In the old days gardeners used to say not to plant out in the garden until the bluebells have come out. This was an indicator that the cold of winter was passed and the warmth of summer was on its way. Over the last few years spring has become rather disrupted with temperatures in April …Read More about April: Spring has sprung
Salad
Garden to plate
It has been an excellent summer for the kitchen garden. A good 3 months with all tomatoes, salads, beans, courgettes, cucumbers, basil and chilli peppers coming fresh from the garden each day. However, even with a small garden, it is possible to preserve and save produce from the garden to last the next 6 months. …Read More about Garden to plate
Roasted lettuce
It is important for gardeners to know when to give up. Trying to grow summer salads in trays or containers in heatwave conditions is almost impossible, and a waste of water. The best salads are grown in the spring and autumn anyway. In the good old days Belgium summers were cool and wet and ideal …Read More about Roasted lettuce
Cucumber season
In many warm weather cultures cucumbers are eaten like apples to provide hydration and valuable nutrition. It particularly suits being eaten fresh with a flavour far superior to store bought versions. They grow very well in small city gardens or in pots on balconies and roofs. With summer now underway two plants can provide a …Read More about Cucumber season
Starting spring salad
Mid March is the usual time for sorting out salad trays and containers in the hope of bright sunny days and light showers to produce an early summer harvest. With the extreme cold weather of the last few weeks and temperatures looking low for the next two weeks, it may be a struggle this year. …Read More about Starting spring salad
Autumn salad time
This is the best time of year to start salad in the garden. Salad started in the spring invariably runs into summer heat and bolts (goes to seed). Salad started now will benefit from the cooling down in the coming weeks and months providing good quality salad right up to the end of the year. …Read More about Autumn salad time