“Biological control” is one of those gardening phrases that sounds really off-putting and overly-scientific for something that’s actually nice and cuddly and environmentally friendly and green and, frankly, just the kind of thing I am all about when it comes to gardening. (It's also, quite arguably, a lazy way of gardening, which gets my vote … Continue reading Gardening jargon buster: biological control
gardening
Alkalinity to acidity and everything in between
…or, why soil pH is so important Before I really started to get into gardening, I have to admit, I thought the whole soil pH thing was a bit of a nonsense. Sure, I was aware that such things as soil tests existed and that every intro to every gardening book I looked at recommended … Continue reading Alkalinity to acidity and everything in between
Gardening jargon buster
I’m a fairly recent convert to gardening. In my teens and early 20s, I had no appreciation of the joys to be found digging and watering, planting bulbs and pulling weeds and generally pootling around with a cup of tea in hand, looking at what’s going on in your little patch of land. When I … Continue reading Gardening jargon buster
Grow, forage, cook: planning a kitchen garden (part two)
More musings on things to plan now for the kitchen garden of your dreams next year. If you missed the first part, check it out here: Planning a kitchen garden, part one. Positioning your plot If you’re in the enviable position of having a selection as to where you grow your veg, fruit and herbs, … Continue reading Grow, forage, cook: planning a kitchen garden (part two)
In the garden: October
Surrounded by cobwebs, the last of the flowers are just clinging on out in the garden at the moment. Elated by the sunshine, I took a trip out this morning to photograph the few remaining splashes of colour, to try and hold onto them for as long as possible before the garden takes on its … Continue reading In the garden: October
Grow, forage, cook: saving seeds (and free seed envelope template)
Far be it from me to deny the joys of veg gardening (of which there are many, even in years of disappointing harvest) but I have to confess that one of my absolute favourite benefits of growing your own is the chance to get something for nothing. Yes, it is just quite possible I am … Continue reading Grow, forage, cook: saving seeds (and free seed envelope template)
Ode to a broad bean
Oh green broad bean, oh green broad bean, you’re really rather small. Oh green broad bean, oh green broad bean, you’re hardly there at all. Oh solitary green broad bean, I still like you a lot(ty), Though you hardly bear comparison to last year’s fine borlotti. Your skin is wan, your colour’s dull, your seeds … Continue reading Ode to a broad bean
Garden moodboard: September
It's quite possible, looking at this month's moodboard, that my love for white flowers might be getting a little out-of-hand. But what white flowers they are! Along the bottom row there is a white cosmos ('Purity'), with a small daisyish flower next to it, followed by Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus, a current obsession of mine). … Continue reading Garden moodboard: September
Grow, forage, cook: a disappointing harvest
As August has bid us farewell and summer has melted into the season of mellow fruitfulness, I’ve started to feel a little bit of a fraud. It's been great to see so many of you joining in with our Grow, forage, cook series; Laura posted what we hope will be the first of many round … Continue reading Grow, forage, cook: a disappointing harvest
A peek in the garden
I thought it was high time to take you for another little stroll round my garden and a photographic browse of what’s going on outside in August. I’m thinking about my garden pretty much non-stop at the moment, planning what changes I want to make for next year. Which plants need to be dug up … Continue reading A peek in the garden
Wolves in London 