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Episode 676: Autumn Planting and Preparing for Next Season

In episode 676, the focus is on looking ahead to the next growing season through essential autumn tasks. The small but important jobs of planting garlic, sowing hardy leaves, and preparing protected growing spaces for the shorter days are explored in detail. Allotment Update: Autumn Garlic Planting and Bed Preparation The episode begins on the allotment, where six varieties of garlic, saved from the summer harvest, are planted. The reasons for planting in autumn are explained, including the selection of healthy cloves and the importance of a sunny position with free-draining soil. An update is also shared on the hügelkultur bed, which has been topped up with compost, and the cabbages that are now protected from pigeons. Early-Morning Sowing and Greenhouse Preparation Back in the kitchen garden, the growing day starts early at 6 a.m. Despite the darkness at that hour, enough light is shed to sow tatsoi, mibuna, mizuna, and spring cabbage before work. The value of short,...
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Rustic Apple & Courgette Autumn Loaf

This is a brilliant way to use apples and the last of your courgettes . It’s moist, lightly spiced, not too sweet, and perfect for that early‑autumn moment when the plot is giving you windfall apples and the courgette plants are slowing down. It’s also a great “gardener’s cake”: easy to bake, keeps well, and tastes even better the next day. Ingredients 2 medium apples, grated 1 medium courgette, grated 200g plain flour 100g soft brown sugar 2 eggs 80ml vegetable oil 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp mixed spice Pinch of salt Optional: Handful of raisins Handful of chopped nuts A drizzle of honey on top Method 1. Prep the Fruit & Veg Grate the apples and courgette. Squeeze out excess moisture — especially from the courgette. 2. Mix the Wet Ingredients Beat the eggs, oil, and sugar together until smooth. 3. Add the Dry Ingredients Stir in the flour, bak...
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Episode 675-Autumn Inspiration at Audley End: Walled Gardens, Wildlife Ideas & Seasonal Growing Motivation

This week Richard takes us out of the kitchen garden and allotment and over to Audley End House in Essex for the Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair — the final show of the year and a perfect chance to gather fresh inspiration as we head into autumn. Victorian Walled Gardens & Orchard Training Richard begins his visit in the Victorian kitchen gardens, admiring productive orchard beds, fan‑trained fruit trees and beautifully maintained glasshouses. Apples, pears, asparagus and late‑season veg are thriving despite the challenging summer, and the structure of the garden reinforces that his own move toward a more formal, kitchen‑garden layout at home is the right direction. Make a Metre Matter: Lucy Chamberlain’s Autumn Garden Richard then meets up with Lucy Chamberlain to explore the final instalment of her Make a Metre Matter project — nine themed square metres designed to show what can be achieved in small spaces. Highlights include: Wildlife habitats for autu...
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Roasted Aubergine & Tomato Gratin with Crispy Potato Topping

By mid‑September, the allotment feels like it’s exhaling. The rush of summer harvests slows, the air smells earthy again, and the aubergines and tomatoes are giving their last big push. This week’s recipe celebrates that transition — a roasted aubergine and tomato gratin topped with thinly sliced potatoes for a comforting, layered bake that bridges summer and autumn perfectly. It’s rich without being heavy, colourful, and ideal for using up those late‑season crops before the frosts start whispering. Ingredients For the Base 2 medium aubergines, sliced into rounds 400g ripe tomatoes, chopped 1 onion, finely sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp dried oregano Salt & pepper For the Topping 2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced 1 tbsp olive oil Pinch of salt Optional: grated cheese or breadcrumbs for extra crunch Method 1. Roast the Aubergines Lay the aubergine slices on a tray, brush with olive oi...
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Episode 674: The Growing Season Isn’t Over Yet!

After what has been a really difficult summer for growing, things are finally starting to feel like they are turning a corner. The rain has returned, the gardens are coming back to life and there is still plenty of time to grow more food before winter. Kitchen Garden Update Richard's kitchen garden has been a hive of activity this week. With the change in weather making a real difference. He is finding that tomatoes, aubergines and chillies are still producing. While spent crops are being cleared away and replaced with fresh compost from the HotBin and wormery. Richard has also been working on my idea of using herbs around the edges of the beds, with sage, rosemary, thyme and chives helping to create a useful border while providing plenty of herbs to use in the kitchen. There is still plenty that we can sow in September too.Richard has been sowing short, stubby carrots, winter lettuces, mustards, mizuna, pak choi and spring onions, along with chard and spinach in t...
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Late‑Summer Tomato & Grape Bake with Herby Crouton Topping

There’s a point in early September where the plot gives you two things at once: the last flush of outdoor tomatoes and the first ripe grapes . It’s a short window, but the flavours together are magic — sweet, sharp, warm, and properly seasonal. This week’s recipe leans into that moment with a simple tomato & grape bake. The tomatoes collapse into a rustic sauce, the grapes burst with sweetness, and the herby crouton topping gives you crunch and comfort without turning it into a heavy autumn dish. It’s warm, colourful, and perfect for that “summer sliding into autumn” feeling. Ingredients For the Bake 500g ripe tomatoes (mixed varieties work best) 150g grapes (red or black preferred), halved 1 small onion, sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tbsp olive oil Salt & pepper Handful fresh herbs (basil, parsley, thyme) For the Herby Crouton Topping 2 slices bread, torn into small chunks 1 tbsp olive oil or butter Pinch of salt...
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Episode 673: The New Growing Season Starts Now

There’s a definite change happening in the garden now. Summer might still be hanging on, but I’m already looking ahead to autumn, winter and, believe it or not, the growing season of 2027. The recent rain has been very welcome after such a dry year and it has made a big difference to the garden. There’s plenty going on as we start preparing for the months ahead, so let’s get into this week’s episode. Allotment The rain has finally arrived, and after such a dry year I certainly wasn’t complaining. The moisture has made the soil much easier to work and, more importantly, it has made pulling those pesky weeds out considerably easier. I’ve been getting stuck into the autumn and winter growing season, planting out winter and spring cabbages, kale and cauliflowers. Some of the kale planted earlier struggled during the dry weather, but the new plants are now going into the ground with much better conditions. I’m also preparing beds for my overwintering crops. The garlic w...
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