2015 - Page 3 of 9 - SpadeRunner

Growing watercress; green goodness

September 14, 2015December 29, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Whether you treat it like a herb or a vegetable, growing watercress is rewarding for the home gardener. In the cities you’re likely to find a reliable if costly supply, but I haven’t seen it for sale out here, and it’s very handy to have to pick at anytime for a garnish, or to liven up a sandwich, or on the larger scale to use as the main vegetable in a soup or frittata. A problem with bought watercress is that it tends to be all stem with yellow leaves low down,…

No-dig beds; are they any good?

September 10, 2015December 27, 2015 Stephen Carlin

I was keen to try no-dig beds, as they seem an ideal solution for opening up new garden areas without the considerable effort of hoeing and digging over new soil. My first efforts have not been entirely successful, although I’m still working at finding a method that works for me. Here are a few tips if you’re thinking of giving this method a try.

Growing strawberries over black plastic

September 9, 2015October 12, 2017 Stephen Carlin

This really works! As a kid we went to strawberry farms which had huge rows of black plastic with strawberries planted along them, and it always seemed a bit mean to the plants to have them almost smothered, but it really works for growing strawberries in the home garden too.

Growing onions in the subtropics

September 8, 2015December 28, 2015 Stephen Carlin

With our mild frost free Winters and warm wet Summers, onions generally don’t do well in the subtropics. They are cool-weather growers, and need a bit of chill to form bulbs. I have tried about six different varieties from seed, plus leeks and chives, and have had good results only from white bunching onions, meaning that these might be the subtropical onions for me.

Wheat, linseed, and other chicken forage.

September 7, 2015December 18, 2015 Stephen Carlin

I’ve just opened the fence to let the chickens in to one of the chicken forage yards. There are three fenced yards next to the chicken run, one has the beginnings of a citrus orchard and grass for grazing, but the other two I have been using to experiment with chicken forage crops. My first Winter crops have been rewarding; particularly the linseed (flaxseed) and wheat. Fenugreek hasn’t done well with any of my sowings over a full year now, and the mustard I sowed there was also a fizzer this season,…

Growing turmeric, a warmly rewarding crop

September 1, 2015December 28, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Turmeric has turned out to be a great crop for us here. If you have a warm climate or even just a warm spot over Summer, I’d encourage you to give it a try. I’ve just dug mine up, and was astounded by the amount there was, and by how densely it grows. It is a warm season plant, with attractive ginger type leaves through the Summer which slowly yellow off through Winter here, so that the top is only completely dead by the end of Winter, which is when…

Growing kohlrabi – a good cabbage crop for warm winters

August 31, 2015December 28, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Growing cabbage family vegetables where winters are warm can be challenging, but if your cauliflowers fizzle and brussels sprouts are out of the question, growing kohlrabi might be the go.

Sweet peas in your garden, big rewards for a little preparation

August 25, 2015December 28, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Sweet peas are a rewarding flower, even in warm climates. Mine at the moment are making a splash of colour both outside and inside the house, but of course their superpower is their delightful fragrance when you have them in a vase.

Candystripe beetroot (Chioggia)

August 24, 2015December 29, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Candystripe beetroot is a bit of fun for the vegetable patch. I’ve never seen it in the shops, and it would be difficult to sell as it looks like a plain red beet until peeled and cut, so it’s one of those vegetables that reward the home gardener with something unusual.

Growing swede (turnips)

August 11, 2015December 28, 2015 Stephen Carlin

Swedes are one of those vegetables that you either love or hate, and with their strong flavour they are probably hated by most kids, but ever since my tastes matured I have been on the side of relishing swedes. It’s the combination of sweetness and depth of mellow flavour that gets me, and says Winter in a mouthful. They are the sort of vegetable that needs to be seasonal, and growing swede in the subtropics is a very seasonal matter, you have to get your timing just right. Growing swede in the…