The growing of tomatoes is often seen as some sort of dark art, requiring knowledge passed down the ages from allotmenteer to allotmenteer. Talk of determinate and indeterminate varieties, the need to pinch out (or not), supporting and soil types, plus the perceived need for a large greenhouse puts many people off trying to grow them.
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The latest in the River Cottage Handbook series is directly aimed at those hoping to start growing their own food on whatever patch of land they have available. Written by Mark Diacono, River Cottage gardener, it covers not only the steps involved in growing a wide variety of vegetables, but also more general tips on soil improvement, successional planting, crop rotation and other topics of vital importance to those starting out.
Most gardens contain at least some paved areas, and it doesn’t take long before a newly installed patio or path succumbs to weeds growing through the cracks. Weedkiller is the obvious answer, but these days… well, many of us would prefer not to go there.
Home-grown strawberries are infinitely better than shop bought, probably because they’re picked when ripe and not flown halfway across the world to sit on the shelves of your local supermarket.
Slugs are one of the most deadly enemies for most food gardeners. One single slug can lay waste to a row of seedlings in a single night, and if your garden is seriously infested then it’s almost impossible to grow anything successfully.