Cross-pollinating cucumbers, to cut a long story short, won’t actually harm your crop, but it will change it, and if you intend to save seeds you need to take some serious precautions to make sure you know exactly what you’re growing next year. In some cases, cross-pollination is actually pretty essential for cucumbers to crop…
Growing big potatoes has become much harder in recent years as erratic shorter growing seasons caused by climate change has massively impacted their growing windows, but freak events like the recent giant potato news in New Zealand have given gardeners reason to be hopeful. If you’re wondering why your homegrown potatoes are smaller than you…
Growing long white leeks is probably the most rewarding prize for any passionate gardener, but there are so many tricks to get to grips with that knowing how to grow big leeks can feel more than a little overwhelming. The first time I grew leeks I was at university, with my first allotment. After seven…
To prune or not to prune? This is the question many gardeners ask themselves when it comes to cherry tomatoes. Some don’t touch them at all, others prune them diligently, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Cherry tomatoes are a different kind of beast – and they really do grow into beasts – so I personally prefer pruning just to keep them under control.
Rutabaga, or Swede (swedish turnip) – as it’s known in most parts of the world – is a close cousin of turnips and part of the brassica family. It’s sometimes difficult to get this vegetable to a decent size because so many things can go wrong – starting the seeds at the wrong time of…
Every year, home gardeners toss away tons of old spent compost because, well, they just don’t know what to do with it. Did it go bad after just one year? Can it be saved and refreshed? Buying fresh compost or potting soil is always more satisfying, but not necessary, and definitely not cheap. If you’re…