Raymond Blanc’s favourite varieties produce the flavours he is after:

Apples Original Princess Cox’s Pippin

Turnip Demi Long Blanc de Croissy

Lettuce Reine des Glaces

Artichoke Violette de Provence

Courgette Nero di Milano

Pea Shoots Sugar Ann

Aubergine Moneymaker

Potato Pink Fir Apple

Tomato ‘Sweet Olive’

Mint Vietnamese or Kinh Gioi

Raymond recommends leaving the skin on vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, cucumbers and potatoes before cooking, “as this is where most of the nutrients and taste lies”.

Raymond Blanc’s favourite varieties have the best flavour!

Which onions sets are suitable for autumn planting? Our winters seem to be milder, so there is a chance that onions, such as Hercules, may grow well when planted in the autumn?

Sue asked the question:

Have just completed 1st year as an allotment holder. Last year we planted onion sets in November/December and they did quite well. Have now seen that autumn planting should be for Japanese onions. I have bought Hercules onion sets. Is it too early to plant these now?

Thompson & Morgan sent this advice:

Hercules is essentially a spring planting onion variety and planting it out of season could cause the bulbs to ‘bolt’ prematurely. Bulbs would probably not over- winter successfully either.

One of the Japanese varieties ‘ Senshyu’ in particular

over-winters very successfully, ready to harvest in June before a maincrop variety is ready.

Japanese onions are suitable for autumn planting

I am delighted to receive the Tree Of Happiness Award from Sara of Farming Friends.

The rules are to list six things which make you happy, so here goes:

• planting the first seeds of spring
• seeing the first leaves of broad beans poking through the soil
• eating the first carrot - straight from the garden
• watching the strawberries turn bright red
• inspecting the vegetables in their winter store, and smelling their perfume
  
• taking a basket full of veg to friends

The Tree of Happiness has to be passed to six inspirational bloggers, & these are the ones who also make me happy!

adekun.com

http://theconsummategardener.com

greatbigvegchallenge.blogspot.com

joannasfood.blogspot.com

thegreenfingeredphotographer.blo…

primsplace.blogspot.com

If green tomatoes are not going red, don’t worry about them & leave them on the vine as long as possible if they are disease free.

Be patient and they will ripen all of a sudden. Read More »

Tomato : Cherrola F1 Hybrid is new for 2009, and an RHS winner!

Cherrola F1 hybrid:

• extra long trusses of up to 20 fruits
• excellent flavour
• cordon
• early ripening
  

The chili pepper, chilli pepper, or chili, is generally used as a spice.

Why are Richard’s tomatoes mushy and of poor quality?

Richard sent in this question:

I am in my fifth year growing tomatoes in an (unheated) greenhouse. I sow seed in a propagator at the beginning of April and they usually crop mid-August or about now this year, due to lack of sun in August. I have tried many varieties, from Gardeners Delight, Alicante through to Plum and Beefsteak type. Unfortunately the results are always the same, the plants crop copiously, but the fruits (although ripe)are mushy and never crisp. Any ideas what is wrong? Read More »

Ros has sent a cry for help:

How can we grow carrots without the dreaded pests. Think it’s carrot fly, but not sure. For two years now we have had to cut alot of (holes & black marks) away to be able to eat what’s left.
We only grow in one 3m x 3m raised bed.

TopVeg replied:

It is tragic to loose your carrots to pests - our sympathies.

It does sound like carrot fly.

There are 3 things you can do to protect your carrots grown in raised beds: Read More »

The TopVeg food garden aims to give a continuous supply of a variety of vegetables to the kitchen every day of the year.

Situated below sea level, the heavy silty clay, reclaimed from the estuary, is very deep. The soil has superb water retention, & good drainage when well structured.

The vegetable garden has a seven year rotation, using seven beds divided by duckboards : Read More »

Sow

Swiss chard, perpetual spinach & mixed winter salad leaves directly into the vegetable garden.

Lamb’s lettuce, salad onions, mustard & cress can be grown under cloches for winter salads

Planting out (later in the month) seedling:

Perpetual spinach, radicchio, spring cabbages, & chicory.