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Seed of the Month: Cauliflowers — From Seed to Superb Harvests

Why Cauliflowers Make a Great Seed of the Month Cauliflowers are one of the most rewarding brassicas to grow, offering a sense of achievement that few other vegetables can match. Although they have a reputation for being a little demanding, most of their needs come down to consistency. When they receive steady moisture, firm soil and regular feeding, they produce tight, compact heads that taste far superior to anything shop‑bought. With a huge range of varieties now available—including exciting new multi‑headed types—there’s a cauliflower for every garden and every season. Sowing Cauliflower Seeds Successfully Sowing cauliflower seeds begins with choosing the right variety for the time of year. Early varieties can be started as early as February, while maincrop and winter types follow through spring and early summer. Whatever the timing, the seeds benefit from being sown into firm, stable compost. Cauliflowers dislike root disturbance, so modules are ideal, allowing each seedling to...
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Episode 647: March Begins: Soil Warming, Cauliflowers & No‑Dig Gardening

March has arrived and the soil is finally starting to warm up. This week on the podcast In this week’s episode of The Veg Grower Podcast , Richard is welcoming in the month of March. I share updates on soil temperatures, warming beds for early sowings. We also have our Seed of the Month , and this month’s book review. There’s also a simple seasonal recipe using purple sprouting broccoli . Down the Allotment After weeks of rain, a few dry days have finally helped the soil begin to dry and warm. Richard has also been checking temperatures with a soil thermomete r. Although readings are still around 5–7°C, things are moving in the right direction. Richard goes on to talk about how he's using cloches to warm the beds ahead of direct sowing, and why he prefer them over black plastic or weed membrane. There’s also a bit of reflection on how the allotment is looking overall as we head into the new season. In the Potting Shed With the shed averaging around 11°C this week, Richard h...
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Recipe of the Week: Lemon & Garlic Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Crispy Chickpeas

Purple sprouting broccoli is one of the most rewarding crops to harvest at this time of year. After months of standing firm through winter, those deep‑purple florets finally appear—sweet, earthy, and perfect for quick, bright cooking. This recipe celebrates that moment with a mix of roasted PSB, zingy lemon, and crunchy chickpeas. Ingredients (Serves 2–3) 300–400g purple sprouting broccoli, trimmed 1 tin chickpeas, drained and patted dry 2 tbsp olive oil 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp smoked paprika Salt and black pepper Optional: chilli flakes, toasted almonds, or grated hard cheese Method Preheat the oven to 200°C fan / 220°C non‑fan / Gas 7 . Roast the chickpeas: Spread them on a tray, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes until crisp. Add the PSB: Toss the broccoli with the remaining olive oil and garlic. Add it to the tray and roast for 10–12 minutes until the tips char slightly. ...
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How to Grow Leeks From Seed (A Simple Guide for UK Gardeners)

Leeks are one of my favourite crops to grow. They’re reliable, hardy, brilliant value for money, and they slot perfectly into the veg garden from autumn right through winter. And the best bit? They’re incredibly easy to grow from seed. When to Sow Leek Seeds In the UK, the ideal sowing window is: Late February to April for early and maincrop leeks May to early June for later varieties Sow earlier for big winter leeks, later for slimmer summer ones. What You’ll Need Leek seeds Seed trays or deep modules Fine seed compost A watering can with a fine rose Labels (trust me, you’ll forget which variety is which) How to Sow Leeks From Seed 1. Fill your trays with seed compost Leeks like a fine, free‑draining mix. Gently firm the compost but don’t compact it too much. 2. Sow thinly You can sow in two ways: Option A: In trays Scatter the seed thinly across the surface, then cover with a light sprinkle of compost. Option B: In modules Drop 4–6 seeds into each module. Th...
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Episode 646: Greenhouse Heating Test, Spring Prep & Beekeeping Insights

This week on the Veg Grower Podcast, I’ve been dodging rain showers, running a greenhouse heating test, answering listener questions, and getting the allotment ready for the season ahead. Despite the soggy conditions, there’s still plenty happening both in the kitchen garden and down on the plot. Kitchen Garden: Cloches, Weeds & a Diesel Heater Test We’ve had tiny breaks in the weather — just enough to dash outside and get a few jobs done. Most of my time has been spent clearing weeds and preparing the beds for the cloches that will really come into their own throughout March. Cloches help warm the soil and give early sowings like carrots and beetroot a head start. I also ran a dummy test of my new diesel heater in the greenhouse. It was a Christmas gift I’ve been itching to try, and despite the temporary extension lead setup, it worked surprisingly well. The greenhouse heated up quickly, and it’s given me a good idea of how to position it properly once I finally get those two ...
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Episode 645: Early Signs of Spring, Allotment Prep & Why Grow Lights Matter More Than Ever

This week’s episode of The Veg Grower Podcast was packed with those subtle but exciting signs that the growing season is waking up. After a rare dry spell on the south coast, I finally managed a full day in the kitchen garden — and it felt good to get stuck in. Kitchen Garden: Early Growth & Essential Tidying With the soil warming, weeds have started to appear, which is always a positive indicator that spring is on the way. Even more surprising was spotting the first early shoots of asparagus pushing through — far earlier than expected, but very welcome. I mulched the asparagus bed with rich worm compost from the wormery, although I did discover a small mouse living beneath the bin. Thankfully, not a rat — and a reminder to keep an eye on things, especially with chickens nearby. I also planted out some strong young leeks that were originally destined for a cancelled project. These were sown in May and have grown beautifully in pots, so they’re now filling an otherwise empty be...
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Crispy Vegetable Pancakes with Sweet Chilli & Soy Dressing

With Shrove Tuesday upon us and Chinese New Year celebrations still in full swing, this week’s recipe brings a little of both together. These savoury vegetable pancakes are light, crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and packed full of home-grown goodness. They’re incredibly flexible too — perfect for using up winter vegetables from the garden. Whether you’re celebrating Pancake Day or just want something a bit different for tea tonight, this one is well worth trying. Ingredients (serves 2–3) For the pancakes: 150 g plain flour 1 egg 250 ml milk 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional) 1 small leek, finely sliced 1 carrot, grated A handful of shredded cabbage or kale 1 spring onion or small onion, finely chopped Salt and black pepper Oil for frying For the dressing: 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon honey A squeeze of lime or lemon juice Method Make the batter In a bowl, whisk together the flour, egg an...
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