Garlic has to be one of the easiest vegetables to grow because you can simply direct sow into the soil, keep it weed free and wait until the summer for a wonderful vegetable that adds a superb flavour to home cooked food. This 'set and forget' nature of garlic growing is why it was the first vegetable included in the planting plan. But to truly get the best from your crop … [Read more...] about How to plant garlic seeds the easy way
The most productive February allotment jobs
"February can swing from one extreme to the other" writes Alan Buckingham in his excellent book "Allotment month by month". Grey, heavily overcast days with persistent rain, sleet, or snow can make winter feel never-ending. Then a sudden spell of bright, sunny days, with clear air and a bracingly cold wind, can signal that the season is turning. Whatever the conditions, … [Read more...] about The most productive February allotment jobs
How to make a mini greenhouse for winter sowing
The original concept of Winter sowing uses see through milk cartons and large plastic drinks bottles and is a great way to occupy yourself through the cold dark Winter months when there's not much that can be done at the allotment. Traditionally in the United States and Canada these types of mini greenhouses are made by cutting the carton halfway round leaving about 2cm as … [Read more...] about How to make a mini greenhouse for winter sowing
Getting rid of clay soil with Mooli radish
On the 9th August 2020 I made two beds of manure directly onto clay soil after some landscaping to level out ground at a newly acquired plot. This second and much larger plot than my first needed rotavating and several days of shovelling and raking to reduce the natural slope and make gardening more accessible. All that earth moving meant that I'd eventually hit clay but … [Read more...] about Getting rid of clay soil with Mooli radish
Planting Plan
This UK zone 8 allotment planting plan follows a mainly 'raise and plant' method whereby seeds are sown indoors in cells. As soon as leaves have developed then seedlings are to be placed outdoors undercover for hardening off. When seedlings are strong enough - usually from around four weeks from sowing - they are then planted outdoors into dig … [Read more...] about Planting Plan