The transition from spring to summer has been a bumpy one this year. While June last year was very dry and very warm this year has seen thunder storms, torrential rains and blustery winds. This can be difficult for new young plants with rain damage to leaves but even more so by creating the perfect …Read More about June: Summertime
Growing Tomatoes
March: Starting indoors
All the best city gardens start in the house. With the weather too cold outside and spring not far away now is the time to get all the summer plants started indoors ready for planting outside in May. This is a sensitive time for gardeners and their partners. It is suggested gardening activities be confined …Read More about March: Starting indoors
Summer colours (Tomatoes)
It has been an exceptionally good year for tomatoes (so far) and an even better year for trying out new varieties. The Russian and Eastern European varieties were all started before the European and Mediterranean varieties and are now coming into full bloom while the regular European types are still green. It is amazing to …Read More about Summer colours (Tomatoes)
Experimental tomatoes
In recent years European tomato growers have taken an interest in varieties from Eastern Europe; Russia, Poland, Ukraine and even Siberia. These sturdy types of tomato are often early starters, late finishers and have increased resistance to tomato blight and other health problems that affect tomatoes grown in poor or unpredictable weather conditions. The many …Read More about Experimental tomatoes
Regular city tomatoes
There was a time when growing tomatoes outside in Belgium was considered impossible, what with cold and wet summers. The last few years with heatwaves have changed this. Choosing which types of tomatoes to grow whether in garden soil beds or in pots on balconies or on roofs usually takes a year or two of …Read More about Regular city tomatoes
Starting some tomatoes
Starting tomatoes from seed is the best way to get plants already suited to the place where they will grow. Shop bought plants can be in shock. However, starting seeds indoors can be tricky especially when extra cold outside results in the house heating system being turned up. The lack of sunshine indoors and chills …Read More about Starting some tomatoes