Three of the 35 asparagus peas planted on 5 April  started to emerge, after 8 days in the heated propagator.

The problem now is keeping these seed leaves healthy whilst waiting for the rest of the peas to germinate.

TopVeg has not grown the asparagus pea before and is our entry for the Growing Challenge.

The asparagus pea is an unusual vegetable which is easy to grow.

The asparagus pea has:

• pods which are eaten whole & taste of asparagus
• beautiful red flowers

The asparagus pea seeds were sown Read More »

How to grow….Celeriac by John Oldham
Celeriac is a much under-grown and under-used vegetable.

• Having a mild celery flavour, it can be used raw grated in salads, in a remoulade, or steamed (or boiled) and mashed with butter, salt and pepper as a superior vegetable. Goes well with Swede and Sprouts.

• On heavy soils Celeriac is far less prone to slug damage than Celery, once established outdoors. However it is well worth using anti-slug treatment as a precaution. Read More »

Growing winter crops in a 15’ X 10’ Polytunnel by John Oldham.

Unlike glass, polythene radiates heat gained back into the atmosphere. Temperatures in a polytunnel can therefore actually be lower than outside, so only hardy salads and veg. can be successfully grown, Read More »

How to grow Florence Fennel by John Oldham.

Warning! If you can’t stand the taste of aniseed, read no further!
Florence Fennel is a dwarf form of the herb Fennel (Latin name - Foeniculum vulgare), which is grown for its aromatic bouquet and is often used as a garnish for fish dishes. Read More »