being plants

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...

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...

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...