The Kitchen Gardener

[piglet]

I have bought Alan Titchmarsh book a while back and have started Implementing some of the advice. With some success .

Anyway he has a working calender and I thought I would share it for those interested .
Winter : Nov to mid March

• Clear and prepare ground ready to make new Fruit or veg patch .
• Plant new fruit trees and bushes , bare rooted plants can only be planted while they are dormant, But also the best time for repotting Fruit trees.
• Sow window sill crops , including pots of herbs and salad leaves . Start a mushroom kit.
• Prune fruit trees. Grape and fig only in the very middle of winter as they might bleed.
• In Jan chit the earliest potatoe for planting under cover for early crops.
• In early spring (feb) sow peppers , aubergines , chillies and tomatoes indoors for earliest growth.

My tip once plants are established invest in tamotoe feed excellent for anything that has a fruit and feed regularly . Not very good for leafy veg though

[zimajays]

Nice Piglet. I was looking at his book and wondering if I should get it. Do you find it useful in understanding the planting seasons in the uk? Mind you I like gardening, but generally kill most things. I am in the process of trying to grow flame lillies from tuber...

[Amarula]

Winter : Nov to mid March[LIST][*]Clear and prepare ground ready to make new Fruit or veg patch .
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Thanks piglet - best to mention that this is for those in the UK...

Interesting that I 'should' be outside right now clearing the ground to plant - not even sure that the spade would make a dent in the icy soil out there. Will have to try closer to March rather... (should the urge grab me of course...)

My last attempt at gardening was eaten by my dog, beautiful stalks sans flowers left standing to attention all over the place.

[piglet]

Nice Piglet. I was looking at his book and wondering if I should get it. Do you find it useful in understanding the planting seasons in the uk? Mind you I like gardening, but generally kill most things. I am in the process of trying to grow flame lillies from tuber...

Very easy to read . I am no pro just like pottering around in the garden . All the veg I grow are in containers . It is excellent guide to the UK . Can be adopted to the southren Hemisphere , just reverse the dates .
I bought a book for my mother in law as a birthday present . She lives on a smallholding . Word of warning if you plan to send the book to SA its £17 in postage . Plus mother in law had to pay handling fees in SA

[piglet]

Thanks piglet - best to mention that this is for those in the UK...

Interesting that I 'should' be outside right now clearing the ground to plant - not even sure that the spade would make a dent in the icy soil out there. Will have to try closer to March rather... (should the urge grab me of course...)

My last attempt at gardening was eaten by my dog, beautiful stalks sans flowers left standing to attention all over the place.

The ground my side is frozen . Just been out in garden to retrieve some left over veg .

[AA99]

The only things I successfully grow at this time of the year in UK are herb boxes, parsley, chives and basil seem to thrive quite well in a protected corner. In fact, stuffed my bream with them last night

In the summer I have successful tomatoes in grow-bags too and they don't take much space. I only have a courtyard garden but bean climbers and peas (with their flowers too) are great for running up the trellis fencing

The BBC Gardening people have a good website if you're online () so you don't have to buy books.....

[piglet]

Agree AA99 there are some good online advice, another good site is the royal horticultural society . Must admit , I'm the lazy type . I need to page through something or have something hit me in the face while paging . I'm not very good at generating ideas and then hitting the search button

Another good site for compost bins is :
http://www.recyclenow.com/compost
If your Borough is part of the scheme you can get a bin delivered for £9 . normal price around £30 , price I paid during the summer months . Hopefully no price increase .


A tip from me , shredding and composting all your bills is not only good for composting but also avoids being a victim of identity theft . Promise the worms will not steal your details

[AA99]

Agree AA99 there are some good online advice, another good site is the royal horticultural society . Must admit , I'm the lazy type . I need to page through something or have something hit me in the face while paging . I'm not very good at generating ideas and then hitting the search button

Another good site for compost bins is :
http://www.recyclenow.com/compost
If your Borough is part of the scheme you can get a bin delivered for £9 . normal price around £30 , price I paid during the summer months . Hopefully no price increase .


A tip from me , shredding and composting all your bills is not only good for composting but also avoids being a victim of identity theft . Promise the worms will not steal your details

Yes Good ones there piglet

[piglet]

A money saving tip when planting seedlings in the window sill use old food packaging trays for seedlings . Once they need transplanting use cut plastic drinks containers . Either milk or fizzy drinks . The clear drinks bottle are also good for protecting outside plants simply insert the dome over the plants to create mini greenhouses.

[Bokkie]

A money saving tip when planting seedlings in the window sill use old food packaging trays for seedlings . Once they need transplanting use cut plastic drinks containers . Either milk or fizzy drinks . The clear drinks bottle are also good for protecting outside plants simply insert the dome over the plants to create mini greenhouses.

Egg boxes work a treat, I put cut up newspaper in the bottom and they stay intact