Courgettes are an excellent crop to grow in a small city garden. They work well in containers or in soil. After several years of successful planting this year was a disaster after exceptional rain in June and the invasion of Spanish slugs that followed. Spanish slugs love young courgettes. Courgettes are straightforward to grow in …Read More about Courgette damage
Archives for September 2016
Turning the compost
Home made compost is essential for running a summer vegetable garden, especially for a raised bed. Using un-cooked kitchen waste, clean cardboard and everything from the garden an excellent feed can be made for adding to the garden in the autumn and spring. This basic size composting bin works well for the average garden. Materials …Read More about Turning the compost
Basil in Brussels
Every gardener knows basil, the “royal herb.” In recent years more people have been reporting difficulty getting basil to grow in Brussels (myself included). Unfortunately, this sun loving plant is particularly sensitive to the disruptive and un-seasonal weather now common in Belgium. Basil is started from seed indoors usually around March. The difficult part is …Read More about Basil in Brussels
Picking cucumbers
Cucumbers are a superfood rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, folate, calcium, magnesium and potassium. The skin alone contains about 10% of daily vitamin C requirements. Cucumbers help in treating diabetes, blood pressure problems and balancing cholesterol. What is not to like in cucumbers? Cucumber are one of the few fruit that …Read More about Picking cucumbers
Bulletin article 11 September 2016
Urban gardening: An update In the spring we heard from Allan Howard, a Scottish gardening fan who is growing his own vegetables in a back garden in Ixelles. It’s harvest time – so how has this year been? And what’s next for urban gardening in Brussels? Sep 11, 2016 ~ Paul McNally The Bulletin radio …Read More about Bulletin article 11 September 2016
Picking tomatoes
Tomatoes are the miracle health food. They contain large amounts of nutrients and vitamins, specifically vitamins A, C, K, and B6. Tomatoes help eye sight, improve digestion, reduce blood pressure and help with diabetes. They reduce cholesterol, protect kidneys and prevent premature ageing. Eat tomatoes. Ideally tomatoes should be picked when the first flush of …Read More about Picking tomatoes