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Sowing Courgettes in April (Not May) is your ticket to an Earlier Harvest

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Waiting is something Gardening teaches us along with patience. It’s worth knowing that not everything happens instantly and that’s part of the growing process. Whilst you can’t rush growth, you can choose when it begins. The earlier you sow, the earlier the harvest. This why it’s better to sow Courgettes in April and not May, to give them the head start they need. Courgettes are one of the most cost effective vegetable to grow. Sow 1 seed and get about 5 plus courgettes off that plant, maybe more. Courgette seeds start from 39p from UK seed suppliers so this is great value and you are getting courgettes back for your money. Can you Sow Courgettes Outdoors in April in the UK? Courgette’s are classed as Tender vegetables which means they are susceptible to frost. This means that whilst you are ‘winging it’ by putting those Tomato plants in the greenhouse, hoping not to get too many cold nights or frost. It’s not going to work for Courgettes as they need heat (indoor sunny windowsill...
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I Want to Grow Jacket Potatoes

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For years I have planted 1st early potato tubers in 30L containers and although overjoyed at the harvest, I have become disappointed at how tiny some of the potatoes were. This year I’m taking action I want to grow jacket potato sized potatoes and I’m growing them in a raised bed. What variety of Potatoes will grow larger than others? The 2 main larger potato varieties are: King Edward (I’m growing), Maris Piper. What 3 things make a difference to be able to grow larger potatoes? Bed Preparation – Dig compost into the holes or trench you plant the potatoes into. Chitting – Put the tubers in an egg box in a cool light place for 4-6 weeks, for the potatoes to sprout purple shoots. These will help boost the starting growth in the soil. Spacing – Larger potatoes need more room to grow, so make sure you space your potatoes apart otherwise they will take up each other’s nutrients. Chitting – Purple Sprouts When to Plant Maincrop Potatoes in Raised Beds Maincrop Potatoe...
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Grow Vegetables on a Budget: Cheap Seeds That Actually Work

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New Vegetable Seeds are always exciting to buy, but do they really need to be expensive? Many beginner gardeners assume that growing vegetables requires premium seed brands and lots of money. In this year’s Veg Lab Experiment, I have decided to test that idea by growing a range of the cheapest vegetable seeds I could find. My Goal is simple: to see whether budget vegetable seeds grow just as well as more expensive brands and to show that growing vegetables on a budget is completely possible for beginners. If you have ever wondered whether cheap vegetable seeds are worth buying, my experiment might surprise you. It’s a Myth that Vegetable Growing is expensive Broad Bean Seeds With premium seed brands, shiny tools in the garden centre and Pinterest style gardens that look expensive, you could be forgiven for thinking growing your own vegetables is expensive. A trip to the garden centre or viewing seed catalogues, is an easy trap to fall into and you’ll start thinking expensive...
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Year 2026 is the year I’m Growing Celeriac

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Celeriac is a strange creature that is a vegetable. If you thought Kohl Rabi was weird, wait until you see this bad boy! What’s is Celeriac? If someone described Celeriac to me, I don’t think I’d want to grow it. It does sound hideous to look at with its bulbous gnarled skin and celery type leaves. However it is also described somewhat as an ugly duckling with its surprising celery, parsley and nutty flavour. If cooked it acts like a potato so is perfect for creamy dauphinois dishes and in the winter when it is harvested, what more could you want than a cosy creamy delightful dish. Why am I Growing Celeriac? Hopefully I can redeem myself here and win you back over into tempting you to grow celeriac. I’m growing celeriac for the architecture in the vegetable garden. It has (I’m told) a certain stature presence in the beds which is of wonderment and curiosity. Is it a beauty or is it a beast? This is why I am growing it, to see for myself. How do I Grow Celeriac? Celeriac is one...
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Slow Growing Vegetables to Sow Together in one Raised Bed

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By sowing slow growing vegetables in one raised bed, you can collectively harvest around the same time. This saves space and rewards you with harvest later in the year. Some vegetables reward patience, let’s discover which vegetables to sow in the UK between March and April to setup your long quietly growing raised bed. What are Slow-Growing Vegetables? Celeriac Harvested Root vegetables and Alliums are the long season crops taking between 5 to 8 months from seed to harvest. These vegetables are sown in Spring between March & April so they are ready in October and November. Slow growing vegetables are great for grouping together in one bed as they stay in the ground for a long period of time. Which Slow Growing Vegetables are worth the wait? Patience is required for the long time crops, but they are very worthwhile. Although they take up one bed, nearly all year, you will have something to harvest in the autumn when theres not much else to harvest and they are low maintena...
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Vegetables that Thrive in Wet Weather – What To Grow During a Rainy UK Season

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If your beds are a bit soggy underfoot and you’re wondering whether anything will cope with this never-ending UK rain, take a breath. This is one of those moments where we pause and think like a grower. Instead of fighting the season, we work with it. Wet weather isn’t a problem in your garden it’s simply a condition to understand. Some vegetables struggle in waterlogged soil, but others quietly get on with it and even thrive. In this post, I’ll share the vegetables that genuinely cope well in continuous rainy periods, so you can adapt, grow with the season, and keep your confidence intact because real growing isn’t about perfect weather, it’s about learning how to respond to it. Think Like a Grower “ Growers don’t wait for perfect weather. They observe what’s happening and choose crops that suit the conditions.” Long periods of rain can feel discouraging, especially for beginners. But this is where confidence is built. Instead of asking, “Why won’t my tomatoes grow?” we ask,...
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Spring Gardening 10 Important Tasks in 2026: Most Important Month for Plants

Check here lists for Spring Gardening 10 Important Tasks. Must do these planning to make your garden beautiful. The post Spring Gardening 10 Important Tasks in 2026: Most Important Month for Plants appeared first on Voice of Plant .
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