This autumn, I have decided to experiment growing spring onion from the white root ends. I bought a bunch of spring onions from the shop last week. I was not sure where to cut the spring onions so I cut some midway and others further down towards the roots. After all it is an experiment! […]
growing
Basil Cuttings Growing basil easily at home
Sweet basil cuttings are a very easy way to propagate this herb if you have a plant already. Earlier this year in spring, I started basil from seeds. Summer saw lots of basil harvests, which meant a lot of fresh home-made pesto. Together with homegrown tomatoes, basil pesto has been simply delicious on ciabatta! Now […]
Beetroot: Surprisingly Huge!
I planted beetroot seeds this spring in the raised bed and they grew beautifully through the warmer months. Once the seedlings had germinated, they only needed regular watering and a little thinning. This means that seedlings that are too close to each other needed to be removed. So the thinning allowed the remaining seedlings space […]
Tomatoes and Basil
Tomatoes have grown beautifully this summer and have resulted in lots of fruits to harvest! They have loved the heat but on the flip side, it has meant that we having been watering them twice a day. Growing tomatoes in pots means they dry out a lot quicker than being in the ground too. The […]
Kitchen Garden Thriving
As the weather becomes warmer this spring, all the seedlings seem to have found their joy! Pak choi planted among the rows of onions in the raised bed suddenly have come to life, and needing watering everyday as they put on their healthy green leaves. Can’t wait to taste their fresh crunch in my stir […]
Seedlings Potted On
A set of true leaves on my tomato seedlings now! Winter might be too stubborn to give way to warmer weather this February but it certainly hasn’t stopped the tomato seedlings from putting on some fabulous growth. Once the seedlings show true leaves they are ready to be transplanted into their second homes as I […]
Chilli Seedlings
Indoor planting in winter does have exciting moments especially when you see the the first green baby leaves from the chilli seeds planted less than two weeks ago! The seed trays were covered with a plastic cover to conserve the moisture and warmth, and for this I placed the trays near the boiler in my kitchen. I’m […]
Planting Seeds
Planting chilli and tomato seeds indoors in January means the best harvests before the cooler weather of autumn sets in. It’s always amazing to think these little seeds will become plants bearing fruits this summer in my kitchen garden! So on a very cold and dismal January weekend, I have popped into my local garden […]
Cobra Beans
I planted cobra beans for the first time this spring and I started them indoors by planting the seeds. Then gradually they were moved outdoors to their final position in the raised beds but unfortunately they didn’t do well. So I planted the next batch of seeds straight into raised beds outdoors in May and […]
Pak Choi Seeds
This spring I decided to grow pak choi, a Chinese cabbage that is also known as bok choy. I love pak choi for its sweet taste and crunchy texture especially in stir fries. I planted the seeds straight into compost in a raised bed, following the instructions on the seed packet. When the seedlings appeared, they […]
Herbs In My Garden
This summer I have herbs growing everywhere I look … in the raised beds, pots and planters! I am particularly excited by the ones I have grown from seed this year. I planted basil seeds in early spring on my window sill. Once they grew their true leaves, which pop up after the first two baby […]
Summer Heat From Chillies
I am surrounded by chillies growing in huge numbers this summer in my kitchen garden! When I first planted the seeds earlier this year, little was I to know that these sturdy plants would happily withstand the heavy gusts and downpours that we have had this spring and early summer. As you remember, I bought […]
Radishes, Pak Choi and Potatoes
Isn’t spring exciting when you never know what you will find in the garden next? Alright, I do know what I planted but things don’t always go the way you planned and you never know what to expect when you take a peep. So when I looked at the raised bed filled with lush growth […]
New Plants in My Raised Beds
I am so excited to show you all the new green beings in my garden this season! Let’s start off with the broad beans and the peas both of which I have planted for the first time. The seeds were planted straight into the raised beds and they are growing magnificently. I did cover them […]
Days Out …
Seedlings have all seemed to have sensed spring as they have shown a great growth spurt! Suddenly it seems that we are surrounded by all the green and the family is having to negotiate their way as they go in and out of the back door. The seedlings are taking over a lot of space […]
Almost Ready for the Outdoors
It only seems yesterday when I planted my first seeds of the year and my seedlings are nearly grown up to move to the outdoors! Spring is a wonderful season of hope and my young seedlings are proof enough. So let me show you round … Courgette seedlings have done very well and are now […]
Baby Leeks for My Chickpeas
There is no better way to flavour a dish of chickpeas than a bunch of leeks …baby leeks! It is such a proud moment when you harvest your first leeks. Yes, I know they don’t look anywhere near the size that are seen in the shops but I’m calling mine baby leeks. I’m sure they’ll taste […]
Seedlings, seedlings everywhere!
Little bits of green peeking through the otherwise bare surface of the soil ..no better excitement than this I can assure you! Whether they are the tiny shoots of basil or the larger ones belonging to the mighty beans, it is always a joy to welcome seedlings into this world. Gone is the sunshine which […]
Seeds to a start
I have never planted chillies from seed before so this spring I am going to try for the very first time to grow my own chilli seedlings. I ordered three different varieties from South Devon Chilli Farm, who posted them promptly and they were here in two days! Along with the seeds came some great […]