Growing Hostas In A Pot Or Container
The biggest benefit of growing hostas in a pot or container of some sort, is reduction in slug damage. Hostas are extremely attractive to slugs and unless you live in a fairly dry zone, growing hostas means…
What Causes Mealy Tomatoes And How Can You Avoid Them?
Mealy tomatoes are a massive disappointment. Last year I grew a tomato variety which is famous for being reliable and productive in my region for the first time. I waited eagerly for the fruit, which were basically…
What Are Chives Used For? (Why You Need Them In Your Garden!)
I have just one patch of chives in my garden and right now they are covered in flowers. Not only are they very decorative, they are useful too. Chives are in fact related to onions, but unlike…
How To Get Started With Carrots
I have had a tumultuous history with growing carrots. I’ve tried a lot of times, and some years have been more productive than others (to put it mildly). But, at least I’ve picked up a lot of…
How To Get Started With Cilantro
Cilantro isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I love it! As well as using the fresh leaves and stems in summer for salads and salsas, I collect its seeds at the end of the year to use in…
How To Get Started With Parsley
I love cooking with herbs of all kinds, and I’m obsessed with their power to transform any dish from run of the mill and mundane into special and worth savoring. But, if there’s one herb I could…
How To Get Started With Basil
Basil is one of the easiest annual herbs to grow, and definitely one of the most hardworking too. It is an essential component of Italian, Asian and Mexican cuisine. And it can also be used to make…
How To Get Started With Cucumbers
Home grown cucumbers taste completely different to those you buy in the grocery store, and they’re one of my favorite crops to grow. They’re a pretty easy crop to grow, and 100% worth the effort. You can…
10 Easy Vegetables To Grow In A Greenhouse
For me (and most growers I expect) the thrill of a greenhouse is being able to grow vegetables which wouldn’t normally survive in my climate. Once I mastered tomatoes and cucumbers, I couldn’t wait to experiment with…
How To Get Started With Tomatoes
Tomatoes are among the most popular grow-your-own crops. In fact the aroma of tomato leaves in the sunshine is so nostalgic and evocative for so many of us that you can even buy candles and room sprays…