garden pests:

• aphids are a problem on most veg
• white fly attack brassicas
• caterpillars (brassicas)
• slugs (seedlings, root crops, salads)
• rabbits
• hares
• squirrels (eat strawberries)

• deer
• pigeons (brassicas)
• sparrows (lettuce)
• next door’s cat digs up the garden and disturbs the seedlings - he has got the message now, and keeps out

Do not wash root vegetables before putting them into store.

Researchers, working on behalf of ASDA, looking into the shelf-life of vegetables have found those covered in soil lasted twice as long as those that had been washed.

They believe mud acts as a preservative because it blocks the light and helps to keep the temperature down.(FarmBusiness,19th Jan2007,p4)

Pumpkins make a great kid’s project. You can eat them, join the race for the biggest pumpkin, and hollow them out to make a lantern at Halloween.

They are rampant growers, and just take off. The only problems are slugs, which eat the young seedlings. Start the seeds off in a pot on the kitchen window sill. When the seedlings are an inch or so, transplant into the garden, but surround with a circle of soot. The slugs don’t like wriggling through this. Cover the seedlings with a big glass jar to keep the birds off, and after a couple of weeks they should be safe.

Once you see that there are several fruits, pick one for a pumpkin pie, or make some jam or chutney. This keeps the interest going until Halloween.

Give the kids a seperate patch. Our pumpkins took over the salad strip. Then we had to decide whether to smother the radish or kill the enthusiasm of the junior gardener by kerbing the pumpkin shoots.

If they have there own patch away from the official veg garden, it is up to them. Do they prefer a plate of radish at tea-time, or a proud display of pumkins at Halloween Their young minds will probably find a way of achieving both!

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• Chits are the sprouting shoots that grow out of the eyes of a potato.
• Gardeners encourage these chits to grow before the potatoes are planted, so they have a heads start when they are put in the ground.
• Maris Bard seed potatoes have been chitting for a week.
• The seed is in an egg tray.
• The scar-side (point where the tuber was attached to parent plant) is down, with rose uppermost.

• The majority of eyes (buds) will be around the rose, and so pointing upwards.

• The tray is on a north-facing, light, frost free window sill.
• The chits (shoots) need to grow slowly.
• The light keeps the shoots short, fat and green.
• 4 degrees Celsius is ideal, but the temperature should not go above 10 degrees, neither should it reach freezing.

Still managing 5 A Day from the veg patch

It is possible to provide the family with 5 A Day in January

Sprouts, Carrots, Parsnips all still in the ground & tasting great!!

Onions, shallots, garlic and beetroot in store - & good to ring the changes

Maris Piper & King Edwards storing well - but they don’t count in the 5 A Day!  Did have problems with stored potatoes sprouting initially, but put them all in a colder, darker spot & all OK now

Plenty of fruit from the garden in store, really enjoying frozen berries with yoghurt just now.  Good for the points!!