With the drop in temperature the fall salad season can get going. Lettuce and salad crops are cool climate crops best suited to early spring or early autumn. They rarely do well in heatwave conditions during summer. With mild winters over the last few years the fall planting season is becoming increasingly more useful for …Read More about Salad season open
Salad
Waiting for the storm
Belgium has just endured its hottest heatwave in 200 years of records. Next will be thunder and lightning and heavy downpours. While the fruits in the garden are now ripening nicely, though rather suddenly, the coming drop in temperatures and blustery conditions are not ideal for finishing crops. Gardening in unstable conditions is the new …Read More about Waiting for the storm
Rainy trays
Rain is generally welcome in hot summer months, a nice break from the heatwaves. The lower temperatures that accompany rain make this a useful time to start new salad crops, especially in trays which dry out too much in heatwave conditions. It is even worth clearing out any older salads that have toughened up in …Read More about Rainy trays
Summer salad
While heatwaves in summer provide plenty of ripe tomatoes and cucumbers, summer salads often lack fresh lettuce leaves. Lettuce are cool weather crops, best either side of summer, but, with a little effort summer salad can be produced in super hot gardens. Last year’s heatwave was broken by some rainy weather, better for lettuce, so …Read More about Summer salad
First tomato planting
With the high temperatures continuing and no rain in sight, it is better to be patient and move small tomato plants out into garden beds slowly. Planting in pots or containers is different, they can go outside now but do require extra attention for watering. Young plants are better started in shaded spots or provided …Read More about First tomato planting
Starting lettuce in pots
Every windowsill and balcony should have a salad garden. Growing lettuce in pots indoors at this time of year, while it is too cold outside, ensures young healthy plants are ready and growing for when the temperatures finally rise outside. With the huge variety available (see below) by post, it is well worth cluttering up …Read More about Starting lettuce in pots