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Episode 644 Sowing Seeds, Sodden Soil & Is Crop Rotation Still Necessary?

It’s been another wet and windy week here in Littlehampton, and once again the weather has been calling the shots. Outdoor jobs have been limited, but plenty has still been happening both indoors and on the allotment. In this week’s episode of the Veg Grower Podcast, I’m sharing an update from the kitchen garden, how seed sowing and potting on are progressing, a slightly frustrating allotment visit, and answering a listener’s question about crop rotation. In the kitchen garden The constant rain has been a bit of a worry this week, particularly for the chickens. Even with a covered run, the clay soil is holding a lot of moisture and becoming boggy underfoot. For now, it’s a case of managing things as best as possible and planning improvements for drier conditions later in the year. Elsewhere in the garden, everything is ticking along nicely. Garlic, chard and purple sprouting broccoli are all growing well, which is always reassuring at this time of year. With outdoor gardening lim...
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Episode 642: Lemon Tree Troubles, Raspberry Pruning & Birdwatching Insights

As the winter months stretch on, many gardeners find themselves dreaming of warmer days and bountiful harvests. In this week's episode of the Veg Grower Podcast, host Richard takes listeners on a journey through his kitchen garden and allotment, sharing valuable tips and insights that will inspire anyone to grow their own food, regardless of space or experience. Richard starts with an update from his kitchen garden, where he has been facing challenges with his lemon tree. After experiencing some harsh winter temperatures, the tree has shown signs of distress, with brown, crispy leaves and blackened branches. Richard discusses the importance of protecting citrus trees during cold spells, emphasizing the need for extra care in unheated greenhouses. This candid update serves as a reminder that even seasoned gardeners must adapt to changing climates and learn from their experiences. Next, Richard ventures down to his allotment, where he has been busy pruning his raspberry bed. He exp...
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Creamy Garlic & Herb Root Veg Bake

This is one of those comforting, oven-baked dishes that quietly gets on with the job. It’s rich enough to feel like a treat, but flexible enough to use whatever roots you’ve got coming out of the ground or lurking in the shed. Perfect as a main with greens, or as a side alongside roast chicken, sausages or a nut roast. What You’ll Need (Serves 3–4) 700 g mixed root vegetables (potatoes, parsnips, carrots, swede, celeriac – any mix works) 1 small onion, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 250 ml double cream 100 ml milk A handful of fresh herbs, chopped (thyme, rosemary or parsley) 50 g grated cheese (optional, but encouraged) Salt and black pepper Butter or oil for greasing How to Make It Preheat the oven to 180 °C (fan). Peel and slice the root vegetables into thin, even slices — about the thickness of a £1 coin is ideal. This helps everything cook evenly. Grease a baking dish, then layer the vegetables and onion, seasoning lightly between layers. In a jug,...
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What to Do in the Garden or Allotment This Weekend

With the weather looking on the wet side again, this weekend is shaping up to be less about big outdoor projects and more about sensible, productive jobs that keep everything ticking along. That’s no bad thing. These quieter weekends are often the ones that set you up best for the weeks ahead, especially if you make good use of time under cover and avoid working wet soil. Here are a few worthwhile things to focus on in the garden or allotment this weekend. Make the Most of Sowing Time Rainy weather is ideal for seed sowing, particularly in the greenhouse, cold frame or on a windowsill. This is a good moment to sow quick and reliable crops such as salad leaves, mustards and herbs. These crops germinate quickly, give fast results, and are perfect for filling gaps between bigger sowings. Try not to sow everything at once. Smaller, regular sowings will give you a steadier harvest and avoid having too much ready at the same time. Pot On Seedlings Before They Slow Down If you’ve got ...
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How to Grow Chives – From Seed to Harvest

Chives are one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs you can grow. They take up very little space, grow happily in pots or the ground, and once established, they’ll keep coming back year after year. Whether you’re growing on a kitchen windowsill, a balcony, or down on the allotment, chives are a brilliant place to start. Why Grow Chives? Chives earn their keep in the garden and the kitchen. Easy to grow from seed Perfect for pots, windowsills, and small spaces Perennial – they return every year Useful companion plant in the garden Great flavour for salads, eggs, soups, and potatoes They’re also ideal if you’re itching to sow something early in the year. When to Sow Chives Chives can be sown: Indoors: from late winter onwards on a windowsill Outdoors: from spring once the soil starts to warm For most people, sowing indoors first gives the best results. How to Sow Chives from Seed You don’t need anything fancy. What you’ll need Small pots or module trays Mu...
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Episode 640: Stormy Weather, Rhubarb Jobs & Learning to Prune Together

This week’s episode was recorded in challenging conditions, with stormy weather sweeping across the UK. I genuinely hope you’ve come through it without any damage. While the weather has made gardening more difficult, it certainly hasn’t stopped things ticking along – both at home in the kitchen garden and down on the allotment. From tackling a self-seeded elm tree to dividing rhubarb crowns and taking part in a community orchard pruning day, there’s been plenty going on. Kitchen Garden Update: Tackling an Elm Tree & Dividing Rhubarb The main job in the kitchen garden this week was finally dealing with an elm tree that should really have been removed years ago. What started as a small seedling had grown into a 4.5 m tall tree with branches up to 40 cm thick , causing damage to paths and fencing. With strong winds making ladder work unsafe, we made the decision to take things slowly, using a pole saw to remove branches bit by bit. Some were far heavier than expected, and when th...
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Jobs for the Weekend: Stormy Weather, Steady Progress

With stormy weather forecast, this weekend is very much about taking things steady and working with the conditions rather than against them. There’s no pressure to get everything done – the aim is to protect what you’ve already got growing and make small, sensible steps forward. Whether you manage to get outside or stay indoors, there’s still plenty you can do. Outdoor Jobs (Weather Permitting) If you get a calm window between showers and strong winds, keep outdoor jobs light and safe. Check structures Make sure greenhouses, cold frames, cloches, and fleece are secure. It’s much easier to fix something now than after it’s blown over. Secure pots and containers Move lightweight pots closer together or into sheltered spots to stop them toppling over. Quick tidy-ups Focus on small areas rather than big clear-outs. A little bramble cutting, leaf clearing, or edging goes a long way. Mulch bare soil If conditions allow, add compost or woodchip to protect soil and suppress weeds...
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