Finally a hint of summer, the rain has stopped. The disturbed spring may now lurch straight into summer. With caution, planting out can begin, but unfortunately the slugs and snails have done very well with the wet spring so caution is required. Still, the first days without rain are welcome. Time to turn out the …Read More about June: Straight into summer
Chilli Peppers
March: Waiting for spring
It may be some time before spring arrives and outdoor planting can begin. The present weather with record highs for February and minus zero temperatures does not bode well for a smooth transition from winter to spring. Containers and trays can be prepared and will warm up better for planting in a few weeks while …Read More about March: Waiting for spring
February winter weather
A lot of gardeners hold that a wintery February month is a good sign for a later spring, as though getting the heavy winter weather out the way in February bodes well for March and April. Certainly this February is having its full share of weather, snow and frost and heavy downpours. Gardeners prefer a …Read More about February winter weather
Chilli pepper season
With temperatures falling outside and snow forecast, chilli pepper season is starting indoors. December is the month for starting chilli peppers indoors from seed, especially the hotter varieties. Chilli peppers can grow for several years so the aim here is to nurse small plants along indoors until April or May (weather permitting) when they can …Read More about Chilli pepper season
Moving indoors
With temperatures falling outdoors it is convenient there is so much to do indoors. Tomatoes and chilli peppers that were dehydrated from the summer crop can now be processed into xmas gifts. This is quite a lot of work so it is good these jobs could be moved from the summer busy time of harvesting …Read More about Moving indoors
Making chilli jam
There is nothing better on a rainy cold afternoon than to take one hour and make a batch of hot chilli pepper jam. At this time of the year there are fresh hot chilli peppers so with some basic kitchen ingredients and a set of jam jars, the gardener can become the chef for an …Read More about Making chilli jam