runners closest to the parent are normally the strongest. Only ever propagate
a tube down to the ovary. I can remember my father from healthy plants – viruses can affect plants after a while, at which point it is best
watering his beans in the evening and spraying a little to buy some certified virus-free stock and replant in a fresh area.
up under the foliage to cool them down. He always
used to grow a white-flowered sort, like ‘White Lady’
in case we had a heatwave, as he believed they coped
better with setting in hot weather. To sum up, I think
spraying might actually damage the flowers but MY RHUBARB IS EMMA SAYS: It is not a great sign that
on hot nights watering in the evening would be an
advantage. The new runner bean varieties with French
FLOWERING! your rhubarb is sending up a flower.
It could be the stress of being moved
bean don’t require cross-pollination and seem very My rhubarb ‘Livingstone’, which I or confined to a pot. If the compost
ready to set in all situations. If you have trouble with decided to pot up, started to flower. Is has dried out at any time or even been
setting, opt for ‘Moonlight’, ‘Firesstorm’ thiis a good sign? too wet this could have stressed the
or ‘Stardust’. Janice Sharkey, Glasgow plant, encouraging flowering. Equally,
★ STAR ★
just extremes of weather or anything
unusual in its environment can
QUESTION suddenly trigger a flower bud to form.
It is best to cut out the flower spike as
WINS £25 low down as you can get as it may
VOUCHER weaken the crown of the rhubarb.
If you are growing rhubarb in a
container, it needs to be a large
one. Size of pot obviously depends
a bit on the size of the crown
planted but aim for at least 7-10cm
(3-4in) around the crown in the
centre of the pot.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk
Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag

QUESTION TIME

LESSER KNOWN
BRASSICA PEST
For the last 20 years we have had attacks
of swede midge on our allotments at YELLOWING
Sturminster (Dorset). Cauliflowers and CAULIES
cabbages are the worst affected. So Cauliflower curds can lose
little seems to have been written about their whiteness in the sun
this pest. The only book I have seen that so cover them with the
mentions this pest of brassicas is The outside leaves of the plant
Vegetable Expert by Dr Hessayon. Most to protect them.
information seems to come from Canada
where it is a pest of oil seed rape. Are we
very unlucky in Sturminster, or is it being
overlooked elsewhere ?
Barry Cuff, Dorset

GUY SAYS: Swede midge generally causes only did not carry brassica crops or related weeds,
minor damage and is probably quite common shepherd’s purse for example, the preceding
but often overlooked or confused with cabbage year as the midge overwinters in the soil. Mesh
root fly, which can also damage the growing tips should be supported by hoops in case the midge
of plants. However, it can occasionally cause lays eggs through the weave where the crop
almost complete crop loss in a few unlucky touches the mesh. Most damage is caused by the
localities. No insecticides are approved for its first, June, generation and the two subsequent
control but covering crops with fleece or generations cause less harm, so taller crops can
insect-proof mesh well before the pest’s egg- later be uncovered. Covering will also exclude the
laying next month should protect your crops. pigeons and deer so numerous in your region and GLASSHOUSE
All brassicas should be grown on ground that largely prevent cabbage root fly and caterpillars. WHITEFLY
Whitefly can cause problems
on greenhouse/polytunnel
peppers, cucumbers and
tomatoes. Use yellow sticky
GARLIC RUST – HOW SERIOUS? traps or bug killer sprays
widely available from retail
This is the first time I am growing garlic. I planted it last year, but outlets.
am confused as it has new growth growing from the middle and
has rust on the leaves. Any advice would be great on how to treat
or whether I’ve wasted my time and have to throw them away.
Lisa James, Bristol

STEVE SAYS: Your garlic looks pretty normal to me and there

is no problem with the way the plants are growing. Rust is a
common disease of many members of the onion family, including
garlic, and there is little you can do to control it once it is on the
leaves. However, if your plants are strong and otherwise healthy
they will often go on to grow through it and produce a decent
crop despite the problem. In future make sure you don’t add too
much nitrogen fertiliser (which makes the leaves soft and more
prone) and don’t plant too close together to allow air to flow
around the plants. CABBAGE WHITE
Otherwise, I certainly wouldn’t pull your plants up as there BUTTERFLY
is every chance you’ll get a good crop, especially if the summer Check for cabbage white
is good and warm. In dry spells it is a good idea to water butterfly eggs and/or
regularly but avoid splashing the leaves if you can so you don’t caterpillars on your cabbages
spread the disease. and remove by hand before
they cause damage.

WRITEINandWIN–everyQUESTIONwinsaprize!
Our Star Question winner will which will be sent out with the Question Time,
receive vouchers worth £25; the vouchers so you can choose from Kitchen Garden, Mortons
writers of all other questions the massive range of quality Media Group, Media
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They can be redeemed against garden equipment. To receive a Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JRR.
any products free catalogue, call 08453 710518 Please include your full
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Mr Fothergill’s Email questions to tflanagan@ and emails. We do not
catalogue, mortons.co.uk or post to publish full addresses.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 21

WHAT TO BUY | ONLINE

GROWING ONLINE
WE DIG INTO THE WORLD WIDE WEB TO HARVEST GREAT WEBSITES, BLOGS & TWEETS

SWAP TILL YOU DROP

GreenPlantSwap, an open gardens and plant
swap network, has created new free tools for
PINCHING OUT garden event organisers to help attract more
TOMATOES visitors and raise more funding for the causes
If you’re growing cordon varieties of they support.
tomato, you’ll need to pinch out the side In its first season last year, members posted
shoots. This simple video shows you how over 200 gardening events using the site’s
p y p
to do it. http://bit.ly/2opudJ4 location-based self-serve events feature. Open
gardens, plant sales, plant swaps, gardening GreenPlantSwap has now added more
courses and club events all took advantage of advanced capabilities to the free service for
the posting mechanism and free email alert to 2017 that help organisers promote their
local members that GreenPlantSwap provided. event locally and sell advance tickets. To
Many charities benefited from the boost this take advantage of this online network visit:
gave to their event fundraising. www.greenplantswap.co.uk

LIFTING GARLIC
If yoou’ve been growing garlic bulbs, they may well be
ready for lifting in June and July depending on when
yyou planted them. When the tops turn yellow and they
flop over that’s a sure sign they are ready. Ease the
fl
bulbs out gently and store them on a wooden tray
TWITTER ssomewhere dry and warm – on a greenhouse shelf for
MUD IS GOOD! example. After a couple of weeks you can tie them up
e
Gill Hodgson @thepatientmole or braid them, and then hang them up in a cool place
o
Forget the sterile sandpit. Every child such as a garden shed.
should have access to soil. Black, dirty, For a neat summary of how to lift and store garlic go to:
wonderful, wormy, magical soil. … bit.ly//2oRKBWM
http://ift.tt/2pty2kR

HOW TO SURVIVE
A HEATWAVE
“At the risk of being done for heresy,
I wish it would rain. Even the
thunderstorms that were
forecast for the middle of the
week have disappeared from ones that need it most like peas,
my weather app. beans, courgettes, salad crops and
“Sun is good. But if I brassicas. Root crops like carrots,
wanted to live in equatorial parsnips, beetroot etc. should be able
conditions, I’d live on the to survive a bit longer.
FACEBOOK FAVES Equator. Enough moaning. Here are 3. MULCH. This is just a posh word for
PROUD OWNER a few tips to make watering that little bit dumping stuff around the base of plants.
Wendy Pearson easier, or at least more efficient. Spreading grass clippings or straw on
Well I’m a happy chappy as of this 1. TIME IT. Best times to water are early the soil after it’s watered will help
morning. I’m the proud owner of an morning or late evening, as there’s less conserve moisture.”
allotment. For the princely evaporation. Morning is best of all as To read more top tips on this topic and
sum of £30.50 a year I plants do their growing during the day. lots more visit www.allotmentmum.co.uk,
get to grow fruit, veg and 2. PRIORITISE. Some plants are more an informative, fun and irreverent site
flowers in this little (quite thirsty than others, so if you haven’t written by Becky Dickinson who lives
large actually) beauty! got time to water everything, do the in Devon.

@GrowWithKG KitchenGardenUK KitchenGardenMag @GrowWithKG /kitchengardenmagazine

22 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 GET GROWING

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GET GROWING

Despite some initial reservations,

allotment champion Steve Neal
recounts the success of opening
up an allotment site in Somerset
to the National Garden Scheme
 ‘W
hat did you say? You’re charging (NGS)? Iford manor, Bath Priory Hotel, Corsham
£4.50 to get in? Who is going Court, Algars Manor, Dyrham Park, Muriel Jones
to pay that to see some old Allotment Fields – Frome. It doesn’t take much to
allotments? Do you really know spot the odd one out on the list. And any one man
what you’re doing? You ought to stick to selling or woman with a dog can, and often does, wander
pickles and jam.’ down the allotments any old day and has a nose
As an allotment association you get used to around, without having to fork out £4.50 for the

Photo: Rick Anderson

receiving a regular dose of unsolicited advice on privilege. A vision of potential public humiliation
how things could be done better or differently. grew in the collective mind of the committee.
It goes with the territory, as they say, but this The bunting all out for an open day where no one
comment from one of our own members made us turned up, and a pile of unsold cake drying out
momentarily pause in our tracks. under the gazebo.
Had we really grown a little bit above ourselves,
opening our allotments alongside some formal
gardens, belonging to fairly grand houses or old
rectories, as part of the National Garden Scheme
The NGS yellow book is published
annually and lists all the gardens
that are open under the NGS.
The information can also be
found on the website and in the
regional handbooks.
 GET GROWING

GRANT APPLICATION
When times look troubled it’s always best to try and shift
the blame. In our defence we could have said that it wasn’t
our idea, that we had been asked to open by the NGS.
It had all started when we applied for a grant from the

Photo: Rick Anderson

Elspeth Thompson Bursaries, run by the NGS, to build
some raised beds on an under-utilised strip of ground
on our five-acre allotment site, on the outskirts of the
town. The eight beds were for less mobile gardeners, the
raised design making them less physically taxing than a
traditional plot. They were designed to be close to the car
park and toilet, accessible by wheelchair, and we asked the ABOVE: Pupils from the
NGS for £3,000 towards the cost. local school get involved
The NGS liked our plans and came up with the money. on open day and show
what they have grown
They also liked the completed raised beds when they came
to inspect them and more surprisingly our two visitors
from the NGS, Penny Snell and Sue Phipps, found the rest
of the allotments impressive too, as they wandered about, RIGHT: Visitors enjoying
admiring the plots as the wildlife shimmied in the early what the allotments have

Photo: Rick Anderson

morning June sun. Penny Snell, vice-president of the NGS, to offer
announced that they were the prettiest allotments that
she had ever seen and said that we ought to open them as
part of the NGS. While the plotholders had always known BELOW: Plenty to see
that the setting of the site, gently sloping down to the
river Frome, with views of Cley Hill and Longleat Forest BOTTOM: Making use of
in the distance, was a beautiful spot in which to garden, it vertical space THE REAL THING
was good to have it confirmed by someone from outside. What does an allotment site have to offer to the garden
Suitably flattered, we agreed to open; after all, it would BOTTOM RIGHT: Checking visitor when compared with a formal garden? Well, first
have been churlish to turn down the invitation. progress of the crops of all there is variety. Around 100 plots will give you 100
different styles of gardening, with no two precisely the same.
You have everything from a plot with the traditional mass
of brassicas under netting alongside a neat row of earthed-
up potatoes, the regularity appealing to the eye’s sense of
order. Next to it could be the suburban garden recreated,
including a lawn with clipped edges and pots, the plotholder
perhaps not having a garden at home. Next to this could be
a sustainable garden with the fallow beds covered in plastic,
weighed down with tractor tyres. Next to this could be a
no-dig plot, the beds raised up with layers of heaped-up

“Around
100 plots will
give you 100
different styles of
gardening, with
no two precisely
the same”
Photo: Rick Anderson
Photo: Rick Anderson

28 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 29
 GET GROWING

Photo: Bryan Chitty. Amoils.com blog

Chippings and compost
always at hand

BELOW: Room for

some flowers

compost to suppress the weeds. Then there are the sheds,

from the simple storage unit to something well on the way
to a weekend cottage in Devon, where the plotholders sit
on their porch and admire the fruits of their industry and
the view. The visitor walks around and never quite knows
what will appear next. The experience is similar to walking
around the Artisan Gardens section of the Chelsea Flower
Show, where the gardens often draw on elements of the folk
gardening styles, to bind a garden to a particular theme.
But this is the real thing, an allotment as it is, the
design less self-conscious. What you will get on allotments
are vegetables, flowers and fruit, with an abundance of
varieties and cultivated in many ways. In June or July when
everything is in full growth there can be nothing better than
walking the paths between the plots, the senses stimulated
by the flowers and leaves, the colours and the smells.
But there is also a practical side to visiting an
“What you allotment. It can be a source of new ideas and advice:
will get on ‘I didn’t realise you could grow that.’ ‘I didn’t know
Photo: A. Trott

allotments are you could grow it that way.’ The opportunity to

vegetables, flowers chat to plotholders and ask them about how they go
about growing something can provide inspiration.
and fruit, with an
abundance
of varieties”
 THE POWER OF YELLOW

A little piece The

of heaven
National
Garden
Scheme
(NGS)
Founded in 1927, the NGS
has around 3700 private
gardens opening for charity.
A record £3 million
will be given to nursing
charities this year,
including The Queen’s
Nursing Institute,
Macmillan Cancer Support,
Marie Curie, Carers Trust.
The NGS also provides
garden bursaries which
help young gardeners at
the start of their careers.
At the moment,
around 33 allotments are
opening as part of the
scheme. If you want to
open your allotment or
garden then contact the
NGS via their website
https://www.ngs.org.uk
As the NGS website

Photo: A. Trott
helpfully points out: “You
don’t need a garden worthy
of a gold medal at Chelsea
to be part of the NGS!”

YELLOW BOOK
So, did the people come to visit? After spending several
days tidying, strimming, bringing in generators and
organising the car parking, the stakes were high. But as
soon as we opened at 11am in they came through the gate,
happily paying the price of admission. In the end we raised
£650 for the NGS and had around 100 visitors. They liked
what they saw, in most cases staying for around two hours,
rounding things off with a visit to the tea tent. However,
one couple, council allotment inspectors in the making,
did advise us that plot 258b wasn’t looking too good and
should be sent a letter.
Photo: A. Trott

The surprising thing was that most of the visitors

weren’t immediately local, but had often come from 20
miles away. We asked them how they had heard about the
open day. It was the yellow book, published annually by
the NGS, that had brought them here. The yellow book
has a power all of its own.
People thumb through it,
planning their visits from
the moment it arrives. And
a new garden or allotment,
never open before, is a
particular attraction. The
combination of gardens,
cake and raising money
Photo: Rick Anderson

for good causes is as

Photo: Rick Anderson

formidable as ever. This

year the Muriel Jones Field
Allotments are open on
Tuesday, July 4 (11am to
5pm), admission £4.50. ■ Relaxing on the bench beneath the willow

JULY 2017 | 31
 GET GROWING

Get the
best from
your free
seeds

BORAGE
Familiar to many, this fast-growing plant with the pretty
blue flowers has hidden talents that deserve to be more
widely exploited, as KG editor, Steve Ott, explains

32 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 BORAGE

Borage is a good source of

Omega-6 fatty acid (gamma-
linolenic acid GLA), beta-carotene
and B vitamins as well as trace
elements. However, it shouldn’t
be eaten if you suffer
from liver problems.

A
s a very well-established wild plant used to line the planting holes of crops such as
and one that self-seeds freely, borage brassicas to help add nutrients and humus to the
(Borago officinalis) often pops up of soil as they break down.
its own accord in many areas of As companion plants, as mentioned
the UK. When in flower, which can above, they help to attract
be right through the summer, pollinators to your crops such as Borage can be used as an ingredient
it is a wonderful sight, made beans when planted close by, in soups, beer, salads, oils, various
all the more lovely by the but some gardeners also drinks (eg borage lemonade, ice tea
fact that it will almost believe that they have and Pimms), with pasta dishes and the
inevitably be covered other direct benefits flowers are often candied.
with bees, which find and that they actually
the little vivid blue Borage is a hardy annual and if sown improve the growth
star-shaped blooms now will grow and flower in the same of some crops such as
irresistible. year. Seeds and seedlings will overwinter tomatoes and squashes
It will grow almost to produce more flowers for you by adding trace
anywhere and in most next year. A white-flowered elements to the soil.
types of soil, no matter form is available – Borago Planting a few plants
how poor, although a officinalis var ‘Alba’ (Johnsons, among greenhouse and
sunny, well-drained spot is Jekka’s Herbs). polytunnel crops can help
best and sunshine will help pull those early pollinators in
attract the most pollinators. This through the doors and vents.
makes it a great plant to sow if you
have a patch of soil that is rarely cultivated in CAN I EAT IT?
the corner of the plot and which you may not be Borage has been used for medicinal purposes
entirely sure what to do with! for centuries and was believed to be particularly Borage flowers are widely used in cooling
It needn’t be hidden away however; borage is good at relieving stress and is often used summer drinks as a pretty garnish
pretty enough to join the display in the flower in skin preparations. The foliage has
border and, as explained below, makes a great a flavour reminiscent of cucumber
companion plant for fruit and vegetables. and the young leaves can be used in SOWING YOUR SEEDS
salads. The flowers This hardy plant can be sown outside from
WHAT CAN IT DO are also edible March to May for flowering this year, or later for
FOR MY CROPS? and can also flowering the following year. Sow direct where
Apart from attracting be added to you wish the plants to grow in well-prepared soil
pollinators and pest salads or to in a sunny, well-drained spot. Alternatively, if you
predators such as bees cooling summer want to plant them out later or in the greenhouse,
and hoverflies, the quick- drinks. Freezing sow in cell trays or small pots and plant out once
growing, lush growth is the flowers in ice the young plants are well established.
great for composting or for cubes is a great way Whether in the ground or in pots, water well
chopping and using as a ‘green to store them for in the early stages and if sown in the ground
mulch’ around moisture-loving year-round use and thin gradually to allow 30-45cm (12-18in)
crops such as sweetcorn and adds a bit of fun to between each plant. The thinnings can be eaten
squashes. A few leaves can also be your al fresco dining. in salads. ■

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 33

GET GROWING

Aveg
reasons
Loo
L oking for something bulletproof to grow in a tricky spot? Organic
veg expert Sally Cunningham suggests sea kale as the one to try

All parts of the plant are edible

including the young leaves,
roots and undeveloped flower
SUPPLIERS
(see also page 93)
heads which can be eaten like
Young plants:
broccoli. Sea kale is
■ Marshalls Seeds
rich in vitamin C.
www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk
■ Kings Seeds;
www.kingsseeds.com
■ Plantworld Seeds;
www.plant-world-seeds.com
■ The Organic Gardening
Catalogue; www.
organiccatalogue.com
■ Suttons Seeds;
www.suttons.co.uk
I
f you’ve got Iff not forced
a garden sea kale will
which is sunn flower; the scent
is amazing, like
blasted ratheer sw
weet alyssum
than sun kissed, soiil andd honey
thick with brick rubbble magn nified together
and generally desolate,
looking like someth hing left
over from constructting the to top it all, the flowers are
latest motorway exttension, you honey-scented bee magnets.
might be thinking it’s
i not worth trying What’s not to like?
to grow veg… but don’t give up. There really is Well, sea kale does take up a fair amount
a plant out there which actually likes that sort of of room (at least a square metre per plant) and
site. And it’s delicious! A real change of flavour it’s slow to start into cropping, but it will last at To force your sea kale for eating, place a
and texture, coming at the hungry gap time of least 10 or 12 years once started, so it’s worth bucket over the top and cut the ivory shoots
year that you can’t buy in the supermarket or the wait. And it won’t keep once picked, which when large enough. Rest the plants for a year
afterwards, forcing a different plant next season
farmshops… so what is it? Sea kale, a forgotten is why it’s strictly for the home grower, not the
native, otherwise known as Carambe maritima. big stores.
If you’re lucky you’ll come across the huge The real problem is getting hold of a decent off in late spring outside or March indoors, prick
elephant-grey leaves resembling bits of corroded strain. Usually the easiest method is to grow out seedlings into 20cm (8in) pots by the end
cast iron on holiday, growing wild on shingly from seed – the only cultivar usually offered is of the summer before transplanting seedlings
shores along mostly the southern and eastern ‘Lilywhite’ – but this is quite variable, as to be to their final quarters in autumn. As they’ll be
coasts of the UK. Sea kale has been cultivated expected of a seed-grown type, and the plants in the same spot for the next decade, a decent
for centuries as a luxury blanched vegetable, first fluctuate in size, yield and vigour. Marshalls helping of compost round the planting hole
for bishops and kings, then Georgian squires (www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk) sell a French wouldn’t hurt... it’s not essential, but an absence
and in later Victorian walled gardens for the selection called ‘Angers’ which is claimed to be of perennial weeds is. Grow them on for a
up-and-coming gentry to show off. much higher cropping, but supplies are often season. Mind the slugs, pull off all the old leaves
Sea kale’s one of my top 10 all-time veg limited so it’s as well to order early. when they die back, and that’s it.
I’d never be without: requires almost no care, Sea kale, like all brassicas, does best on a The following spring, put a bucket over the
thrives in lousy soil provided it’s well drained, slightly alkaline soil with some fertility, but it’s clump and beautifully smooth succulent shoots
crops when most needed, architectural foliage not incredibly fussy and thrives in places where will erupt like rhubarb carved in ivory. Steam or
which doesn’t look out of place anywhere and other plants just fail. If you grow from seed, start sweat in butter when large enough... enjoy! ■

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 35

36 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk
 XXX

heritage
G
forbeans
+S
EE MOR
E Beans have been a staple crop for thousands
of years, helping to shape our civilisation.
DIGITAL K

IN
DIGITAL K

They remain as important as ever and here

heritage veg expert Rob Smith reveals his
IN

+S E G favourite tried and trusted dwarf

EE MOR
and climbing French varieties

Some beans, notably French types,

are generally self-fertile, producing
pods through self-pollination. However,
others will cross if the right insect
transfers pollen from one variety to
the other. If you are planning to save
seeds to grow next year’s beans,
make sure to grow your
different varieties as far
Rob’s neighbours
are likely to find apart as possible.
regular deliveries
of beans on their
doorsteps
 GET GROWING

The pods of French beans come in several

attractive colours A young bed planted using the ‘three sisters’ – corn, squash and beans

B
eing legumes, beans are part of the on the doorstep – I just don’t ask them if they
Fabaceae family, the second most want them! It’s what I like to think of as my
important plant family to feed ‘bean redistribution service’!
humans after the grasses (Poaceae).
They have gone by many different names over A POTTED HISTORY
the centuries and depending on what country It’s widely accepted that the beans we eat
you come from depends on what you call them. today are from the Americas. It’s believed that
Dwarf French bean, climbing French bean, modern-day beans have evolved from wild
kidney, flageolet and even pole beans are varieties which came from Argentina and
different names for what we would call Brazil, yet most people (myself included)
French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), be it the think of beans as a native to North America
climbing ones which need support, or the dwarf and the native people there. When I think
varieties which are happy to be grown in a beans, I think of the three sisters method of
window box. All are equally suited to the garden growing which the native Indians used. This
or the allotment. involves growing beans up sweetcorn (to
There can’t be many gardeners out there that help provide support) and growing squash
haven’t grown a bean or two in their gardening around the bottom (to keep the moisture in
lives. It seems like an unwritten law for everyone and suppress the weeds). The bean is used as
to grow more beans than they can possibly eat, it helps feed the other plants with its nitrogen
even if they ate them for every meal of fixing abilities and makes for a harmonious
every day all year long! In fact, I method of growing that you can easily
have a standing agreement with emulate at home using pumpkins or
my neighbours; at first I ask “I still smile courgettes. When you’ve finished
them if they want some with your beans, never dig the
beans (and they happily
when I use my roots up; the nodules on the
accept); however, when bean slicer to this roots contain high levels of
they start to decline day; however, this nitrogen, so cut the vine off at
overfull carrier bags of now involves the ground and dig the roots Pick every day for guaranteed stringless beans
beans, I still leave them a glass of wine in to provide free plant food
for the next crop. FEW STRINGS ATTACHED
to help pass When it comes to beans, I Heritage beans don’t always have the advantage of
the time” admit it, I have an addiction! being totally stringless, yet to me that’s not a great
I’ve been growing different types concern. If you pick them young enough, your
of beans for years, from plain green beans will be delicious with few stringy bits and
ones to purple, speckled and even yellow that’s why I make a point of picking them every
ones. I can’t help it; I just think they are so easy day. If you don’t have the time, however, don’t
to grow, crop so well, freeze for later use and are worry; most heritage beans have developed to be
that tasty that I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t used dried as well as fresh. Leaving some of your
grow them! beans on the plant to fatten and ripen will give
I suppose it started for me, as many of my you dried beans to add to soups and casseroles
gardening experiences did, with my grandad. all winter long. Varieties like ‘Borlotto’ and ‘Lazy
He used to grow runner beans and French beans Housewife’ are great for this; they can be picked
in his garden every year, and there wasn’t a day and dried in the pod before you shell them and
that went by in the summer that we didn’t have store them for later use.
beans on our plate. I have fond memories of ‘Lazy Housewife’ (1829) has the advantage of
being allowed to use the bean slicer as a child. If being an old variety that is totally stringless. It’s
you’ve never seen one, it’s a device that clamps a climbing French bean, which is green in colour
to the table, you spin the handle and it cuts the and can grow pretty big before the seeds start to
beans (while removing the string) as you push develop. As the beans grow in easy-to-harvest
the beans through it. As a kid this was one of bunches and are stringless, you can easily see
my favourite jobs and I still smile when I use where they got their name from, after all who
Run out of friends to take your excess beans? my bean slicer to this day. However, this now wouldn’t want an easy-to-pick-and-prepare bean
No problem – they freeze really well involves a glass of wine to help pass the time. in their garden! This bean is a great sight when

38 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 BEANS

Rob’stop5 ‘Golden
Gate’

■ ‘BLAUHILDE’ A tall climber

with purple pods, totally
stringless and extremely
tasty, this variety is also very
ornamental and looks good ‘Blauhilde’ ‘Roquencourt’
in any garden. Available from
www.dobies.com
from www.hsl.gardenorganic. ideal in containers or in front of ‘Yin
■ ‘RED AND WHITE CLIMBING org.uk (please remember, you taller crops. Available from www. Yang’
FRENCH BEAN’ (from The must become a member of the seedsofitaly.com
Heritage Seed Library) – Heritage Seed Library charity to
Donated by Mrs Jean Sherier. gain access to their rare seeds). ■ ‘GOLDEN GATE’ Large,
This tall 2.7m (9ft) variety flattened, sunny yellow pods are
produces yellow-green foliage ■ ‘ROQUENCOURT’ Small set off nicely by the vigorous,
and creamish-white flowers. The bush-style plants. They are more dark green plants, making it easy
pods are green when they first cold-hardy than most other to see the handfuls of beans. The
set, but become red and white varieties, so can be sown a few pods are tasty and stringless even
as the seeds inside start to form. weeks earlier than others, and when they mature at almost 25cm
Seed guardian Elaine Banham will crop for a few weeks later (10in) long and 2.5cm (1in) wide. can be used as a green bean or
says: “Extremely beautiful, too. The beans are a waxy, Enjoy them sautéed in butter for left to run to seed and its black
like glowing jewels when in yellow colour. Best picked young a melt-in-your-mouth side dish. and white beans dried for future
sunlight.” The young beans when they still have a flush of Available from www.suttons.co.uk use. The plants are compact
are delicious when eaten fresh green on them, they have a fresh enough to be grown in large
and the mottled, dried seeds buttery flavour. As the beans are ■ ‘YIN YANG’ Sometimes pots, if desired, and they crop
have a lovely rich and creamy yellow and plants are short, they known as the orca bean, this well. Available from
‘butter bean’ flavour. Available are easy to spot and easy to pick, heirloom variety from Mexico www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk

Seeds of stringless variety ‘Lazy Housewife’ The distinctive pods of ‘Borlotto’

it’s growing – the clusters of beans look amazing, plus you know they are home grown and will be
and the fact that it’s really tasty helps as well in extremely tasty.
my household! This old German bean has been making a
‘Borlotto’ (1805) is also known by the comeback in both the vegetable garden and
name ‘Tongue of Fire’ or ‘Firetongue’ due to ornamental border, with its rosy pink flowers it The purple-podded ‘Blauhilde’ is a striking plant
its dramatic colouring. The green pods have adds both colour and height to the garden. The for the back of a garden border
beautiful flecks of maroon all the way along the fact that the pods are also stringless hasn’t gone
pod, making them resemble the flickering of a unnoticed by gardeners and cooks alike. Just
flame. They are available as both climbing and remember to steam the pods lightly or the deep
dwarf types. The pods make for good eating if purple will change to lime green, as it does when
you pick them young, while the beans are great the beans are boiled.
for dried use, especially in Italian dishes where One of the loveliest stories of a bean has to
this variety is very popular. be the ‘Mayflower’ (1600s). This dwarf bean,
Another variety of climbing French bean, which looks very similar to a pebble or pea with
which I have grown for many years, is its grainy colouring, was taken to the States with
‘Blauhilde’. This is a pretty big bean, growing up the pilgrims. It not only survived the journey,
to 2.7m (9ft) tall, yet you can stop it at anything but gained popularity among the population
down to 1.8ft (6ft) by pinching out the top. It from then on.
has lovely purple veining to the leaves and vines, Named in honour of the Mayflower ship, The pebble-like seeds of the very old dwarf
while the pods are a deep shade of purple which this bean has almost been forgotten about in bean ‘Mayflower’
makes them stand out well against the foliage, the UK, while retaining its popularity over the
meaning you won’t overlook any beans while pond, especially in the Carolinas. Not the easiest NEXT MONTH: Heritage cabbages for
picking them. The pods aren’t the straightest in variety to find, you’ll have to turn to the internet every plot
the world, but have a heritage charm to them, to get your hands on these beans. ■

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 39

 NEW
SERIES

Eat your
ou way
healthy weight
This month nutritionist Susie Kearley highlights the health benefits of the French bean

I
n 2006, a study pubblished nutrients iincluding chlorophyll,
by Pennsylvania which iis good for hormonal GREEN BEANS WITH
University of
Scranton showed
healtth, detoxification,
woound healing, and
LEMON & GARLIC
that gardening and other goood digestion. The Serves four. It’s quite filling and tastes
prolonged light exercise ccarotenoid and sweeter after an hour in the fridge.
typically burnt more flavonoid antioxidants
calories than a session in in the beans support INGREDIENTS:
the gym. The researchers your immune system ■ 450g (1lb) of French beans,
explained that although and reduce free with ends trimmed
gardening might feel rradical damage. ■ Olive oil as needed
much easier than an French beans also ■ 1 clove of garlic, grated
intensive workout in the con ntain B complex ■ ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes
gym, it usually lasts longerr, so vitam
mins, plus K, C, A, E ■ 1 teaspoon lemon zest
it has greater health benefi fits. and folaate. They’re a source of ■ Salt and freshly ground black pepper
If you’re combining gard dening minerals in ncluding manganese,
with healthy eating as part off a weight
i h copper, magnesium, i chromium, calcium, Cook the beans in a wok until softened,
management plan, then you’d do well to iron, phosphorus and potassium. They even using olive oil. Add the garlic, chilli
incorporate lots of home-grown greens into your contain a small amount of omega 3 and are good flakes, pepper and lemon zest, and
diet. Green vegetables are a great choice because for your heart health. sauté. Serve as a side dish to a main
they are usually low in fat, high in nutrients, low Quick steaming for five minutes maximises meal with other vegetables.
in calories, and full of fibre. They’ll fill you the nutritional profile and flavour of French
up, flood your body with good nutrition, and beans, and they make a great addition to
boost your immune system too! any stir-fry or salad. You can pop them
Boiled French beans are a case in in a bag and keep them in the
point. Theyy contain just 25 refrigerator for about a week. But if
calories per you have more French beans than
100g and you can eat quickly and want
4.7g of to freeze some, it’s usually
carbohydrate, reccommended to steam them
which makes for a couple of minutes, then
them a great food let them cool before putting them in
for weight control bags and freezing them. There is some
and good health. nutrient loss while vegetables are frozen, so try
They’re full of to consume them within three months. ■

40 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 41
 GET GROWING

FROM PATIO
TO BARBECUE
You don’t need a big garden to grow useful amounts of veg, especially for
those wonderful summer barbecues, as KG editor Steve Ott explains

42 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.ukk

 PATIO GARDENING

There are lots of advantages to growing veg in pots

M
ore and more gardeners are A spot which receives sun for part of the day
discovering that it is possible to is the next best, but even if you only have a
grow a wide range of produce small north-facing patch you can still grow
in containers, especially if your delicious salad leaves including mustards,
main aim is simply to have some fresh pickings mizuna, mibuna, pak choi and lettuce, also
to add to the barbecue or for salads. ‘spring’ greens, kale and chard. Fruit such
as strawberries prefer a little more sunshine,
In fact there are some real advantages to but you could try red and white currants,
growing in containers: blackcurrants and blackberries.
■ EASE: Many gardeners find a large plot Containers are the next essential and regular
daunting and soon discover that they just don’t readers may have seen Joyce Russell’s article (KG
have the time, or energy, to look after it. May 2017 issue) in which she used cheap buckets,
■ CONVENIENCE: It is just so easy to tend costing around £1 from many DIY stores. Of
to your crops and to harvest them when they are course, any similar-sized recycled container will
outside the back door. do the job, or for potatoes, even recycled compost
■ PEST CONTROL: Growing in containers and bags, although if aesthetics are important you may
in a small space makes protecting crops against prefer to go for decorative patio pots and tubs.
pests such as birds and slugs that much easier. Raised planters are also very popular as they bring
■ BETTER GROWING CONDITIONS: the crops up to a height that makes tending to
Few soils are perfect and if yours is cold, wet or your veg easier on your back and these often look
thin, you can often achieve good results more highly decorative in themselves.
easily in pots. Whatever you use, your containers should be
■ PROTECTION: Tender veg can be moved well drained and buckets and even some cheaper
to a warmer spot under cover during cold spells. plastic containers may need extra holes drilled in
the base before filling.
THE BASICS If growing vegetables, choose the cheapest
To grow the widest range of produce a compost you can find and save
sunny, sheltered spot is best; if it is right additional cash when growing
for your patio set and barbecue, it’s shallow-rooted crops such
right for your plants, but a lack as salad leaves by packing
of space may also mean a lack of “If it is the base with bubble
choice over where your pots right for your wrap prior to filling.
can be placed. Top heavy or long-term
patio set and crops such as fruit,
barbecue, it’s however, are best
right for your grown in a heavier mix
such as John Innes no
plants” 2 or 3.

FEEDING
AND WATERING
Remember that plants in containers
d
depend on you for water and, after the first 4-6
weeks from potting, for all their food. This is
w
despite any rain, which once the plants produce
d
a thick leaf cover, may simply deflect it. Feeding
can be made easier in the case of long-term
crops such as fruit by using controlled-release
feeds as instructed just once or twice during
the growing season. ➤

JULY 2017 | 43
 GET GROWING

5. ONIONS
Sets (immature onion bulbs) produce
the quickest crops and these can be
planted in autumn or spring. Plant nearly
Don’t miss touching and thin as the plants develop,
KG chef Anna first as spring onions and later as mature
2. SALAD Pettigrew’s original bulbs. Autumn-planted sets will benefit
1. POTATOES LEAVES barbecue recipe from some frost protection in a cold
Gro
ow in bags, These come in ideas starting on greenhouse, polytunnel or cold frame.
po
ots, tubs or a range of mixes page 88. Fry them up to add to burgers and hot
pootato planters to suit all tastes dogs or add to meat skewers.
frrom 8-litres from hot and spicy to
upwards, oriental or mild. Choose
planting just a shallow container for salad leaf mixes.
on ne tuber on With regular feeding three cuts are easily
a thin layer of possible from each batch sown. A much more
commpost in the interesting base for a salad or sandwich filling
base of the pot. than lettuce alone.
Early varrieties are good
for this such as ‘Charlotte’ 4. TOMATOES
and ‘Jazzy’, but most will thrive. A This is our most popular patio crop and very
second planting in August will be ready easy to grow either from seeds or young
for harvesting in November. Just add plants. You’ll need a reasonably sunny spot
mayo for a new potato salad – delicious! to help ripen the fruit. Trailing types such
as ‘Tumbling Tom’ are perfect for hanging 6. PEPPERS
baskets. Blight and cold snaps can be Both sweet and chilli peppers grow very well
3. STRAWBERRIES alleviated byy g
growing
g yyour p plants in growing in containers; however, they do need a hot
Perhaps the perfect fruit for containeers of all bags within a mini summer and a sunny spot to thrive. If you
kinds from growing bags to troughs and greenhouse. The have a back-up such as a mini greenhouse
hanging baskets. Select varieties to kids will just love against the house wall, this is enough to keep
give a succession of cropping such these sweet them happy during cold spells. Start them off
as ‘Christine’, ‘Alice’ and ‘Malwina’ ttreats. inside or buy young plants and don’t
and/or a perpetual variety such as put them outside until all fear
‘Buddy’. Alpine strawberries can of frost has passed. Add to
be grown from seeds and produce salads, grill, stuff or roast.
lovely sweet little fruit, ideal for 7. BLUEBERRIES
adding to cereals. Perfect for Choose a lime-free (ericaceous)
dipping in melted chocolate! compost for blueberries and a
plant food to match. They will
crop in a relatively shady spot
although they prefer some sun
during the day. Most are self
fertile although will benefit from
8. COURGETTES
8 another bush close by. Great for
All kinds of squashes healthy summer smoothies.
grow well in containers,
but the more compact
summer types including
courgettes are best. These
hungry plants will require lots of
feeding and watering, but are
just perfect for your
haloumi kebabs.

9. AUBERGINES
These pretty plants with large
pink flowers need the same 10. PATIO HERBS
conditions as peppers above. Great to have within easy reach of
Like peppers they need a long the barbecue. Most appreciate a
season, so at this time of year it is warm, sunny spot and a free-draining
probably best to buy young compost. Favourites include basil, parsley
plants and give them as and coriander (grow from seeds sown from
much shelter and sunshine March to July for a succession), rosemary (add
as possible. to cooking, use to make skewers or lay on the
coals), bay, oregano, sage and of course mint
and borage for those cool summer drinks. ■

44 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

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www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 45

 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

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plants, bulbs access to greens, but that may to work with the BHWT to EGG PRODUCTION
and equipment to gardeners not always be practical for raise funds and awareness of COLLECTION
since 1880. With its range some urban environments. its work. Fennel, marigold and marjoram.
being bought by so many So Dobies has created a range “Dobies is delighted to be Individual RRP is £5.77. Collection price
allotmenteers and smallholders, of healthy herbs that can be supporting the BHWT in is £4 with £1 donation to BHWT
who typically embrace the grown in tubs, (or on the two ways,” Lis said. “First, we
concept of self-sufficiency, it allotment) and then used to have developed an exclusive INSECTICIDE
was a natural extension for feed the hens to keep them range of four Herby Hen COLLECTION
Dobies to introduce a range healthy. In addition, the Seed Collections. These allow Lavender, catgrass, mint.
of products for backyard hen company is delighted to have keepers to grow herbs that are Individual RRP is £5.87. Collection price
keeping as well, all with a focus partnered with the British Hen beneficial for hens to eat. Each is £4 with £1 donation to BHWT
on down-to-earth pricing. Welfare Trust in the launch collection contains packets
Launched in April, with of this special seed range of of herb seed that focuses on a GENERAL MAINTENANCE
an initial focus on poultry herbs to help to support the particular health benefit. COLLECTION
supplies, the new Dobies important work of rehoming “We all know that chickens Parsley, sage, oregano, thyme.
Good Life Range aims to ex-battery hens that the enjoy green food, they love Individual RRP is £5.66. Collection costs
grow into the ultimate gogo-to
to charity undertakes.
undertakes ggrass and many of the leaves £4 with £1 donation to BHWT
aand wild flowers growing
in that grass. So, most will HEALTH COLLECTION
happily munch on herbs and
h Nasturtium, dill, rosemary, basil.
tthose herbs will in turn help to Individual RRP is £4.77. Collection price
kkeep the chickens healthy in is £4 with £1 donation to BHWT
tthe most natural of ways.”
For every collection sold To order: call the Dobies order line
Dobies will donate £1 to
D number 0844 967 0303 or visit the
tthe charity. website www.dobies.co.uk
Please note: a £1.99 carriage charge
£ from the sale of every
£1 per order will apply, irrespective of the
ccollection goes to the British number of collections ordered.
Hen Welfare Trust
H

www.kitchengarden.co.uk
 SEEDS, PLANTS, BULBS, FRUIT & EQUIPMENT
XXX
Newe! KEEPING CHICKENS
www.dobies.co.uk Rang

SINCE 1894  0844 967 0303

The trend of “growing your own” has spread from vegetables to other forms of self-sufficiency.
Therefore, we’re pleased to announce that Dobies has extended its range!

A One-stop- shop and one of the most comprehensive range available, deliver to your door!
• Dobies Chicken Seed Collections • Housing • Fencing • Egg Boxes • Fertilised Eggs
• Feed, Feeders & Drinkers • Health & Hygiene • Incubators & Brooders • Starter Kit
• Accessories • Chicken Gifts

“We’ve teamed up
with the British Hen
Welfare Trust”

er 1 00
Ov ducts
pro line!
on

Win a Cottage Chicken House worth £500!

Whether you already have a flock and need a new coop or are thinking of starting to keep
chickens and need to get started, enter our fantastic competition for a chance to win a cosy
shelter ideal for 6 chickens or 8 bantams and made from FSC™ approved
TO ENTER: Visit www.dobies.co.uk/kgchickencomp
TO ENTER: Turn to page 93 and complete the coupon or visit www.kitchengarden.co.uk
and complete our short survey (it only takes 30 seconds) to be entered into the prize draw.
Full terms and conditions can be found on the website above. Closing date 29/6/17

visit www.dobies.co.uk/goodlifechickens
 GET GROWING

Passionate Plotter
Competition 2017 Do you love your plot and growing veg? If you do we
want to hear from you. Enter our Passionate Plotter
Competition 2017 and you could win some great prizes

Enter our
competition  As well as vouchers

and win some The Organic Gardening

Catalogue is giving away
great prizes The Chase 3-Step Organic
Plant Nutrition Programme
(1 litre each of SM3, SM4
and SM5).

 Dobies vouchers are

part of the prize and can
 A selection be exchanged for some
of WOLF-Garten tools of its wonderful range of
including the WOLF-Garten plants and sundries in its
annual catalogue.  Hozelock’s prize includes
Bow rake, part of the multi-change® the new Sensor Controller Plus
system featuring a working width of 40cm which automatically adjusts the
and constructed from stainless steel. The flat top time your garden will be watered
makes it perfect for levelling seed beds, while the curved as the seasons change. The
teeth can be easily pulled through soil and gravel and used Sensor Controller is perfectly
to break up the soil. It easily attaches to all multi-change® complemented by Hozelock’s Easy
handles including the ZM140W. Drip watering system which is also
blissfully simple to install and use.
 First place winner will receive Both are designed to suit gardens,
a Harrod Metal Raised Bed in vegetable plots, greenhouse, roof
Heritage Green or Anthracite Grey terraces and balconies.
(pictured below left). The second
place winner will receive two Tall
Circular Rust Plant Supports.

The third prize winner will

receive a Harrod Lichen Green
finish Lobster Pot Plant Support
(pictured left). This traditional
style grow-through plant support
is ideal for supporting all types of
large perennials such as peonies or
dahlias and can also be used in the
vegetable garden for supporting
plants such as dwarf beans.

 Greenhouse Sensation is giving

prizes of a Vitopod (pictured left),
Duogrow and Quadgrow. The Vitopod
Heated Propagator is a precision electric
propagator with a digital thermostatic
control and benefits from adjustable
height. The Quadgrow is a special
self-watering planting system with four
planters. Perfect for growing tomatoes,
peppers or other crops in, it will keep
them watered for two weeks at a time;
PRIZES ideal if you are going away on holiday.

WORTH The Duogrow is a two-planter kit that

will water two plants such as tomatoes,
OVER peppers or aubergines etc. for two
weeks at a time.
£1900
48 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk
 PASSIONATE PLOTTER COMPETITION

BEST PATIO
CONTAINER
1ST PRIZE 2ND PRIZE 3RD PRIZE If you don’t wish to enter your whole
VALUE £958 VALUE £551 VALUE £366 plot why not enter just a container?
£250 Harrod Horticultural £150 Harrod Horticultural £100 Harrod Horticultural Send us a picture of a pot or group of
products (chosen by the products (chosen by the products (chosen by the containers growing veg, fruit or herbs
company) company) company) and you could win a special prize of a
£250 WOLF-Garten tools £150 WOLF-Garten tools £100 WOLF-Garten tools Hozelock Sensor Controller and Easy
£150 voucher for The £100 voucher for The £50 voucher for The Organic Drip Universal Kit.
Organic Gardening Catalogue Organic Gardening Catalogue Gardening Catalogue plus We will be looking for creative use of
plus The Chase 3-Step plus The Chase 3-Step The Chase 3-Step Organic containers and planting material plus
Organic Plant Nutrition Organic Plant Nutrition Plant Nutrition Programme the quality of the produce.
Programme (1 litre each of Programme (1 litre each of (1 litre each of SM3, SM4 and You can send us a picture of one
SM3, SM4 and SM5). RRP SM3, SM4 and SM5). RRP SM5). RRP £33.85. pot of veg, fruit or herbs or several
£33.85. £33.85. £33-Greenhouse Sensation pots together planted up. As long as
£150-Greenhouse £42.90-Greenhouse Duogrow there is at least one fruit/veg or herb
Sensation Vitopod Sensation Quadgrow £50 Dobies vouchers plant visible in the group of containers,
propagator £75 Dobies vouchers flowers could also
£125 Dobies vouchers be included. Send
us pictures of
quirky containers
planted up with
fruit and veg too.

BEST PATIO
CONTAINER
PRIZE
Wins a
Hozelock Sensor
Controller Plus
(worth £46.79)
and Easy Drip
Last year’s winners John Universal Kit
and Karen Ashcroft from (£44.99)
near Blackpool

Our sponsors Garden Organic, the

charity for organic growing,
HARROD
HORTICULTURAL
tools and machinery of
premium quality and
or sunning themselves in
the Caribbean!
We are very grateful
to the sponsors of our you can buy in confidence This company has been performance. Its garden www.hozelock.com
competition this year. knowing that everything producing top quality tool range includes the
is suitable for your organic garden products for 60 multi-change® system GREENHOUSE
THE ORGANIC garden. Fast and easy years and is innovative which is lightweight and SENSATION
GARDENING CATALOGUE ordering by telephone, in bringing new designs comfortable to use, so This company grew from a
Only good things for your post or online and great on to the market. It offers whatever the job you are seed of an idea that people
garden… The Organic value delivery. an excellent mail order tackling in the garden, liked to grow veg but the
Gardening Catalogue Tel 01932 878570 service and as well as WOLF-Garten can provide amount of harvests they
brings you an exciting www.organiccatalogue.com being renowned for its the right tool for the job. got didn’t warrant the time,
collection of seeds and sturdy fruit and vegetable www.wolfgarten-tools. space and effort required.
supplies, all assured DOBIES cages and arches and co.uk tel 01869 363674. Out of this was borne
suitable for organic Dobies has been structures it also sells a range of high quality
gardening and delivered supplying flower and a huge range of other HOZELOCK products that produce
direct to your home. vegetable seeds direct gardening sundries. Tel Hozelock – one of Britain’s bumper harvests far greater
Choose from an extensive to gardeners since 1880. 0845 402 5300 www. leading watering experts than that from plants grown
range of over 500 organic An extensive range of harrodhorticultural.com – has launched a range of in pots or growing bags.
seed varieties, seed products are featured in NEW easy-to-use products The three prizes offered
potatoes, onion sets and its main annual catalogue WOLF-GARTEN designed to revolutionise – Vitopod, Quadgrow
garlic, as well as organic which is sent out free on The WOLF-Garten automated home watering. and Duogrow – are just
and peat-free composts, request. In addition to gardening tool collection The range enables people three of the company's
fertilisers, seaweed feeds, seeds Dobies offers a huge offers the total solution to save time, safeguard the innovative designs that
organic fruit trees, comfrey range of young annual for soil and cultivation, health of their plants take growing your own
plants, green manures, plants by post, plus bulbs, lawn care, tree and shrub and use less water by to a new level. For more
biological pest controls, fruit, seeds and garden care and general garden making it blissfully easy details go to the website
tools and gardening equipment. maintenance. The to control their watering www.greenhousesensation.
essentials. As the official Tel 0844 967 0303. WOLF-Garten philosophy remotely – whether they co.uk or telephone 0845
mail order partner of www.dobies.co.uk is to provide gardening are at work, watching TV 6023774.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 49

 GET GROWING

AREYOU OUR PASSIONATE PLOTTER FOR 2017?

HOW TO ENTER ■ Picture of your container if entering this WHAT THE JUDGES
We are looking for the UK’s most passionate category ARE LOOKING FOR
fruit and veggie grower and now veg plots ■ The questionnaire (opposite) filled in or A passion for growing so don’t worry if your
are starting to fill up with tasty crops it is written separately on paper or an email. plot is not perfect or pristine but we are
the perfect time to take some photographs looking for a plot well loved with effort to
and enter our competition. So if you love Email or post your pictures and questionnaire grow a good variety of crops, good use of
your plot then share it with us and other to us. Pictures should be either digital jpegs the space.
KG readers. Simply send us a few photos (need to be fine quality e.g. set your digital
of your plot and you could win some great camera to minimum three megapixels before WHERE TO SEND
prizes – and your plot will also be featured taking the pictures) or post photographs on EMAIL TO: [email protected]
in a future issue of Kitchen Garden. photographic paper, not on normal printing
paper (these cannot be returned). POST TO: Kitchen Garden Passionate
SEND US: If sending digital pictures attach them Plotter Competition, Mortons Media Group,
■ One photograph of yourself (preferably separately as jpegs to an email or put on a Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle,
taken on your plot. Others who help you disc. We have difficulty using pictures that Lincs LN9 6JR
on your plot can also be in the picture but are pasted direct on to a document.
please state who is pictured.) Also remember to include a document ■ The closing date for the competition
■ 6 pictures of your plot (aim for one overall containing your answers to the is September 22, 2017. Judging will
shot and then some pictures of smaller questionnaire. The answers can be written commence after this date and the winners
sections of the plot or even just one crop.) directly on to the email if you wish. will be announced in the December issue.

In a previous issue we invited readers to start

growing the biggest marrow they could and
enter our competition. If you haven’t started
growing from seed it is not too late to pop to
your local garden centre and buy a marrow
plant but you need to be quick to be in with a
chance of winning one of the following prizes.

1ST PRIZE 2ND

2 PRIZE 3RD PRIZE
£100 Mr Fothergill’s £25
£ Mr Fothergill’s £25 Mr Fothergill’s voucher
vouchers and a pair voucher and a
of WOLF-Garten Kitchen Garden digital
RR2500 secateurs subscription
s

TO ENTER marrows may have a bulbous NOTE: Remember to

We are judging this competition end so measure the girth at the
e measure your marrow
at the end of August so when thickest part. during the month of August,
you feel your marrow has preferably the latter part of the
reached its peak take a picture Send us the picture (with KG month, and send us your entry OUR SPONSOR
of it. To do this, first place your magazine and ruler measurement by August 30, 2017. It is a good Mr Fothergill’s Seeds has
marrow next to a recent copy clearly in shot) plus the two idea to store your whopper in been selling seed since
of KG, which must also appear measurements written down. a cool place for a short time 1978 and now supplies over
in the picture. Then lay a ruler We will have a shortlist in case we need to clarify 3000 garden centres, shops
or tape measure (centimetres) of entries and then verify measurements. If you haven't and retail outlets as well as
along the length of the marrow measurements after the heard from us by September 10, selling by mail order. The
to give us a good idea of its deadline date. feel free to eat your marrow! company always has an
length. We need the girth Email your marrow picture extensive range of flower and
measurement too, so please and measurements including ■ Keep an eye on the vegetable seeds and young
measure the marrow at the your name and address to: Kitchen Garden team’s efforts plants plus soft fruit and trees
thickest part. To do this wrap [email protected]. to grow the biggest including and you can be assured of a
a piece of string around and Competition deadline is August Marvin the Marrow's blog at great service. Tel: 0333 7773936
then measure the string. Some 30, 2017. www.kitchengarden.co.uk www.mr-fothergills.co.uk

50 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 XXX

PASSIONATE PLOTTER
COMPETITION 2017 ENTRY FORM
Name 5 Do you grow any veg in containers? If so, what, and how have
they been grown (compost, size of pot, feeding, how successful and
Address will you do it again)? If entering the Best Container category please
fill this section out about your entered container/s.
Postcode

email address

Daytime tel no

Evening tel no

Which category do you wish to enter (please tick):

Best plot ❑ Best container ❑ Both ❑

Please answer the following questions. The more information you can 6 How do you grow one particular named crop from sowing to
give us the better, so if you prefer feel free to use a separate sheet of harvest, e.g.: Choose a crop and give us a brief summary of how
paper for your answers. you grow it from start to finish with any tips you can pass on.

1 Do you tend your plot on your own? If not, who helps you?

2 Do you have an allotment or veg plot in your garden?

(Please provide approximate size)

3 How long have you been growing veg?

7 Why are you passionate about your plot?

4 What variety of vegetable can you recommend to other

kitchen gardeners?

■ If children are featured in any pictures please write your name here to
give permission for them to be featured in the magazine.

Parent/grandparent/guardian (delete as appropriate).

■ Please add any further details on a separate sheet if you wish. (Please include your name and address. We do not publish full address details)

Send the above together with your photographs DISCLAIMERS:

to: Kitchen Garden Passionate Plotter Only tick this box if you do not wish to receive information from Mortons Media
Competition, Mortons Media Group, Media Group regarding or relating to current offers of products or services (including
Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR or discounted subscription offers) via email/post/phone ❑
email your pictures and answers to On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties, that we deem to
[email protected] be reputable, to contact you by email/post/phone/fax regarding information relating
to current offers of products or services which we believe may be of interest to our
Photocopies of the above form are permitted. readers. If you do wish to receive such offers please tick this box ❑
We regret that photographs cannot be returned. ■ For full giveaway terms and conditions please visit: www.kitchengarden.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 51

52 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk
 GARDEN STORE

WIN SM5 LIQUID SEAWEED FEED

Chase SM5 is liquid seaweed-based feed especially formulated WORTH
to increase the yield and quality of tomatoes and fruit. Combined
with Chase SM4 (formulated to promote healthy, balanced stem
and leaf growth as well as increased root area), and Chase SM3
£34
(used little and often through the growing season), Chase SM5 is
the third and final step towards naturally bigger, better crops.

PRICE: SM5 £11.95 (1L); £35.95 (5L) WIN

www.organiccatalogue.com
THIS
We are offering two lucky winners a complete set of: 3-Step ❯❯❯
Organic Plant Nutrition Programme (a 1-litre bottle of each
of the feeds – SM3, SM4 and the new SM5 – worth £34).

TO ENTER FILL IN THE GIVEAWAYS COUPON ON PAGE 93

GARDEN
N STORE
OUR ROUNDUP OF THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR KITCHEN GARDENERS

 WORK SOME MAGIC

RELAX are made from and rust free. Plant Magic Plus (Old Timer)
IN STYLE  weatherproof Each parasol has granules are made up of mycorrhiza,
These parasols polyester, supported a push-button tilt bio-stimulants and over 20 strains of
come in two designs by flexible, fibreglass mechanism and a micro-organisms. All these work to
– Lotus (pictured) canopy frames. crank handle for easy create an abundance of beneficial
and Geisha – and The aluminium opening and closing. micro life within the soil. This then
five colours with poles have an promotes a rapidly growing root mass
matching bases. anthracite coating PRICE: £79.99 increasing the uptake of more water
The canopies so are durable www.suttons.co.uk and nutrients.
The micro-organisms, which include
nitrogen fixers, populate the soil
quickly and effectively to promote the
re-establishment of bio-activity.
WATERING A barrier is formed helping
MADE EASY  to prevent fungal diseases
attacking your crop.
This Easy2Grow Irrigation Kit feeds
and waters plants without the need
for pumps, electricity or a mains water PRICE GUIDE:
supply. The AQUAvalve draws water £17.50 (350g)
from the reservoir into the tray section www.plant-magic.co.uk
(for stockists)
ARDEN but allows the water to drain fully before
TG refilling, thereby imitating the natural
★ GREA

BUY ★

wet/dry cycle. Each pot has an 8.5-litre

capacity and the system is expandable.
S★
★

BUG CONTROL  ★★
★★ PRICE: £34.95
www.mr-fothergills.co.uk
Resolva Natural Power Bug g&
Mildew controls a wide range of
plant pests and mildew. With its
natural active ingredient, it is safe
for flowers, fruit and veg, with
same-day spray and eat. It also
contains plant nutrients to help
green up leaves after pest attack,
plus leaf shine to clean off sticky
honeydew created by pests.

PRICE: £5.99
www.gardenhealth.com

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 53

 Melon varieties include musk,
casaba and cantaloupe. The
cantaloupe varieties are
considered best for an
unheated greenhouse
or polytunnel.

MELONS
EE MOR
+S E
G

DIGITAL K

IN
DIGITAL K
IN
E G
+S
EE MOR

For sweetness and sheer aroma, melons are hard to beat and though they do need a bit
of attention, this end-of-summer beauty is well worth the effort, says Tony Flanagan

Move plants on from the first stage when they

4 ESSENTIALS FOR GETTING STARTED have four to five leaves. If planting direct into
the ground in your greenhouse or polytunnel,
GREAT MELONS In April, sow melon seeds edgeways the soil needs to be rich, fertile and
■ It will help the plant if you can in 13cm (5in) pots filled with well-draining – plant 45cm (18in)
get the soil/compost really warm multi-purpose compost to a depth apart. Otherwise, melons also do
before transplanting your young melon of 1cm (½in). Water in and then well in pots 25cm (10in) at least
plants. Covering the soil/compost with place on a warm windowsill in diameter and in grow bags
black polythene a few weeks before or heated propagator – they’ll To hand pollinate, pluck (two to a bag). Water regularly,
planting will help warm things up. need a temperature of at least a male flower, remove its keeping the soil or compost
20C (68F) for germination. petals and brush what’s moist but avoid waterlogging.
■ Melons produce both male and Once you have two true left into the centre of the
female flowers – the female flowers leaves they will tolerate a lower female flowers.
have a swelling at their base whereas temperature of 15C (59F). TRAINING
the male flowers don’t. Unless you are For optimum growth melons need Melons will need support as they
growing a self-pollinating variety, leave warmth and humidity so growing under grow so a cane trellis or vertical canes
greenhouse/polytunnel doors open cover – in a greenhouse or polytunnel – is more connected by wire is one option. As the plant
on hot days to let insects in or hand likely to lead to success than growing outdoors, grows, tie the main stem to the vertical cane
pollination may be needed. although you may have some success the further
south you are. Here in the East Midlands,
■ Once fruits start to emerge feed I don’t like to leave it to the vagaries of the
weekly with a high-potash solution, such weather so mine are grown in a
as tomato feed. polytunnel. Although you can grow
melons trailing along the ground,
■ Maturing fruit will need support to as you do squash, for greenhouse
relieve pressure on the stems. A satsuma and polytunnel growing it’s more
net or pair of tights will do the trick! manageable to grow them vertically
unless you have lots of space.

54 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 MELONS

VARIETYCHOICE
■ ‘AMBROSIA’: ■ ‘EMIR F1’:
MELON BALLS The fruits of this This produces greenish-
WITH FRESH MINT vigorous plant have a yellow fruits approximately
This makes for a nice starter or dessert. sweet, deep orange flesh 11.5cm (4½in) in diameter.
Cut the melon in half, scoop out all the and are very aromatic. The flesh is salmon-pink in
seeds with a big spoon and then scoop Maturing in 80-100 days, colour and is both aromatic ‘Blenheim Orange’
out the flesh of the melon using a melon the fruits are around and sweet. Can tolerate
baller (or cut out in cubes if you don’t 15cm (6in) in diameter. lower temperatures than
have one). Place the melon balls in a (The Organic Gardening other cantaloupe varieties.
dish and add a mint chiffonade. To make Catalogue) RHS Award of Garden Merit
this simply take a few mint leaves, place winner. (Dobies)
them on top of each other, roll them ■ ‘BLENHEIM ORANGE’:
tightly and then cut finely. Sprinkle this A favourite with Victorian ■ ‘LAVI GAL F1’:
over the melon balls. Serve. gardeners, this is an old With yellow-orange
variety – very fragrant with netted skin, this is an
a scarlet flesh and netted early fruiting variety,
skin. Produces large fruits. fragrant and with a sweet
‘Emir F1’
(Kings) flesh. (Suttons)

‘Ambrosia’ ‘Lavi Gal F1’

and the sideshoots to the horizontals.

You don’t need too many of these sideshoots,
WATCH OUT FOR
usually no more than four, so any other POWDERY MILDEW: This fungal disease
sideshoots can be removed. The tips of these manifests itself as a white powder on the
remaining sideshoots should be pinched out surface of leaves. To prevent this, don’t
when they have produced five leaves. With this grow plants too close together and make
method, the idea is to produce no more than sure roots don’t get too dry. Cut off
four fruits in all, though you can opt for fewer infected parts. Fungicides such as Bayer
if you’d prefer! Once the fruit starts to appear, Fungus Fighter Plus are also available.
remove any further flowers and sideshoots. RED SPIDER MITE: This sap-sucking
As the fruits start to ripen watering can be pest causes a fine mottling effect
reduced and feeding stopped. on the surface of the leaves and very
small, light-green mites (red when
HARVESTING they are inactive) will be seen on the
You will know when the melons are ripe as they underside. A range of biological controls
will start to give off a distinctive aroma, the fruit and organic pesticides is available to
will be less firm and there will be a circular crack tackle them.
where the stalk connects to the fruit. ■

MELONS – SOWING AND PLANTING AT A GLANCE

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
SOW ● ●
PLANT ● ●
HARVEST ● ● ●

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 55

WHAT TO BUY | INSTANT SAVERS

MULCH WITH STRULCH

Strulch is a light, easy-to-use garden mulch made from mineralised
wheat straw. It reduces weed growth by up to 95% and retains
moisture – vital in a year when droughts are predicted! It enriches
soil structure, deters slugs, and lasts for up to two years. Strulch
can be used on borders and raised beds, around fruit and on
vegetable plots. It’s available from local stockists, or from the Strulch
website in bulk – perfect for big gardens, gardening neighbours or
allotment societies!

Bulk deliveries
normally cost £228
for 25 150-litre PERFECT PATIO PLANTERS
S
bags (to cover up The Free Standing Wooden Manger Crib Planter from Gardening
to 110m2/132yd2) Works comes in a choice of four sizes and three lengths. These
or £355 for 50 bagss pretty trough planters are perfect for salad crops or for a colourful
– but KG readers can flower display. They are also ideal for wheelchair gardeners and
save 15% by quoting children. They are handmade in Gardening Works’ unique style
code ‘strulchit’ at the and are extremely easy to assemble, with no nails or screws
checkout at www. required. Each planter is supplied complete with a liner.
strulch.co.uk Delivery
is free to England and Prices for the Wooden Manger Crib Planter range from £43.95
Wales, but extra to to £98.55 (plus £5.95 p&p), but KG readers can claim a 15%
Scotland and Northern discount by quoting code ‘KGMANGER15’ at the checkout at
Ireland. Offer valid until www.gardeningworks.co.uk Offer valid until June 30, 2017.
June 29, 2017.

GRE AT PRO DUC TS AT SUP ER VAL UE PRIC ES!

CARROT FLY KILLER PLANTS BY POST

The scourge of carrot crops has met its match: Dragonfli has If you’ve left it too late to sow brassicas,,
introduced a new Carrot Root Fly Killer to its Natural Enemies Delfland Nurseries can plug the gap.
range of biological pest controls. One pack contains 10 million The Mini June Brassica Pack contains
nematodes, enough to treat an area of 20m2 (24yd2). Dragonfli seven delicious brassicas to harvest
supplies a cold-tolerant species of nematode between April and between August and April. You’ll get
June and then switches to one that prefers warmer conditions two of each variety – a total of 14
between July and September. The product is easy to apply: just organic peat-free plants: very early
water it on to the soil around your carrot crop. purple sprouting broccoli ‘Santee
F1’, Brussels sprout ‘Nautic F1’,
Carrot Root Fly Killer normally costs £11 (plus £3.99 p&p), red cabbage ‘Buscaro F1’, cabbage
but KG readers can claim a 10% discount by quoting code ‘Deadon F1’, cabbage ‘Stanton F1’, purple
‘Carrot10’ at the checkout at www.dragonfli.co.uk Offer valid cauliflower ‘Graffiti’ and Romanesco
until July 31, 2017. cauliflower ‘Veronica F1’. Visit the
Delfland website to find more than
200 varieties of vegetables, salads,
herbs and flowers.

The Mini June Brassica Pack normally

costs £8.50, but you can get yours
for just £7.65
by quoting
code ‘KG717’.
Order at www.
organicplants.
co.uk or by
calling 01354
740553. Offer
valid until June
29, 2017.

56 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 57
GET GROWING

COOLIT!
The peak of a hot, sticky summer can be a stressful time for greenhouse and
polytunnel crops. Maintaining a healthy growing environment is essential to keep
undercover fruits and vegetables in prime condition, says Benedict Vanheems.
Good ventilation, shading and ample moisture means happy, healthy plants

W
Throw
open the hen I was a youngster I spent
door/s on most of my summer holidays
hot days
toiling in a plant nursery. It was
a great place to hone my plant
identification skills and indulge my passion for
anything with leaves. On a hot day, however,
working inside the polythene tunnels where
many of the plants were grown on was akin to
exercising… in a sauna! Soaring temperatures
conspired with high humidity to turn up the
sweat. By break time I’d be more than ready to
down a pint of water or two and relish the cool
of the break room!

FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT!

The same is true of the fruits and vegetables
we grow under cover in our gardens or on our
allotments. If temperatures are left to soar beyond
their level of comfort they’ll suffer, initially wilting
and potentially suffering irreparable damage. Your
job as horticultural home-maker is to draw the
blinds, open the windows and cool your crops
down so they’re happy and healthy.
Even on a relatively benign day, direct sunlight
can lead temperatures to climb dramatically
within a greenhouse or polytunnel – in some
cases a whole 10°C higher. So while it may seem
like a pleasant enough day in the greenhouse
your plants may be under significant stress. Even
heat-loving crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers
and peppers that relish the extra warmth earlier
on in the season, can shut down in extreme heat.
The good news is it’s very easy to keep your
cool when the mercury heads north through
a combination of good ventilation, judicious
shading and plenty of water.

Keep plants adequately watered so they can

cope with hot days

www.kitchengarden.co.uk
 Automatic vents
are a boon in hot
weather or when
you are on holiday

Cool as a cucumber: Cool crops are happy crops Windows can be kept ajar overnight A few polytunnels come with roof vents

AIR CONTROL
Ventilation – and lots of it – is the easiest way to
keep your plants cool. A good draught will see
cooler air pouring in from the outside and your
plants remaining comfortable inside. Open roof
vents and side vents to encourage airflow and
leave the door open if you can – you can always
secure netting over it if you’re worried about
next door’s cat wondering in (though make sure
the bees can get in and out without a problem).
The ideal ratio of roof vents to greenhouse floor
area is one to five. So that’s a total area of roof
vents approximately one fifth of the greenhouse
footprint. Fully opened out, this ratio ensures
a full change of air every two minutes, which is
more than enough to wick away that hot air. Shade paint is a cost-effective way of creating
If you are considering buying a new welcome respite from strong sun
greenhouse, then more roof vents are always a
good thing – so always order more if you have And if all of the above still isn’t sufficient,
the option. Position your greenhouse so the consider installing a circulation fan to keep the
roof vents are on the side of the roof that faces air moving, or an extractor fan to actively expel Shading is more effective when laid on the
away from the prevailing wind. This will stop the hot, stale air. outside of a greenhouse
the wind from gusting into the greenhouse and
potentially damaging plants. IN THE SHADE
Side vents, sometimes found at the base of With a plentiful flow of air established, the next
a greenhouse, offer a further through-flow of strategy for cooling your hothouse is shading.
air and set up a convection current, pulling The cheapest option is shade paint, which
cool air in from the bottom and forcing bounces the light back off the greenhouse to
warm air out through the top. It’s relatively create a cooler, shadier growing space beneath.
straightforward to add more side vents, usually Shade paint is very easy to apply – simply paint
as louvre window kits. it on and leave it to dry. You can add further
Polytunnels are a little more limited, but some layers of shade paint as the summer progresses
do include vents along the bottom – and of to increase the density of the shade cast. Then
course a generous-sized door at one end or both. simply wash it off at the end of the season.
Head out as early as you are able to open all Some types of shade paint, such as Nixol Interior greenhouse net shading
doors and vents, and keep them open overnight (available from Two Wests & Elliott: 01246
on sultry evenings. 451077, twowests.co.uk) are weather sensitive, A more substantial alternative is shade netting
If you are short of time it’s worth fitting responding to light levels in the same way as a or blinds, which can be draped over the exterior
automatic vent openers. They are very easy to fit set of reactive lenses in a pair of glasses. When of the structure, or attached to hooks on the
and, as the name suggests, will automatically open it’s bright and sunny the shade paint turns white inside. Ideally set your netting or blinds up on
your vents or louvre windows when it gets hot and bounces back the light. Then when it’s the outside, so they filter the sunlight before it
then close them again as it cools – all without any cloudy or rainy it turns clear to allow the sun’s enters the greenhouse. This way hot air won’t get
need for electricity or a thermometer. rays in. Clever stuff! trapped on the inside of the structure. ➤

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 59

 GET GROWING

DAMPING DOWN Damping down also raises the humidity

The next method to keep your cool is an old-time
gardeners’ trick: damping down. To damp down
around your plants, slowing water loss from
foliage and relieving some of the strain they are
WHAT, NO
your greenhouse or polytunnel, liberally water the under. It also reduces potential problems arising TOMATOES?
paths and any other hard surfaces such as staging. from some greenhouse pests. For example, red A common pro oblem
You might wonder what the point of all that is! spider mites – a common mite that attacks in hot spells is
Well, as the water you’ve applied evaporates it will just about any greenhouse plant – hate high poor pollinatioon
remove energy from the greenhouse in the form humidity. among
of water vapour. As it escapes through the vents greenhouse
it takes excess warmth with it. It’s an incredibly KNOW YOUR PLANTS tomatoes.
low-tech yet incredibly effective way to cool the You can tell if your plants are suffering from the Tomatoes love
air down fast. In fact, the ‘evaporative cooling’ air heat by simply observing them. Signs of heat the heat, but
conditioners used in hotter climates rely on exactly stress include sagging or wilting plants, dried if it gets too

Picture: Robyn Jay

the same principle. out or crispy foliage and scorching of leaves. hot the pollen
These are the advanced stages of overheating becomes sterile,
and, ideally, your plants should never reach this l
rendering fertilisation
desperate stage. impossible. This happens when
As well as doing all you can to keep the daytime temperatures consistently
air temperature cool, always make sure your remain above 30C (86F) and night-time
plants are getting enough water. Like us, plants temperatures hover at or above 24C
‘sweat’ through their leaves to keep cool. This (75F). Admittedly, this is reasonably
transpiration (a posh word for evaporation from rare in our cooler climate, but in a
a plant!) wicks away excess heat and is the plant’s greenhouse with little shading and
mechanism for keeping leaf surfaces cool. If they ventilation it’s certainly possible.
are losing lots of moisture through their leaves, it Remember the sultry heat of summer
stands to reason they will need an ample supply 2003? If your tomatoes stop setting fruit
of moisture at their roots to replace what’s lost. then make sure you’re doing all you can
Keeping your undercover crops content is to keep your greenhouse cool then bide
pretty simple once you master the balance of your time – given it’s the Great British
ventilation, shade, humidity and moisture. A Summer the hot weather is guaranteed
Keep doors open during hot weather to aid happy plant is always a more productive plant. not to last!
tomato setting Stay cool – as cool as a cucumber! ■

60 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 TAP INTO
LIQUID FEEDS This month Joyce Russell shows just how easy and cost effective
it is to set up liquid feeds for your fruit and veg

L
iquid feeds are a terrific aid to growing
healthy fruit and vegetables. What’s
more, they are easy to make and they
WHAT YOU flush against it. Narrow,
raised ribs may lead to
the same as the shaft of
the tap, so the two can be
cost very little. The principle is simple: WILL NEED an incomplete seal that joined together.
soak a nutrient-rich material in water for a few ■ LARGE BIN OR BARREL: allows leakage. ■ PLASTIC BOTTLE: Neck
days, then draw off and dilute some of the liquid Plastic is easiest to drill ■ TAP: If this is designed diameter should be of a
to use as a spray, or to water round the roots of through. Choose a smooth- to fit on a bin, it will size that the tank connector
plants in your garden. ssided bin come with a backplate pipe slots neatly into it.
The cool contents of a A selection of iif possible, and washer. If you use an Choose a strong plastic 1 or
teapot make a good liquid taps, fittings or one
o ordinary outdoor tap, then 1.5-litre drinks bottle.
feed, as does well-diluted and drills tthat has buy a tank connector kit to ■ STAINLESS STEEL
urine. But if you want to a large go with it. SCREW: 3.5mm x 16mm
make larger quantities of and flat
a ■ TANK CONNECTOR KIT: ■ SEALANT: Suitable for
plant-based feed, you need enough
e This is needed if fitting a use in the wet (optional)
to invest in a large bin with rib profile bottle filter. The kit consists ■ DRILL: With 6mm bit plus
a lid. To make the process to allow of a length of threaded a spade bit, or Forstner bit,
simpler again, buy a tap and a tap and pipe plus two backplates of the same diameter as the
fit it to the bin so it is simple washer and washers. Choose a pipe shaft of the tap.
to draw off a little liquid feed to fit diameter that is exactly ■ SCREWDRIVER
every time you need it.

62 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 LIQUID FEEDS

STEP BY STEP MAKE LIQUID FEED

1 2 3
STEP 1: MAKE A FILTER
Use the 6mm drill bit to make evenly spaced
holes around the sides of the plastic bottle.
4
These holes are small enough to keep large
pieces out and yet large enough not to
clog too easily. The filter protects the tap
mechanism. Try a couple of bottles if needed
to see which one fits your bin the best.

STEP 2: FIX THE TANK

CONNECTOR IN THE BOTTLE
Put one end of the tank connector into the
neck of the bottle. Use the 3.5mm x 16mm
screw to fix through the neck of the bottle
and into the tap connecter – this keeps the
bottle in position when in the bin.

STEP 3: MAKE A HOLE IN THE BIN

Mark a point on the side of the bin where the
tap will go. This should be 10-15cm up from STEP 5: RUN A CHECK net. Tie the top and suspend the bag in the
the base to allow sludge to collect below the Look down into the bin and check that the bottle bin. This acts as an extra filter when using
tap line. Use the spade bit or Forstner bit to filter is adequately supported. Wedge a stone organic material with lots of small pieces.
drill cleanly through the side of the bin at the or piece of wood underneath if you have any
marked point. If the hole is slightly too small doubts. The tap should point downwards and STEP 7: RAISE IT UP AND ADD WATER
for the tap, you can use a Stanley knife to pare all washers etc. should be tight. Fill to above the Raise the bin on a solid base made from
edges back. Always take care when using filter with water to test that there are no leaks. concrete blocks, or sit it on a low wall if this is
sharp tools. Use sealant if necessary to solve problems. broad enough. The tap should be raised to a
Fit the tap through the hole. height where it is easy to fill a watering can.
STEP 6: PUT IN MANURE When the bin is in the right position, fill it with
STEP 4: FIT THE TAP ON TO THE FILTER Choose the ingredients for your liquid water and cover the top so all is secure and
A washer and a threaded backplate hold feed. Comfrey, nettles and seaweed can go rain can’t dilute the feed. Stir the contents
the tap in place; these can be tightened to straight into the bin. Put manure in a non- every couple of days and you can start to
create a seal against the inside of the bin. biodegradable, woven bag, such as an onion draw off liquid
q after six to 10 days. ➤
By adding one or more ‘spacer’ washers,
you can position the backplate so it bridges
both the end of the tap shaft and the end
of the tank connector: screw one from each
side so they meet half way (see diagram). Apply waterproof
It may be possible to tighten by hand, or sealant where the
use an adjustable spanner or plumber’s grip: tap fits through the
do this gently so nothing breaks. bin, to ensure a
drip-proof fixing.

5 6 7

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 63

 GET GROWING

WHAT TO PUT Comfrey makes an

INTHE BIN
effective foliar feed
for tomatoes

MANURE
Use two shovelfuls of manure, suspended
in a bin of water. Horse, cow, pig, goat,
and sheep manure are all suitable for liquid
feeds. Manure can be used fresh, after it has
broken down, or from bought sealed bags.
The feed is ready to use after six days of
soaking, but it gets stronger if left for two
to three weeks. Dilute the drawn-off liquid
until it is the colour of weak tea.
Poultry manure is very high in nitrogen and
it can burn young or delicate
d li plants.
l
If this is all you have got,
g use
one shovelful in the bin,
b
dilute with 10 parts water
w
before use and pour it
on the ground around d
large plants rather
than spraying on the
leaves. Don’t use
on seedlings.

SEAWEED
Is high in potash
and makes a good
n
foliar feed. Stuff a bin
with seaweed and covver NETTLES
Try to cut
with water. Stir daily and
a the Always wea ar gloves and cover bare
comfrey
contents are ready to use after
ft skkin wh
hen handdling this plant. It is a good before it
about seven days. Dilute the liquid until idea to cut stems the day before you want to flowers
pale straw colour before spraying over use them. This lets the leaves wilt a little and
potash-greedy plants like onions, tomatoes they are easier to stuff into a bin. Cover with
and peppers. Alternatively, soak a few water and leave for a week before diluting, as
handfuls of powdered seaweed in a bin of with other brews, to a pale brown colour. The
water and leave for a week at least. mix gets stronger the longer you leave it.
The stems are slow to rot, so chop into small
pieces before putting in the bin if you want to
release more goodness.

COMFREY
Makes a brilliant feed, but it is one of the
smelliest brews. Use a bin with a close-fitting
lid if you want to avoid complaints and don’t
spray the feed round a greenhouse on a day
you have visitors. Having said that, the scent
disperses in a couple of days after use and the
boost to plant health and growth from using
this feed is noticeable.
It is best to cut stems before plants flower,
but at the same time, don’t reject plants that you only have a small amount of this feed,
are in flower. Always wear gloves and cover save it for greenhouse crops. Use as a foliar
bare skin to avoid irritation. Chop up the tough spray on tomatoes, cucumbers, melons,
stems to maximise what fits in the bin. Cram and any sick plant. Pour round the roots of
in what you can and spray lightly with water if aubergines, tomatoes and peppers.
you can wait the month or more that it takes
for the contents to break down and produce a MIX IT UP
concentrated liquid. The feed doesn’t have to derive from just
For faster results, cover the contents one plant. Mix up the contents and throw in
with water and start drawing off liquid after a few teabags if you want. Avoid any plant
two weeks. Comfrey has a good amount of material, or soil, that might carry disease,
nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium: all of but apart from that it’s worth mixing and
Seaweed makes a great liquid feed which help to create strong healthy plants. If blending to get a perfect liquid feed. ■

64 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 65
 GET GROWING

EE MOR
+S E

PRUNING
G
G
DIGITAL K

IN
DIGITAL K
IN

E G
+S
EE MOR

STONE FRUITProfessional nurseryman David Patch highlights the principles which underlie
the pruning of stone fruit trees and how to put these into practice

66 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 PRUNE STONE FRUIT

Prune with a sloping cut away from the bud Remove low branches to clear the stem

Young cherry ‘Sunburst’ trees with tops

removed to encourage branching

S
weet cherries, greengages, nectarines,
apricots, peaches, the classic Victoria
plum… the stone fruit family contains
some of the most delicious fruit the
home gardener can grow. Cropping at the height
of summer, they harness the sun’s warmth and
turn it into sweet delights bursting with nectar-
like flavour. Pruning of these trees seems to cause
people a lot of headaches – what to prune and
when – but follow a few simple rules, understand
the principles behind them and you will have Take out branches growing towards the centre Remove branches which cross
regular crops of these stars of the orchard.

SUMMER JOB
The first key point to remember – fruit trees, and the reason end of April is ideal. It is early enough in the
all stone fruit should be pruned why pruning should growing season for the tree to respond well
during the summer. This is done always be carried out to pruning, and put on good growth. For all
For young trees, prune in
to avoid serious diseases such as during the growing established trees, pruning should be done in July
late April to encourage a
silver leaf and bacterial canker, season when there are or August.
good branch framework.
which can prove fatal. Silver leaf fewer spores around.
For older trees, prune in
(Chondrostereum purpureum) is For young trees, where BALANCING ACT
July or August. Always try
a fungal disease which attacks the aim is to develop a The next question that always follows when
to prune during
stone fruit trees, especially Victoria branch framework, the customers are told to prune in summer is
dry weather.
plums, causing the leaves to develop “doesn’t that mean I will be cutting off all the
a silvery sheen and affected branches fruit?” Well, yes and no. Yes, there may well be
to die back. When these branches are cut, a few fruit that will be
there will be dark staining through the centre pruned off, but that is
of the wood. Silver leaf spores are not a bad thing. Most
released between September and plum trees in
May, particularly during periods particular have
of wet weather, and carried by the a tendency
wind. In some cases the foliage to overcrop.
doesn’t actually turn colour, the This can lead
first sign of the problem will be to undersized
branches starting to die back. It fruit, and a
is probably the most common biennial habit – a
cause of death for stone bumper crop may ➤

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 67

 GET GROWING

SILVER LEAF OR
FALSE SILVER LEAF?
False silver leaf is another common
problem for plum trees, but thankfully
is much less serious – foliage will turn
silvery, but branches will not die back
and crucially there is no dark staining of
the heartwood. Caused by stress, it can
be overcome by pruning, feeding the
affected tree with a balanced fertiliser
such as blood, fish and bone and
mulching to conserve moisture.

A young ‘Warwickshire Drooper’

plum tree before pruning ...the same tree after pruning

exhaust the tree and For most pruning carried out in the PRUNING
lead to little or no summer, there is no need to seal cuts As with all other
fruit the following – trees naturally produce a gum during orchard fruit, the
year. It’s a good rule the summer which heals wounds and first steps are to
to thin all orchard prevents infection. If you do have to prune out dead or Prune out congested growth
fruit by about 25% prune in winter, for example following diseased wood, weak
in June or July, and wind damage, then it is best to growth and branches
if this is done through paint the cuts with a sealing which are crossing
summer pruning, the compound, available at and rubbing. You can
fruit that are left will most garden centres. then move on to thinning
develop and ripen better. out the centre of the tree,
But you will not actually be creating an open framework
pruning off all the fruit, because for better air circulation. This is
you will not be giving the tree an all-over essential, as it helps prevent disease such
‘haircut’. Stone fruit trees produce as mildew and brown rot, and will also help
the majority of their flowers and fruit on the fruit ripen.
one- and two-year-old wood. As the branches At this point, for young trees, prune the
get older, they become much less productive main branches back by about half of last year’s
(this is the main reason you cannot grow stone growth, to a healthy bud on the outside/
fruit trees as espaliers). Successful pruning underside of the branch. This will encourage a
is a balancing act between encouraging this well-spaced framework.
continual production of new growth, and Once the tree is three or four years old, switch
leaving enough new wood on the plant to fruit to pruning in July/August. Carry out the first
next year. The aim is to prune back some of the steps as above, and take out any strong vertical
tree reasonably hard, taking off a couple of years’ growth. If the tree is outgrowing its site, take
growth, and leave the rest of the new growth 25% of the larger branches back by two years’
untouched. The following summer remove a bit growth. Leave the rest of the tree untouched.
more of the old wood – this ‘renewal’ pruning The following year prune another 25% of the
method means that you will constantly get some tree back. In this way you will manage the
of the tree putting on new growth for fruit in overall size of the tree, while leaving 75% of the
later years. growth required for fruit in the following year. ■ Remove suckers from the base of the tree

68 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 69
 GET GROWING

EE MOR
+S E
G

DIGITAL K
HERBAL
HERB
IN
DIGITAL K
IN
E G
+S
EE MOR

HARVEST
July is the key month for harvesting, preserving and propagating
your herbs and there are plenty of options, says Gaby Bartai

O
f the top 20 culinary herbs, only are ready to harvest just as they are about to fall;
six or so can be harvested through tap the seed-head and if the first seeds fall loose,
the winter. Up to a point that isn’t it’s time to cut the seed-heads or pods and get
a problem; herbs, like all crops, them indoors.
have their season, and evergreen stalwarts like Evergreen herbs can be harvested fresh all
rosemary, sage and bay step up as summer salads year round, so there is no need to preserve
give way to winter roasts and casseroles. But those unless you and the plant will be parting
the preserved flavours of summer can light up a company. I make an exception for thyme,
winter’s day – and preserving season starts early however; the plants are more likely to come
for herbs, which are mostly at their peak in July. through the winter if you harvest lush growth in
summer, and dry that for winter use, and then
HARVESTING HERBS leave the plants unmolested until spring.
The optimum time to harvest herbs for storage While it’s fine to take the odd sprig to use
is mid-morning – I’ve seen sources which pin it fresh in a perennial plant’s first season, you
down to 10.30am – on a dry, still day in early shouldn’t harvest perennial herbs in quantity
summer. There’s logic behind this prescriptiveness: until their second year. Never take more than
wet plant material won’t dry well, and will stick a third of the leaves from perennials, and
together if you freeze it, so you need to wait until rather than cutting leaves at random, take the
the dew has dried. By late morning, however, the opportunity to prune and shape the plant,
heat of the sun will be burning off the volatile oils removing unwanted shoots – reverted shoots on
that give the leaves their flavour. variegated herbs, for instance – and pinching
Leaf herbs should be harvested before they out growing tips to encourage bushiness. Only
flower – once they do, the leaves become tougher harvest leaves from healthy plants in peak
and have less flavour – and flowers should be condition, handle them as little as possible, and
harvested just before the buds open fully. Seeds process them quickly.

70 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 PRESERVING HERBS

FREEZING HERBS
A super method for preserving soft-leaved summer
herbs like parsley, basil and chives is to freeze them.
This could not be simpler: there’s no need to blanch
them; just place leaves or sprigs into plastic tubs. As
long as they are dry and you don’t compact them, they
won’t stick together, and you can just take out what
you need and crumble it straight into your cooking.
An alternative is to chop the herbs and pack them
into the compartments of an ice-cube tray, topped up
with water. Once they are frozen, transfer the cubes to
a plastic bag to free up the tray. They don’t need to be
defrosted before use; just drop the cubes straight into
the pan as you cook. You can also freeze borage flowers
into ice cubes for use in drinks (see also pages 32-33).
Parsley, like
many soft-
leaved herbs,
is better
frozen than
dried

Herb ice cubes can be

dropped straight into dishes
as you cook them

DRYING is no point in drying fragile

herbs like fennel, dill, chervil
HERBS and chives, which retain very
little by way of flavour, and
A drying rack is easily made while dried parsley and basil are
from a piece of mesh, hessian possible, I’m not persuaded by
or muslin nailed to a wooden the culinary merits of either.
frame or – even more easily – a Separate large-leaved
cotton hanky pegged over a herbs into individual leaves,
wire cake cooling rack. Good and small-leaved ones into tiny
airflow all around the herbs is sprigs; for the best flavour, you
essential. It’s best to dry each need to get them dry as quickly
type of herb separately because as possible. Lay them on the
they will taint one another, and rack in a single layer and put
because different leaves dry at it in a warm, dry, airy place, Oregano dryiing on a piiece off cottton sttrettch
hed
d over a wiire rack
k
different rates. away from bright light. Turn the
Oregano and its kin dry well, leaves over a couple of times a the leaves off any remaining is also possible; lush leaves
as do savory, lovage, hyssop, day so that they dry evenly. The stems and transfer them to a like mint will take about three
thyme, mint and lemon balm. herbs are ready when they are dark glass jar with a screw top – minutes, while small, dry leaves
Others are less successful; there brittle enough to crumble. Rub and a label. like thyme need just one.
Another option is to hang Spread seed-heads out
the herbs up in loose bunches, on trays to dry completely,
but you do need good drying then rub the seed free, sift out
conditions for this or they will any chaff, and store the seed in
go musty. You can also dry dark glass jars. Seed intended
herbs in a veery low
l oven f resowing sshould be
for
with the doo or left stored seeparately, in
ajar, as long paperr envelopes
as you can in a dry,
keep the ve
ery cool
temperature e place. ➤
p
down to
30C (85F). Fennel and
Dried herbs can also be used to make herbal teas out of season: this Microwave coriander
is peppermint drying seeds

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 GET GROWING

OILSAND and/or unripe seeds),

VINEGARS oregano, rosemary, savory,

tarragon and thyme.
Herb oils and vinegars let The most scrupulous
you preserve the flavour of safety advice recommends
summer herbs for winter the ‘warm infusion’ method d
salad dressings, sauces and given below for making
marinades. Use three or herb oils, because the
four large sprigs of freshly ‘cold infusion’ method, where d
decorative sprig off the
h hherb
b
gathered herbs to 600ml you leave the herbs in oil at to the finished oil.
(1pt) of oil or vinegar. room temperature for up to You can safely take your
Possibilities include basil, four weeks, carries a small pick between the warm
chervil, dill (leaves risk of cultivating botulism and cold infusion methods
and/or seeds), fennel, along with the flavour. For for herb vinegars, as the
hyssop, lemon balm, the same reason, it’s advised bacteria can’t develop in an
mint, nasturtium (flowers that you do not add a acidic environment.

STEP BY STEP OIL

STEP 1: Use a good-quality oil with a STEP 3: Remove the pan from the heat,
mild or neutral taste, like sunflower or cover it, and let the flavouring infuse for
safflower. For robust herbs like basil about two hours.
and hyssop, you could also use a mild
olive oil. STEP 4: Strain the oil through filter
paper into sterilised bottles, discarding
STEP 2: Chop the herbs and put the herbs. The oil can safely be stored
them into a pan with the oil. Heat at room temperature, but keeping it in
it gently until a few bubbles rise to the fridge will preserve a better flavour
the surface. for longer.

STEP BY STEP VINEGAR

STEP 1: Use wine or the boil to heat up the
cider vinegar, not malt vinegar, then remove the
vinegar, which will bowl from the pan and
overpower the flavour of let the flavouring infuse
most herbs. for about two hours.

STEP 2: Coarsely chop or STEP 3: When you are

crush the herbs and put happy with the flavour,
them into sterilised jars. strain the vinegar
Top up the jars with cold through filter paper and
vinegar, then let them discard the herbs.
stand in a warm place for
two to four weeks, giving STEP 4: Pour the vinegar
them a shake every into sterilised bottles.
couple of days. Add a fresh sprig of the
Or, for faster results, herb for decoration, if
put the herbs and you wish.
vinegar into a covered
bowl over a pan of Store in a cool dark
water. Bring the water to place.

A wide range of
herbs – as well as
garlic and chillies
– can be used to
flavour oils and
vinegars
Tarragon and dill vinegars

72 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 PRESERVING HERBS

STEP BY STEP
CUTTINGS

Mint is so easily propagated that the

HERB CONDIMENTS challenge is stopping it from growing
Another way of preserving the flavour of basil STEP 1: Cut strong, healthy, non-flowering
into the winter months is in the form of pesto, shoots. Put them straight into a misted
ready to add to pasta, toss through vegetables, plastic bag to stop them drying out.
or swirl into soups. You can also make a parsley
pesto, with the traditional pine nuts or with
walnuts. Pesto will only keep for a couple of
weeks in the fridge, but it can be frozen for
longer-term storage, in plastic tubs or as
cubes frozen in an ice-cube tray.
An alternative way of preserving
mint is as mint sauce – which is really
just a glorified herb vinegar. To make
a mint sauce concentrate, pack finely
chopped mint into a jar, dissolve sugar
in white wine vinegar (70g/2½oz sugar
per 100ml/3½fl oz vinegar), and use STEP 2: Carefully trim off all the lower
this to top up the jar. Dilute the sauce to leaves, and cut the stems cleanly just
taste with more vinegar and/or water when below a leaf node.
you come to use it. Mint – or, if you prefer,
rosemary, sage or thyme – can also be added to
an apple jelly to serve with roast meat.

PROPAGATING Softwood cuttings can be Herbaceous perennial

HERBS taken any time between

late spring and the middle
herbs like fennel, lovage,
French tarragon, lemon
If you’re creating or of summer, when the balm, oregano and chives
renewing a herb garden, plants are growing strongly need to be lifted and
the start of summer is but before they flower. divided every few years, STEP 3: Fill pots with compost mixed
also an opportunity to Candidates include sage, in early spring or autumn, with sand or perlite to improve drainage.
increase your stock. Most rosemary, thyme, lemon so this is another way of Insert three or four cuttings into each
perennial culinary herbs balm, oregano, winter acquiring new plants. You pot to the level of the lowest remaining
can be propagated from savory, bay and hyssop. can also propagate sage, leaves, and firm them in.
softwood cuttings, so if You can also take softwood rosemary and thyme by
you know someone with an cuttings from mint, but layering, where you peg
established herb garden that’s hardly necessary; down a low-growing branch
this is a cost-free way to just transplant a section of at a leaf node. This is best
expand your collection – root with a shoot attached, done in late spring or early
and much quicker stand back and watch autumn. Wait until it has
than growing perennials it grow. rooted well, then
from seed. sever it from the
parent plant and
transplant it.

STEP 4: Mist the cuttings with water

and cover the pot with a plastic bag to
conserve moisture. Put the pot in a warm
place – 18-25C (64-77F) is optimal – and
mist the cuttings each day. They should
root in two to three weeks.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 73

 LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE
WITH THESE

LANTERN LOVELIES
Small in size but big on flavour, Cape gooseberries and tomatillos are easy to grow,
bringing a unique tang and tartness to the kitchen table, says Sue Stickland

C
ape gooseberries ooze exoticness: They are similarly native to South America, Cape gooseberry, and a few w
from their supermarket name their name deriving not from their origin but named varieties are availabble
of ‘Golden Berry’ to their use in from the Cape of Good Hope where they were as plants. My rescued plan nt on
luxury desserts and their distinctly popular among early settlers. In the UK, the the other hand was low and bushy and produced
tropical taste (like vanilla, coconut or pineapple plants will thrive in a cold greenhouse or outside much smaller fruits – not quite so rich colour but
perhaps?). Amazing then that they are so easy in a warm sunny spot, although they need a long with a similar exotic flavour. As I found out later,
to grow – just like a tomato but without any season to produce good yields of ripe berries. it was another species (Physalis pruinosa), usually
problems from blight. called dwarf Cape gooseberry or ground cherry.
TYPES AND VARIETIES
Plants in the Cape gooseberry family (Physalis) GROW YOUR OWN PLANTS
are easy to spot because the fruits come self- Sow Cape gooseberry seeds as you would tomatoes
wrapped in attractive (but not edible) – preferably in March in a shallow tray or pot of
papery lanterns. What I didn’t realise good seed compost; keep it in a propagator or
until I picked up a lonely plant at on a warm windowsill (a temperature of about
the end of a charity sale is that 20C/68F is usually recommended). Seeds of
there are two different types of tall Cape gooseberries should germinate readily
‘Cape gooseberry’ with significant within 10 days, but I have found those of the
differences between them. The most dwarf type less willing. Some suppliers advise
well known is Physalis peruviana, soaking them overnight in warm water before
which grows to about 1.5m (5ft) and sowing; others suggest covering them with only
bears the large deep yellow berries sold (at a price) a thin sprinkling of vermiculite because light is
in the shops. Seed of this type is sold simply as required for germination. A combination of higher
‘Cape gooseberry’ or sometimes ‘tall’ or ‘giant’ temperatures and strong light seems to do the

74 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 CAPE GOOSEBERRIES

TOMATILLOS
The tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) is
another lantern-enclosed fruit that is easy
to grow in the UK. These fruits are like tart
green tomatoes, nearly always used for
savoury dishes – particularly salsas, sauces
and chutneys – to give them a citrusy tang.
They are propagated from seed and grown
just like a Cape gooseberry, in a polytunnel
or greenhouse, or in a warm, sheltered
Sow Cape gooseberry seed as you would position outside. If anything, they are more
tomatoes and at about the same time rampant than Cape gooseberries and can
produce a prolific crop.
Despite this, my first attempt at
growing them was a disaster – the plant
I put in my tunnel was healthy and Planting tomatillos in a polytunnel border –
vigorous, but it produced precisely two they will also grow in a warm spot outside
fruits. So it is true what the instructions on
the seed packets say (I should have read readily drawn to the plants in my tunnel
them more carefully): you need to grow last year – at least one or two always
two or more tomatillo plants for the flowers seemed to be working away.
to pollinate and set. If you are short of Tomatillo fruits can get quite large –
space, you can plant two close together cherry tomato size – and will start to burst
Keep young plants in a frost-free and cut out some stems of each to out of their lanterns while still green. This
greenhouse or on a warm windowsill prevent a jungle. You also need is the best time to harvest them for their
to make sure that insects can unique tang. If left to fully ripen, they
get into greenhouses and become softer and slightly sweeter, with a
“In the UK, polytunnels. Bees were flavour which is not necessarily so pleasing.
the plants will
thrive in a cold
greenhouse or
outside in a
warm sunny
spot”

Support the brittle branches of cape

gooseberries with canes
Tomatillo flowers need pollen from another
trick for mine. Once germinated, the seedlings tomatillo plant in order to set fruit – papery
grow strongly. Pot them up into individual small Tomatillos form large vigorous sprawling plants lanterns with green berries inside
pots before they start competing with each other,
and grow them on in the warmth – ideally on a
windowsill or in a heated part of a greenhouse.
By the end of April/beginning of May, they
should be happy in a cold greenhouse, although
protect them with cloches or fleece on cold
nights to make sure they remain frost free.

CAPE GOOSEBERRY CARE

Cape gooseberries don’t need a rich soil –
indeed, adding too much manure or compost
can cause them to make extra leafy growth and
delays fruiting. Instead, add leafmould or grit
to heavy soils to improve drainage if necessary.
You can plant them out, either outside in
mild areas or in a greenhouse border, once
you can ensure that there is no danger of frost
reaching them. Space them about 1m (3ft) apart, Harvest tomatillos when the green fruit swell They can be the size of cherry tomatoes and
which allows dwarf varieties to sprawl and tall and split their protective lanterns are usually used when still green and crisp
varieties to produce long branching stems. ➤

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 75

 GET GROWING

In late summer, the papery lanterns around

Cape gooseberry fruits start to turn from green
to light brown

My preferred alternative is to grow them in large THE GOLDEN HARVEST

SAVING SEEDS (at least 25cm/10in) pots, as it restricts their During the summer, the rather insignificant Cape

& PLANTS growth and makes them fruit earlier. Although

each plant then produces fewer berries, in
gooseberry flowers are replaced by green lantern-
like husks, which grow and grow. Once these
Tomatillos and both types of Cape my cold area there is a better chance of them start to turn buff and papery, you can see the faint
gooseberry (dwarf and tall) are usually ripening before the autumn frosts. glow of the fruits swelling and ripening to yellow
grown each year from seed, and it is Cape gooseberries do not need any inside. With the dwarf type of plant,
easy to save your own. Cut open several complicated pinching out or no decision on when to harvest is
really ripe berries and gently scrape out
the tiny seeds; spread them with the tip
training. Tall varieties produce
long brittle stems which need
Look out necessary – ripe fruit simply drop
from the stems on to the ground
of a knife on to a piece of paper towel (I support to keep them upright for your free or greenhouse bench. They are
definitely need my glasses for this!) and and stop them from breaking. Cape gooseberry 1-2cm (½-¾in) across, perfect
dry the whole sheet somewhere warm
and airy but not too hot. Once dry, label
You can hammer a thick
stake into the ground and tie
‘Golden Berry’ snack size. Although they
are well protected by their
the sheet with the fruit type and date the main growths loosely to seeds with this lanterns, I try to collect them
and store it in a dry cool place. To sow that or alternatively support month’s up daily before they disappear
next year, you can simply tear off a piece
of the seeded sheet, lay it in a pot and
each branching stem with an
individual cane. I sometimes thin
issue (my other half blames the mice,
but I’m not so sure...). On tall
sprinkle a fine layer of compost over it. out and trim the stems to allow Cape gooseberries, the berries can
in light and air and encourage the be twice the size and will stay on the
fruit that has already formed to plant until picked – wait until they
ripen. Dwarf types can similarly be have ripened to a rich golden yellow.
‘pruned’, and this will keep them in I prefer my Cape gooseberries
check if space is short. eaten raw, especially because they
Otherwise, they need little can be picked into late autumn
attention. Water plants in pots undercover when succulent fruits like
and feed them regularly with this are a real treat. They also have a
a tomato fertiliser and mulch long shelf life – in their lanterns, they
beneath plants in the ground will store in a cool room for several
with dry hay or straw to keep any weeks. I use them in fruit salads with
Saving seed from Cape gooseberry low-growing fruit clean. Pests and our own autumn raspberries and
diseases are rarely troublesome. eating apples, or to decorate trifles

76 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 CAPE GOOSEBERRIES

Harvested dwarf Cape

gooseberries (the berries
are smaller and paler)

When ripe, the fruits of dwarf Cape gooseberries Cape gooseberry plant overwintering with
drop on to the ground or greenhouse bench other tender plants

The fruits of tall

Cape gooseberries
ripen to yellow on
BUYING SEEDS
the plant & PLANTS
Tall Cape gooseberries Physalis peruviana
– look for seeds or plants labelled
‘Golden Berry’, ‘Incaberry’, ‘giant Cape
gooseberry’ or just ‘Cape gooseberry’.
and cakes. They can also be cooked on their own Varieties available as plants are ‘Big Little
or with other fruits – to give an aromatic hint to Buddha’ (extra large fruit) and ‘Peter’s
a traditional apple crumble or pie, for example, Best’ (medium-sized extra sweet fruit)
which is certain to impress guests. However, I think from Lubera (www.lubera.co.uk).
chocolate is their best match – try melting some Dwarf Cape gooseberry Physalis
good quality plain chocolate, dipping the fruits in pruinosa seeds are sometimes sold as
and leaving the coating to set – a dark bittersweet ‘ground cherry’. Varieties available as
layer surrounding a golden fruity centre – what plants are ‘Little Lantern’ from Suttons
could be more exotic than this? (www.suttons.co.uk) and ‘Biscuit’ from
Lubera (www.lubera.co.uk).
OVERWINTERING Tomatillo seeds are widely available –
Another option for tall Cape gooseberries usually producing green fruit, but some
Physalis peruviana is to overwinter the plants. strains have a purple blush when fully ripe.
These are perennials in their country of origin
and will stay alive in the UK if you can keep
them frost free. It doesn’t take much. Protect the
crowns of plants in a greenhouse border with a
Harvested tall Cape
mulch or fleece – the tops will die back but, if gooseberry (variety
the winter is mild, the plants will often reshoot ‘Little Buddha’ selected
in spring. Alternatively you could bring plants in for its large fruits)
pots into a conservatory or other frost-free place.
I take cuttings in late summer and overwinter
small-rooted plants – these take up less space
and I keep one or two in my porch along with
lemon grass, kaffir lime and other tender edibles.
Second-year Cape gooseberries should flower
and fruit earlier and give a heavier crop. And of
course, if they are a named variety (or a plant
you have selected for taste or berry size), they
will be true to type. Only overwinter healthy
plants, however, otherwise you risk also giving
greenhouse pests and diseases a head start. ■

www.kitchengarden.co.uk
WHAT TO BUY | WEEDKILLERS

PRODUCT REVIEWS

WEEDKILLERS
Weeds are a perennial problem (pardon the pun!), especially those that encroach
on the borders of your plot or spring up from nowhere on your paths, patios and
driveways. So here is a selection of weedkillers the KG team put to the test this month

RESOLVA
POWERPUMP
This is easy to use and was very effective.
This Resolva Powerpump weedkiller Pressing the pump 20 times gives you five
spray contains diquat and glyphosate. minutes’ worth of spraying action. Weeds
It kills most weeds with a single started to die back within 24 hours of the initial
application and results are visible application. Great for whole swathes of weeds or
within 24 hours. Some weeds may for small-scale application on paths and patios.
require a second application.
Quality ★★★★★
GARDEN HEALTH Effectiveness ★★★★★
www.gardenhealth.com
Value for money ★★★★★
PRODUCT CODE: N/A
PRICE: RRP £27.99 (5L)

78 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 TRIED & TESTED

SUPERFAST & PATHS, PATIO, WEED ROUNDUP TELESCOPIC

LONGLASTING WEEDKILLER & MOSS WEEDKILLER GEL WAND
This Neudorff weedkiller is a complete herbicide This is a non-selective weedkiller for all year This wand has a reach which extends from
for both weeds and grasses. It works its way round use for the control of annual and 0.3m to 0.6m. Roundup Gel attaches to the
down to the roots with visible results within one perennial weeds. Containing acetic acid, it has wand with a simple twist and dispenses the
day of treatment. Contains pelargonic acid and 100% natural ingredients. Biodegradable and, weedkiller by clicking on the trigger. Contains
maleic hydrazide. once dry, safe for animals to enter the area. glyphosate.

GARDENING NATURALLY ECOFECTIVE ROUNDUP-GARDEN

www.gardening-naturally.com http://ecofective.uk.com www.roundup-garden.com
PRODUCT CODE: SLWWEEDKILLER PRODUCT CODE: ECF0005/ECF0006 PRODUCT CODE: N/A
PRICE: £15.99 (3L) PRICE GUIDE: £4.99 (1L), £17.99 (4L) PRICE GUIDE: £22.99

Easy to set up – just attach the gun and Easy to apply and quick to take effect. Good for small areas or a few problem
away you go. The spring connection Weeds showed signs of scorching around weeds, especially persistent perennials,
gives flexibility and allows for precise 24 hours after application. Very effective but not really intended for larger or
targeting of weeds. We used it on a on broad-leaved weeds and also annuals. badly infested areas. The extending
paved area and the effects were visible Deep-rooted perennials may require a handle makes application easy without
within 24 hours of use. repeat application. having to bend. ➤

Quality ★★★★★ Quality ★★★★★ Quality ★★★★★

Effectiveness ★★★★★ Effectiveness ★★★★★ Effectiveness ★★★★★
Value for money ★★★★★ Value for money ★★★★★ Value for money ★★★★★

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 79

WHAT TO BUY | WEEDKILLERS

DEADFAST WEEDKILLER GARDEN ROOTKILL CAMPINGAZ GARDEN TORCH

CONCENTRATE This multi-purpose weedkiller is effective This lightweight GT3000 PZ Garden torch has
For paths, drives and wasteland, this comes in for both annual and deep-rooted perennial an ergonomic handle, piezo ignition and an
2 sizes, 3x100ml sachets and 12x100ml sachets. weeds. The solution is absorbed through the adjustable flame which can reach 1800C. Once
Containing glyphosate, it kills weeds at their leaves, moving down to the roots. Contains started it’s just a matter of targeting each
roots with effects visible between 7-14 days. glyphosate. individual weed for a few seconds.

GARDEN HEALTH BAYER GARDEN CAMPINGAZ

www.gardenhealth.com www.bayergarden.co.uk www.campingaz.com
PRODUCT CODE: N/A PRODUCT CODE: N/A PRODUCT CODE: GT3000
PRICE GUIDE: £5.99 (3 sachets) PRICE: £14.49 PRICE: £30.74
£15.99 (12 sachets)

This is a good one for pathways and This is a concentrate solution which This is a good one for getting rid of
drives. The concentrate comes in sachets you mix with water and then apply weeds scattered here and there. It’s
which can be dissolved in a litre of water to the affected areas. Good in-built simple to use: screw in the gas canister
or applied ‘neat’. The effects are not measuring reservoir. Effects are not seen (supplied) and then fire it up. Works
visible for a week but certainly effective immediately but a good one for patios, by thermal shock, so effects are not
if you’re prepared to be patient. drives and pathways. visible immediately. ■

Quality ★★★★★ Quality ★★★★★ Quality ★★★★★

Effectiveness ★★★★★ Effectiveness ★★★★★ Effectiveness ★★★★★
Value for money ★★★★★ Value for money ★★★★★ Value for money ★★★★★

Always read
the instructions
carefully. Use
pesticides
safely.

80 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 XXX

L
LADDER
SHELF

Looking for something both attractive

and space saving to house your plants?
Why not make a ladder shelf? The sky’s
the limit, says Martin Fish ➤

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 81

 GET GROWING You will need
these materials

G
rowing plants and displaying them or stained to make it much more decorative
around the garden is something we and when plants are growing on the shelves
all do in different ways and one very it makes a really interesting feature in the veg
good way to grow plants is on an plot, the garden or even in a greenhouse.
open shelf system. This not only looks decorative, As for what to grow on the ladder frame,
but it’s a great way of saving space and it allows the sky’s the limit. Small vegetables, salad
you to grow a selection of plants together. leaves, strawberries and herbs can all be
A ladder shelf is a very simple method and can grown in pots or deep trays on the shelves
be made in various ways to suit your needs and and of course the plants can be changed
growing conditions. It is, as its name suggests, through the seasons.
made from ladders and if you have an old Our ladder shelf is going to stand against a
wooden ladder kicking about that isn’t used any wall close to the back door where we can enjoy MATERIALS
more it is ideal to turn into the frame for a shelf. looking at it all year round. I intend to grow a The basic framework for the ladder is made from
Alternatively, you can easily make a ladder-like mixture of herbs in pots, salad leaves and maybe pressure-treated 5x5cm (2x2in) timber.
structure out of wood that will look the part. strawberries. I’ll also mix in a few ornamental The shelves are also made from treated timber.
The basic design is to use two pieces of ladder to plants such as scented leaved pelargoniums and I’ve gone for boards that are 2cm (¾in) thick
create an A-shaped frame. violas so that the display is decorative as well and 7.5cm (3in) wide. I’m using three boards
If the ladder shelf is going against a wall, it as functional. for each shelf, with a small gap between them to
doesn’t need to be very deep, but if you want it give a slatted effect.
to be free-standing in the garden, make sure it DIMENSIONS You will also need sand paper, nails or screws
is deep enough to withstand windy weather. To The ladder shelf that I’ve made when assembled and paint or stain.
make the shelves for displaying or growing your stands approximately 1.65m (5ft 6in) tall and at
plants, you simply use wooden boards or planks the base is 1.5m (5ft) wide. The depth is around TOOLS REQUIRED
positioned on the ladder rungs. Ideally, these 37.5cm (15in) with rungs of 27.7cm (11in) Basic wood working tools are all that’s needed
should be fixed for extra stability and to make which determines the depth of the shelves. to make the shelf unit, including tape measure,
the shelf much more robust. At this depth the shelves will free stand pencil, set-square wood saw, rasp and hammer.
The design can be tweaked in many ways on level ground, but if the depth is increased I decided to nail the frame together, but
and the size of the ladder shelf can be to suit slightly the structure will be more stable, you could screw it, in which case you’ll need a
where it’s going to stand. It can also be painted especially when it’s breezy! screwdriver or power-driver.

STEP BY STEP LADDER SHELF

1 2 3
STEP 1: Decide on the height and depth of STEP 2: It’s important that the cuts are square, STEP 3: Cut carefully on the line, making sure
the ladder and measure the long lengths so use a set square to mark all around the the cuts are all even and square, especially the
and rungs for the ladder frame circumference of the timbers ladder rungs

4 5 6
STEP 4: Make sure that all edges are sanded STEP 5: To work out where to position the STEP 6: Lay the sections of the ladder on
to remove any rough edges so that the ladder rungs and shelves, lay the A-frame on the floor a level floor and position the rungs evenly
frame fits neatly together and play around with measurements between the long rails

82 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 ■ The distance between the ladder
rungs will determine the position of the
shelves. For small plants they can be
closer together, but where you want
to stand larger pots allow more space
between the rungs. I’ve positioned my
shelves approximately 40cm (16in) apart.

■ When the shelves are fixed into position

removed the temporary brace. If there is
still a bit of a wobble, use a long screw to
join the tops of the frames together.

■ If using several narrow boards to

create a slatted shelf, leave a gap
between them. This allows water to
drain easily and also allows for any
shrinkage and expansion of the timber.

■ If standing the ladder shelf against

a wall or fence, it’s a good idea to fix
it with screws by drilling through the
frame into the back wall.

7 8 9
STEP 7: Nail or screw through the rails into STEP 8: Stand the two finished ladders STEP 9: With the frame standing upright,
the rungs to create the ladder frame, making together to form the A-frame and fix a lay on the shelving boards across the rungs,
sure everything is nailed tightly temporary brace to hold the shape measure and cut to length

10 11 12
STEP 10: Use a wood rasp or sand paper to STEP 11: Paint the A-frame and shelving STEP 12: Position the shelves and check they
remove rough edges, especially if using rough boards with paint or stain. This is easier to do are all evenly spaced before nailing them into
sawn treated timber before you fix the shelves the ladder rungs ■

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 83

WHAT TO BUY | OFFERS

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84 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 READER OFFERS

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BROCCOLI ‘RUDOLPH’ ORDER FORM
Code Offer Price Qty Total
Our offer: 15 plants – £6.95
The earliest cropping broccoli in our range 47486 Runner £9.90
has a deep flavour, a beautiful purple head Bean Plant
Collection: 20
and a unique melt-in-the mouth tenderness plants, 10 of
that has to be tried to be believed. This young each SAVE £4

plant will continue to crop for six continuous

months, supplying your kitchen right through 47495 Dwarf £9.95
French Bean
to March. Collection: 15
Ready for harvest from October. plants, 5 of
each
Code 41141
47462 Courgette £8.45
Collection: 6
plants, 3 of
KALETTES MIXED each
SAVE £3
Our Offer: 15 plants – £6.95
A distinctive cross between kale and 41141 Sprouting £6.95
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts, this British-bred plant ‘Rudolph’: 15
is extremely winter-hardy, making it a plants
prime selection for any plot. The vibrant,
open frilly buttons produced have a
40216 Kalettes Mixed: £6.95
taste similar to that of spring greens 15 plants
that is completely different to both of
its parent.
46221 Perennial £9.95
Ready for harvest from August. Herb plant
Code 40216 collection: 6
plants, 1 of
each variety
SAVE £2

51246 FREE £5.95 1 £5.95

BRASSICAS p&p
AND BROAD
BEAN PLANT
PERENNIAL SAVE
COLLECTION -
WORTH £17.90
HERB PLANT £2 KG17JUL TOTAL
COLLECTION
I enclose my cheque payable to D T Brown
Our offer: 6 plants, OR please debit my Mastercard/Visa account
1 of each variety – £9.95 (delete as applicable)
Complete your kitchen collection
and revolutionise your meals with ❑ Visa ❑ Mastercard
our selection of herbs. Each variety
is fully hardy and incredibly easy to
grow and manage, whether planted Name
in the ground or added to patio pots
Address
and window boxes. Each collection
contains 1 of each: garden mint, lemon
thyme, purple sage, French tarragon,
oregano and rosemary ‘Miss Jessopp’s’
Code 46221 Postcode

Telephone

Email address

HOW TO please. *calls cost 3p

per minute plus your
All items despatched from
July 2017. Offer subject to Please fill in Card No below
ORDER phone company’s
access charge.
availability, only one, FREE
collection per household,
Call the credit card and Or send a cheque made D T Brown reserves the right
debit card order hotline on payable to D T Brown to substitute with a product Expiry date
0845 371 0532* (open 8am Seeds to Kitchen Garden of equal or greater value.
Security No
to 8pm weekdays & 9am JULY Offers (KG17JUL), Please note that a £5.95 p&p
to 5pm weekends). Only D T Brown Seeds, Bury charge will apply should you
orders above £10 by phone Road, Newmarket, CB8 7PQ. not take up the free item.
Signature

Tick if you do not wish to receive further product information

ORDERING ONLINE? VISIT WWW.KITCHENGARDENSHOP.CO.UK AND ENTER from D.T. Brown. Offers are subject to availability. ❑
CODE KG17JUL WHEN PROMPTED TO RECEIVE YOUR READER DISCOUNT

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 85

WHAT TO BUY | GIVEAWAYS

GIVEAWAYS WORTH
OVER
£1665
TO ENTER OUR GIVEAWAYS SEE PAGE 93 OR VISIT THE KG WEBSITE

DIG EASY WITH DRAPER

Make short work of digging with the Draper Expert 135cc Petrol
Cultivator/Tiller (stock no. 58972; £300). Manufactured to be
robust and durable, this cultivator is ideal for preparing the
ground in gardens, allotments and smallholdings. Its formidable
135cc petrol engine delivers power to the tines under varying
soil conditions and effortlessly cuts through hard soil, roots and
sod. It has a light, easy-to-handle frame, with fingertip throttle
control and a clutch handle, a tilling width of 400mm (15¾in) and
a tilling depth of 280mm (11in).
One lucky KG reader can win a Draper Expert 135cc Petrol
Cultivator/Tiller – and we also have Draper prize packages to
help five runners-up make light work of hand cultivation.
They’ll get a four-piece Stainless Steel Border Fork, Spade,
Hand Trowel and Weeder Set (stock no. 10347; £62.45). These
expert-quality tools have fully hardened, tempered and polished
stainless steel sockets, tines and blades, securely fitted to
FSC-certified solid ash handles. Our runners-up will also get
a Carbon Steel Cultivator with Ash Handle (stock no. 14309;
£10.36), which has a three-prong 125mm (5in) head with an
epoxy-coated finish and a lacquered ash handle, and a nine-litre
Watering Can (stock no. 53234; £15.54), a traditional-style can
made from galvanised steel.
Draper Tools is a British family company which was founded in
1919. Today, under third-generation ownership, its premises have
expanded to house what is thought to be the largest stock of
tools in one place anywhere in the UK. Draper’s huge range for
amateur and professional gardeners encompasses power tools,
hand tools and watering, lawncare and composting equipment.
The Draper Expert range is ‘Made For The Trade’ and has the
quality and features to meet and exceed the expectations of the
most demanding professional user.
For more information on Draper Tools or to find details of local
PRIZE
WORTH
5
RUNNER-UP
stockists, visit www.drapertools.com or call 023 8049 4333. £300 TO PRIZES TO
GIVE GIVE
AWAY
We have one prize of a Draper Expert 135cc Petrol Cultivator/Tiller AWAY
worth £300, and five runners-up prize packages, each worth a total of
£88.35, to give away.
Prices quoted are typical and were
correct at the time of going to press.

86 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 GIVEAWAYS

GO WITH THE FLO!

Two lucky readers will be set for summer with a Flopro+ watering
essentials set. They’ll get a Flopro+ Hose and Cart System (RRP
£79.99), which includes 30m (33yd) of four-layer reinforced hose
on a wheeled cart complete with all fittings and extra cart-to-tap
connection so it’s ready to use. They’ll also get a Flopro+ Hose
Connector Starter Set (£19.99) comprising a triple-fit outside
tap connector, hose connector, water-stop hose connector and
adjustable hose nozzle.
Our prize sets also include a Flopro+ Hydra Spray Gun
(£21.99), which has four spray patterns. Water flow is fully
adjustable with one hand, and its ergonomic styling provides
a lightweight, easy-to-use system with a comfort-grip handle.
The sets also include a Flopro+ Typhoon Rotating Sprinkler
(£24.99), an adjustable-speed sprinkler with 12 nozzles to ensure

POP-UP PLANT HOUSE even water distribution, and two Flopro

Ground Hose Guides (£5.99 each), to
Haxnicks’ Sunbubble is an instant plant house/conservatory that is easy guide your hose around the garden while
to use, easy to move and easy to store. Made from UV-stabilised PVC
and flexible fibreglass rods, it is quick to put up, and with its patented
one-piece folding design can be just as easily packed away into its
2SETS
eliminating kinks.
For more information and local
stockists go to www.flopro-uk.com
sturdy storage bag. TO GIVE
The Sunbubble warms up quicker than a traditional greenhouse and AWAY We have two Flopro+
its curved shape means that the surface stays at 90° to the sun all day watering essentials sets,
long, achieving minimum reflection and maximum light penetration. each worth £158.94, to
A Sunbubble also makes a perfect outdoor playroom or dining room. give away.
It comes in two sizes: Large (diameter 3.5m/11ft 5in; height 2.2m/7ft
2in; £299) or Standard (diameter 2.8m/9ft 2in; height 2m/6ft 6in; £199).
Haxnicks products are available in garden centres and at
www.haxnicks.co.uk To find out more visit the website
or call 0117 934 1799.

1
TO GIVE
We have one Large Sunbubble worth £299 to
give away.
AWAY

PUT PAID TO PESTS

Protect your garden from a wide range of pests
with nematode products from Nemasys. These
biological controls each target a specific pest,
so garden wildlife and pets are not harmed.
Application couldn’t be easier – they are
simply watered on to the soil and leaves –
and just one application will provide up to six
weeks’ protection.
Our prizes include Nemaslug, Nemasys Vine
Weevil Killer and Nemasys Fruit and Vegetable
Protection, so your garden will be protected
from some of the UK’s most widespread and
troublesome pests. Nemasys Fruit and Vegetable

10
Protection contains a variety of nematodes to
target a range of common pests: carrot root fly,
cabbage root fly, leatherjackets, cutworms, onion SETS
fly, sciarid fly, caterpillars, gooseberry sawfly, TO GIVE
thrips and codling moth – so used alongside AWAY
Nemaslug and Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer, that’s
most pests covered!
All Nemasys products are available online.

We have 10 sets of Nemaslug, Nemasys Vine

Weevil Killer and Nemasys Fruit and Vegetable
Protection, each worth a total of £30.67, to
give away.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 87

GET COOKING

barbeCue
feast This month Anna Pettigrew has
some tasty treats for your al fresco
dining – using mixed herbs,
red onions and tomato
 Rich &
creamy
dish

Thread salmon pieces on

to two skewers so they
don’t flip and spin when
you turn them on
the barbecue.

GRILLED SALMON
KEBABSWITH
A CHILLI HERB
DRESSING
These spicy and delicious salmon
kebabs are the perfect fish dish for your
summer BBQ party.

SERVES 4 bbq’dwholeauberginewith seasonalherbs

Preparation time: 30 minutes This is the best way I’ve found to serve 1. Get your BBQ nice and hot.
Cooking time: 10 minutes aubergine. By barbecuing it, then removing 2. Run a sharp knife round the top of the
the outer skin, it becomes rich and creamy. aubergine, 1cm/½in or so below the stalk and
■ 680g/1½lb skinless salmon fillet Pour plenty of good olive oil over and lots only just cutting through the skin; then make
(preferably wild), cut into 1-inch pieces of herbs for a wonderfully summery dish. four evenly spaced, similarly shallow cuts,
■ 2 organic lemons, very thinly sliced along the length of the aubergine right down
into rounds to the end.
■ 1 red onion, cut into wedges 3. Grill the aubergines for about 20 minutes,
■ 3 tbsp coarsely chopped flat-leaf MAKES 4asa main, turning every 5-7 minutes or so, until evenly
parsley or 8asa side cooked with charred skin, and until the
■ 3 tbsp coriander, chopped aubergine feels soft, but not too collapsed
■ 5 tbsp organic olive oil Preparation time: 15 minutes within. In the case of the purple aubergines,
■ 2 tbsp red wine vinegar Cooking time: 30 minutes the skin will also have turned a dull brown
■ 1 red chilli, finely chopped colour. Transfer to a large oval white plate and
■ 4 long aubergines allow to cool for two minutes.
1. Using two skewers at a time, stick the ■ 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 3. Peel away the aubergine skin in four long,
salmon, onion and folded lemon slices ■ A large handful of mixed herbs such as narrow sheets using a small knife. Without
on to 8 pairs of parallel skewers (making parsley, rosemary, mint, finely chopped cutting right through the stalk end, cut the
8 in total). Brush with a little oil. ■ 5-6 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil aubergines in half lengthways and gently prise
2. Combine the remaining oil, vinegar, ■ Sea salt and black pepper apart until you have two horizontal halves
chilli and herbs in a bowl. Set aside. ■ 150g/5oz remaining attached at the top end.
3. On a hot BBQ, place the kebabs on feta cheese 5. Mix the garlic and parsley with the olive oil
the grate, then grill, turning once, until ■ 2 organic until well combined and spoon the mixture over
the fish is just cooked through, and is lemons for the aubergine. Season lightly with salt (not too
nicely coloured (roughly 4 minutes). serving much – the cheese is salty anyway) and pepper,
4. Arrange the kebabs on plates. Spoon then crumble the feta cheese over the top. If
the dressing on top of the kebabs. liked, trickle over more olive oil to finish.
Serve. Serve warm, or at room temperature with the
lemon squeezed over.➤

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 89

 GET COOKING

LENTILBURGERWITH
REDONION
A delicious and light vegetarian burger,
perfect for enjoying al fresco. It is really
simple to make as you throw all the
ingredients in a food processor. No
chopping required!

SERVES 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes

■ 125g/4.5oz red lentils SUMMERORZOSALADWITHREDONION

■ 1 large red onion
■ 1 egg Mediterranean orzo pasta is great in salads, and this Greek-inspired salad is great served
■ 1 tbsp tomato paste at your next BBQ.
■ 1 tsp cumin
■ 1 tsp turmeric SERVES 6-8
■ 1 tsp chilli flakes
■ 6-8 tbsp oats Preparation time: 20 minutes 1. In a large bowl, combine the cucumber,
■ 1 handful flat-leaf parsley Cooking time: 10 minutes feta, black olives, tomatoes and parsley.
■ Sea salt and pepper 2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
■ Coconut oil for frying ■ 450g/1lb orzo pasta Cook the orzo as directed on the packet.
■ 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced 3. Drain and rinse with water to cool.
1. Cook the lentils according to the directions ■ 200g/7oz feta cheese, cubed 4. Whisk together the dressing ingredients
on packet. Drain, and put them in a food ■ 200g/7oz black olives, sliced and pour over the salad. Mix well to combine.
processor together with the other ingredients ■ 400g/14oz tomatoes, halved
and pulse until just combined. If the ■ 2 small red onions, finely chopped
consistency is too wet, add a few more oats. ■ 100g/3½oz parsley, well chopped
2. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
3. Form 8 patties from the mixture and FOR THE DRESSING
fry them over medium heat in plenty of ■ 70ml olive oil
oil about five minutes on each side, until ■ 70 ml white wine vinegar
golden and crisp. ■ 25g/1oz oregano
4. Enjoy straight away, or reheat on the ■ Salt and pepper
BBQ for extra smoky flavour.

90 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 SEASONAL RECIPES

Choose
your own
toppings!

BBQ’DSWEETCHERRY
BBQ’D PIZZAWITH HOME-MADETOMATO SAUCE
Nothing beats a home-grown tomato,
Create your own pizzas straight on the BBQ, they are great for kids to help with choosing right? Celebrate your harvest with these
their own toppings too. lovely BBQ’d cherry tomato skewers served
on sourdough toast.

MAKES 4 PIZZAS 1. Put the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the
yeast, sugar and salt. Make a well, then pour in MAKES 10-12 SKEWERS
Preparation time: 1 hour 220ml (8fl oz) warm water and the olive oil and bring
Cooking time: 20 minutes together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, Preparation time: 10 minutes
fairly wet dough. Cooking time: 10 minutes
FOR THE DOUGH 2. Turn on to a lightly floured surface and knead for
■ 600g (21oz) strong white bread five minutes until smooth. Cover with a tea towel and ■ 400g/1lb of cherry tomatoes
flour set aside. Leave the dough to rise for 30 minutes. ■ 3 tbsp olive oil
■ 1 tsp fine sea salt 3. Make the sauce: Heat a pan with a little olive oil ■ 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
■ ½ tsp dried yeast and add in the garlic and tomatoes. Let it simmer, or dark soya sauce
■ 1 tsp golden caster sugar then add the tomato puree, sugar, herbs and season ■ 2 cloves of garlic, minced
■ 1 tbsp olive oil with salt and pepper. ■ Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Continue to cook and let it reduce for 15-20 ■ 12 slices sourdough bread
FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE minutes, stirring occasionally. Leave to stand at room ■ 100g/3.5oz ricotta cheese
temperature while you prepare the bases. or soft goats’ cheese
■ Olive oil for frying 4. Roll out the dough: Split the dough into four ■ A small bunch fresh oregano, chopped
■ 1 clove of garlic balls. On a floured surface, roll out the dough
■ 400g/1lb plum tomatoes, skins into rounds, about 20-25cm (8-10in) across, using a 1. Soak the bamboo skewers in water for 30
removed and chopped rolling pin. Once you’ve stretched the dough, minutes to prevent them from catching fire.
■ 1 bunch of fresh basil, chopped let it sit for five minutes and then push out the 2. In a large bowl, combine the oil,
■ 2 tsp dried oregano edges with your fingers again, until you have a nice Worcestershire or soya sauce and garlic.
■ 2 tsp tomato puree round shape. 3. Add the cherry tomatoes to the
■ ½ tsp sugar 5. Once the BBQ is really hot, brush the grill with a marinade and toss to coat tomatoes evenly.
■ Salt and pepper to taste little oil. Then place a pizza dough round on to the 4. Skewer about five tomatoes on to each
BBQ. Close the lid of the BBQ and let it cook for 4-5 bamboo skewer and sprinkle with sea salt
TOPPING SUGGESTIONS: minutes – or until it is starting to brown and puff up. and black pepper.
■ Mozzarella 6. Once the pizza dough has browned lightly on one 5. Grill the tomato skewers on a prepared
■ Rocket side, remove from the grill and turn the pizza over. barbecue on each side for about 3-4
■ Mushrooms Spread evenly with sauce, and top with your choice minutes, or until they are cooked. Set aside
■ Extra virgin olive oil of toppings. and grill the sliced bread.
■ Olives 7. Place the topped pizza back on the grill, and cook 6. Spread the cheese on to the bread
■ Artichokes for a further 3-5 minutes or until the bottom begins and top with the tomatoes. Sprinkle with
■ Red peppers to char and the cheese is bubbly. Repeat with the oregano and extra salt if desired. ■
remaining pizzas.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 91

 GET GROWING

DIARY DATES
VISIT A SHOW, TAKE A TOUR, ENROL ON A COURSE

GARDEN SHOWS
AND FESTIVALS RHS HAMPTON
CHERRY FAIR JULY 16. COURT FLOWER SHOW
Brogdale Farm, Faversham, JULY 4-9
Kent. Celebrate the Hampton Court Palace, East
400-plus cherry varieties at Molesey, Surrey. The RHS’s
the National Fruit largest flower show: gardens,
Collection: cherry stalls, advice, demonstrations in
display, orchard tours, a fantastic setting. 10am-7.30pm
live music, local produce. (Sunday 5.30pm). Tickets on
01795 536250 www. www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events
brogdalecollections.co.uk 0844 995 9664
THE GARDEN SHOW AT
LOSELEY JULY 28-30.
Loseley Park, Guildford,
Surrey. 10am-5pm .
01243 538456, www.
thegardenshowonline.com
RHS HYDE HALL
FLOWER SHOW AUGUST
3-6. Rettendon Lane,
Chelmsford, Essex.
Veg and flower exhibits,
stalls, expert advice;
10am-6pm. 01245 400256
www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/
hyde-hall

FRUIT PRUNING
AND GRAFTING
SUMMER FRUIT
PRUNING JULY 4 OR 13.
East Malling Research,
Kent. Principles and
practical workshop in SUMMER FRUIT PRUNING JULY 1. Brogdale
the famous Hatton fruit Farm, Faversham, Kent. Practical course
garden with its many focusing mainly on trained trees such as
trained trees. 5.30-8.30pm. cordons and espaliers. 10am-1pm or
Book on 01732 523755 2pm-5pm. Book on 01795 536250
www.emsc.org.uk www.brogdalecollections.co.uk
SUMMER PRUNING OF
TRAINED FRUIT TREES
JULY 21. Crown Nursery,
Ufford, Suffolk. Pruning
espaliers, cordons, fans,
etc. for maximum growth
and fruit. 10am-12pm.
Book on 01394 460755
www.crown-nursery.co.uk
SUMMER APPLE
PRUNING JULY FRUIT SCIENCE TOUR JULY 10. East Malling
26. Scotney Castle, Research, Kent. History of fruit science at the
Lamberhurst, Tunbridge research centre. 10.30am-1.30pm. Book on
Wells, Kent. See how 01732 523755 www.emsc.org.uk
the espaliers and other
trained apples are pruned.
2-3pm. 01892 893820
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
scotney-castle
PLEASENOTE We have made every effort to ensure these details were correct at the time of
going to press, but recommend you check with the organisers before travelling

92 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk

 DIARY DATES

FRUIT & VEG whatever size your garden;

GROWING COURSES 10.30am-4.30pm. 01572 813200 JEKKA’S HERB FARM
GROW VEG NO DIG JULY 1 www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk OPEN DAYS JULY
OR AUGUST 5. Alhampton, 7&8. Rose Cottage,
Shepton Mallet, Somerset. BEES, CHICKENS & Shellards Lane,
Course by Charles Dowding, OTHER GYO COURSES Alveston, Bristol. Look
10.30am-4pm. 01749 860292 BEEKEEPING JULY 10. River round the herbetum,
www.charlesdowding.co.uk Cottage HQ, Park Farm, near and buy herbs and
FOREST GARDENING JULY Axminster, Devon. Complete seeds. 10am-4pm.
1-2. Brighton Permaculture introduction – theory and 01454 418878 www.
Trust, East Sussex. Grow a practical. 9.30am-5pm. 01297 jekkasherbfarm.com
mini-woodland of fruit, nuts, 630300, www.rivercottage.net
herbs and veg. 10am-5pm. COMPOSTING – ALTERNATIVE
Book on 07746 185927 www. METHODS JULY 14. Ryton For a full list
brightonpermaculture.org.uk Organic Gardens, Wolston of shows, festivals,
A FULLY PRODUCTIVE Lane, near Coventry. Different events and courses
POLYTUNNEL JULY 8. RHS techniques for specific types of this month please visit
our website www.
Garden Rosemoor, Great kitchen and garden waste. 9.30am-
kitchengarden.co.uk
Torrington, Devon. How to make 1pm. Book on 02476 303517
and choose the Diary
the most of your polytunnel. www.gardenorganic.org.uk
Dates category.
11am-12.30pm. Book on 020 HOW TO USE HERBS JULY
317 65830 www.rhs.org.uk/ 15 OR AUG 12. Jekka’s Herb
gardens/rosemoor Farm, Rose Cottage, Shellards
CURIOSITIES FROM THE Lane, Alveston, Bristol. Tips
KITCHEN GARDEN JULY on using herbs in kitchen and
10. RHS Garden Harlow Carr, home. Practical master class
Harrogate, Yorkshire. Explore with Jekka McVicar. 10am-4pm.
some unusual veg and other Book on 01454 418878 www.
unlikely edibles. 10am-12.30pm. jekkasherbfarm.com
Book on 020 317 65830 www. KEEPING CHICKENS JULY 22
rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr OR AUGUST 19. Brogdale Farm, RHS FLOWER SHOW TATTON PARK JULY 19-23. Tatton Park,
GROWING VEG INDOORS Faversham, Kent. All aspects of Knutsford, Cheshire. Show gardens, stalls, advice and demonstrations,
AND OUT JULY 19. Barnsdale home chicken care. 10am-3pm. plus new ‘grow-your-own’ hub; 10am-6.30pm (Sunday 5pm). Tickets on
Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, Book on 01795 536250 www. 0844 995 9664 www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events
Oakham, Rutland. How to start, brogdalecollections.org

KG JULY GIVEAWAYS
Simply fill in the details below and return to us at:
Kitchen Garden July-17 Giveaways, Mortons Media Group Ltd,
PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ. You can also enter
online for free at: www.kitchengarden.co.uk Closing date for
entries Friday, June 29, 2017.

Name
Address
SEED COMPANY CONTACTS
DT BROWN & CO MOREVEG SEEDS OF ITALY
tel 0845 371 0532 tel 01823 681302 tel 0208 427 5020 Postcode
www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk www.moreveg.co.uk www.seedsofitaly.com
Telephone
SAMUEL DOBIE AND SON THE ORGANIC SHELLEY SEEDS
tel 0844 701 7625 GARDENING tel 01244 317165 Email Address
www.dobies.co.uk CATALOGUE
tel 01932 878570, SIMPSON’S SEEDS
www.organiccatalogue. tel 01985 845004 To enter: Once you have supplied your details, cut out and send
MR FOTHERGILL’S SEEDS
tel 0845 371 0518 com simpsonsseeds.co.uk this coupon to the address above and you will automatically be
www.mr-fothergills.co.uk entered into the following competitions:
PLANTS OF SUFFOLK HERBS
DISTINCTION tel 01376 572456
JUNGLE SEEDS
tel 01449 721720 www.suffolkherbs.com Win a Cottage Hen House (p.47) ✔ Put paid to pests (p.87) ✔
tel 01491 614765
www. plantsofdistinction.
www.jungleseeds.co.uk SUTTONS
co.uk 3-step organic plant nutrition (p.53) ✔ Go with the Flo! (p.87) ✔
tel 0844 922 0606
EW KING & CO THE REAL SEED www.suttons.co.uk
tel 01376 570000 Dig easy with Draper (p.86) ✔ Pop-up plant house (p.87) ✔
CATALOGUE (Vida Verde)
www.kingsseeds.com tel 01239 821107 THOMPSON & MORGAN
www.realseeds.co.uk tel 0844 573 1818 www.
SE MARSHALL & CO thompson-morgan.com Disclaimers:
tel 0844 557 6700 W ROBINSON & SON LTD Only tick this box if you do not wish to receive information from Mortons Media Group
www.marshalls-seeds. tel 01524 791210 UNWINS SEEDS regarding or relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription
co.uk offers) via email/post/phone ❑
www.mammothonion. tel 0844 573 8400
On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties, that we deem to be reputable,
co.uk www.unwins.co.uk to contact you by email/post/phone/fax regarding information relating to current offers of
MEDWYN’S SEEDS products or services which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you wish to receive
tel 01248 714851 SARAH RAVEN WALLIS SEEDS such offers please tick this box. ❑
www.medwynsof tel 0845 092 0283 tel 01245 360413
anglesey.co.uk www.sarahraven.com www.wallis-seeds.co.uk ❚ For full giveaway terms and conditions please visit: www.kitchengarden.co.uk ❚

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 93

 BE WATER WISE WITH OUR MAKE A BED FOR BLUEBERRIES
WATERING SPECIAL FEATURES
FREE AND OTHER ACID LOVERS

SEEDS FOR
EVERY READER
WORTH £4.95!

E
UR AU GU ST IS SU E OF KI TC HE N GA RD EN M AG AZ IN
IN YO

NEXT
ISSUE
ON SALE
JUNE 29

DISCOVER HERITAGE CABBAGES TASTY RECIPES USING CHILLIES, SMALL SPACE GROWING: PUT
WITH MODERN DAY APPEAL BLUEBERRIES & RASPBERRIES MUSHROOMS ON THE MENU

CLAIM YOUR
FREE* RHUBARB
POULTON’S
BUILD YOUR
OWN SIMPLE PRIDE PLANTS
ANTS
FRUIT CAGE (* just pay £5.95 p&p)
Plants supplied in 2 x 9cm pots
WORTH
Scan this, and
ORGANIC £13.90 we’ll tell you!
WAYS TO BEAT
THOSE PESTS

ESSENTIAL JOBS
FOR THE MONTH

www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 95

Classifieds | TO ADVERTISE CALL 01507 529581 OR EMAIL [email protected]
FRUIT CAGES GARDEN ACCESSORIES

FOOTWEAR

GREENHOUSE ACCESSORIES
PEST CONTROL

SOCIETIES

SEEDS
GREENHOUSES & ACCESSORIES
DEADLINE FOR
ADVERTISING IN
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www.kitchengarden.co.uk JULY 2017 | 97

 LAST WORD

TROUBLEBREWING
INTHECOMPOST
HEAP? Susie Kearley investigates plastics
in our cuppa and our compost

T
eabags were first introduced in the Fifties and material used to make the
since gardeners are keen recyclers, are now actual teabag is a mixture
one of the most prolific items on our compost of mainly cellulose fibres
heaps. However some recently began to notice and a small amount of
plastic mesh in their compost and, suspecting this may polypropylene fibres to
have come from leftover teabags, began to call some of the give the heat seal.”
ingredients used to make them into question. Twinings said: “We have several
In 2010, the consumer magazine Which? investigated this different types of teabags: pyramids,
phenomenon and discovered that most teabags contain a square, and string and tag. The Twinings
plastic called polypropylene, which is not biodegradable. It’s pyramid teabag range is fully biodegradable and
used to heat-seal ordinary teabags and is standard practice compostable. The material is derived from maize starch
in the industry. The report raised a few eyebrows, so seven and these teabags do not contain plastic.
years later, I wondered whether anything has changed. I “The ‘string and tag with sachet’ teabags are sealed by
wrote to the tea companies to find out. crimping the paper tightly down the centre, folding and
Today we have pyramid, individually sealed and tagged using a cotton stitch at the top. The teabag material used in
Collectively,
bags, and standard tea bags, square and round. Each these products is predominantly made up of a natural plant we drink
use different materials and go through slightly different based cellulose material together with an added plastic based around
production and sealing processes. Most teabags do contain material (acrylic co-polymer emulsion) that helps to bond
some plastic, either so they can be heat-sealed, or to the cellulose fibres together. They also have a very thin layer
165 million
support the structural integrity of the bag itself. In terms of the plastic polyethylene to help seal up the sachets.” cups of tea
of composting, manufacturers say that even those with Twinings added that its standard teabags have a very every day.
some plastic can be composted, as most of the material thin film of polypropylene plastic, so the bags can be heat-
will biodegrade. sealed. They can all be composted.
Tetley first
PG Tips didn’t reeply. I found a few brands which said introduced
WHAT THE INDUSTRY SAYS they didn’t use plastics at all... teabags into
My primary concern about plastics in teabags was not Pukka Herbs said: “We do not (use plastics). Our
about composting, but about whether harmful chemicals teabags are sewn shut with organic cotton thread so we
the UK in
from the plastics leach into my drink. I avoid heating have avoided the need for plasticisers that are used for 1953 and
plastics in the kitchen, because at high temperatures heat sealing.” today 96%
some can leach hormone-disrupting chemicals into food. Tea Pigs, when asked if there was any plasticiser in
Of course, this is a bigger issue with takeaway cups and its teas, replied: “Not in the tea or the tea temple.
of British
microwavable meals than with teabags, so we need to keep Our tea temples are made from biodegradable corn tea is sold
it in proportion. starch. The bags are, however, sealed in a recyclable plastic in teabags.
On the topic of plastics and chemicals, Tesco said: “Our bag for freshness.”
Finest pyramid teabags are made from polylactic acid. It’s also worth repeating that Twinings pyramids and
Other teabags have wood, abaca and polypropylene fibres. Clippers enveloped teabags are free from plastic.
Any product that contains BPA has a sufficient margin of So with some exceptions, you will find some plastic References
safety according to the European Food Standards Agency.” in many teabags, but it’s a tiny amount, and the bags are ■ https://www.tea.
Clipper Teas said: “Our square teabags have a very still compostable. Just weed out the plastic bits from your co.uk/tea-faqs
thin layer of polypropylene plastic to enable the bags to compost heap when you spread it, if you want to. ■ http://www.which.
be heat-sealed (all standard
andard teabags have In terms of chemicals lea
leaching into your drink, co.uk/news/2010/07/
this). Ours use a polyypropylene heat the plastic used is food-grade,
fo and if any composting-
seal which is food graade for chemicals do leach from the plastic, it teabags-218651/
its intended purpose, and will be tinyy compared to what comes ■ http://
meets all the relevantt UK out of ddisposable cups lined with treadingmyownpath.
and EU Regulations.. plastiic (and numerous other com/2014/07/11/the-
Our enveloped bags commmon sources of plastic scandalous-plastic-in-
(with the string in
n our food chain). If tea-bags-who-knew/
and tag) are closed tthis concerns you, opt for ■ https://www.
differently, with no loose tea with a stainless teapigs.co.uk/
polypropylene.” steel infuser, or go articles/tea_temples_
Tetley said: ‘vintage’ with a tea pot and_composting.htm
“Eyup, lass! The and strainer. ■

98 | JULY 2017 www.kitchengarden.co.uk