Cucumbers are a thirsty plant, especially when they start getting large. They are so thirsty in fact that you may believe that it is impossible to overwater them, but is this true? Can you overwater cucumbers? Yes, you can. When growing them in a greenhouse it will be hard to overwater cucumbers, but this does not mean it is impossible. If the roots of a cucumber plant are constantly sat in standing water they will…
If you do a lot of woodworking you will inevitably be left with a lot of sawdust and maybe thinking of useful ways to reuse that sawdust. We would all rather reuse something if it can be used well for another purpose, but can you use sawdust as mulch? Well, that depends, on a few things. Firstly on the wood that the sawdust itself has come from. Different woods will have different pH levels, thus…
We have all wondered before about what plants will grow in a greenhouse in a UK winter. Note for this article we are talking about unheated greenhouses. If you plan on heating your greenhouse then obviously you will be able to grow an even wider variety of plants. One key thing to remember is that plants won’t grow as quickly in winter as they do in spring and summer. The winter gardener has to be…
How to mulch carrots for winter Everyone who has grown their own carrots before will know just how delicious they are. But not many gardeners know they can grow winter carrots, even in the UK. Using greenhouses and cold frames will allow you to extend the growing season of your carrots into winter, even so, when the freezing temperatures start to bite then mulching your carrots becomes essential. It is important that you mulch your…
Everyone would love a steady supply of fresh homegrown vegetables over the winter but think it impossible to grow their own. Well, fear not, even when the nights are drawing in and the days getting colder and colder you can still produce an ample supply of fresh veg. How? Well simply put, use pots to grow your vegetables. Winter vegetables to grow in pots There are many different winter vegetables to grow in pots such…
The short answer is yes; you can grow potatoes in winter here in the UK. To grow potatoes in winter you need to select the right varieties and grow them in either a heated greenhouse, insulated cold frame or indoors. It’s not quite that simple though so make sure you read our guide to ensure your winter crop survives those cold, cold months. Choosing the right potato variety One of the most significant factors that…
A cold frame can be a useful tool for gardeners, allowing you to extend your growing season at both ends of the year. They are incredibly helpful for UK gardeners where we have shorter seasons than other parts of the world. A cold frame is usually a simple timber box, sometimes metal. Fixed into this frame are plastic or glass panels. They are essentially a mini greenhouse and used for many of the same purposes.…
The pH of the soil is the value given to how acidic or alkaline your soil is. If you can remember back to high school science pH is on a scale of 0-14 0 = most acidic 7 = neutral and 14= most alkaline. Your soils pH level can have a massive impact on plant growth, some plants will thrive in acidic soils while some will only grow in alkaline soils. pH level affects some…
If you have flower beds or are working on a vegetable garden, a garden fork is an essential tool every amateur or experienced gardener needs. One may be forgiven for thinking that a garden fork is just one simple tool, but not all garden forks are the same. If you need to dig around a vegetable bed, dig undisturbed soil, or dig heavy soil such as clay, a garden fork is ideal. A good one…
A cordless strimmer can be used for garden maintenance such as tidying lawn borders, trimming tall grass, tackling overgrowth, and getting in those hard-to-reach areas where wires would usually hold you back. There are different sizes available to match the size of your garden, making them ideal for anyone who wants to keep their garden looking neat and tidy. They come with a built-in lithium battery which makes them really easy to manoeuvre in comparison…
As all keen gardeners know, it’s not always easy getting those damn plant to grow. Sometimes it feels like no matter what you do, you can never quite achieve the growth you expected. The good news is that no matter how bad things may seem, there are always things you can do that’ll push things in the right direction. It’s just that sometimes you’ll need to dig a little deeper. For example, did you know…
The Best Gardening Spades A good spade will last you years, maybe even decades, that’s why it’s important to pick the right one if you are thinking of making a decent investment in a new spade. We have taken the time, effort and money out of this problem for you and examined the best garden spades currently on the market. Let’s jump in. Best Digging Spade Burgon and Ball have been making steel in Sheffield…
What is a pruning saw? A pruning saw is a short, often curved, saw created for sawing medium branches for the purpose of pruning, hence the name. A pruning saw will have really sharp angular teeth specifically created for cutting through live wood. Pruning saws come in fixed and foldable forms and also in a variety of sizes. A pruning saw is used on branches that are too large to cut with a hand pruner…
Welcome to our guide on growing vegetables. We hope to turn this page into a repository on all things veg! Keep checking back as we keep adding to the long list of veg. Vegetables [elfsight_logo_showcase id=”1″] Carrots One of the most popular vegetables grown in Britain. When planned correctly, you can harvest carrots for month after month. Forced Carrots sown early in the year, generally around February are often referred to as forced crops. These…
There are many different reasons why you may be considering purchasing a petrol lawnmower. One of the main reasons why people go for this option for their gardens or business is because they are not going to be tied to a power supply, which means that they have much greater flexibility. You won’t need to be restricted in terms of having to be near a power port in order to use your lawnmower. This also…
Cutting wet grass is an exercise in patience. For much of the year, your garden is constantly growing regardless of whether conditions favour its maintenance. In a perfect world, grass would grow at a steady pace every day, and there would be set times to cut the grass during which all of the many variables that come into play align perfectly. But we know that’s not how it works. The grass will grow slowly and…
Pruning apple trees can be a daunting prospect to many gardeners, but it really needn’t be. Take your time and you can’t go far wrong. And remember that doing something is better than leaving the tree to grow out of control. It is best to prune apple trees while they are bare, I try and cut in spring just before the trees begin to regrow. Where to start? The easiest place to start is any…
