Also known as rutabaga, a swede is a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. It’s a cool-weather crop that can be harvested through the winter, giving you a sweet and nutty root vegetable to enjoy when not much else …
How to Grow the Sweetest Swedes That’ll Feed You All Winter Read More »
Not to be confused with common fennel, which is grown for its leaves as a culinary herb, Florence fennel is all about the bulb. Subtly sweet with a delicate liquorice flavour and a crisp, juicy texture, this vegetable not only …
How to Grow Crisp and Tender Florence Fennel Bulbs Read More »
A beautifully fragrant evergreen shrub that’s native to the Mediterranean, rosemary not only looks attractive in a garden, but those needle-like leaves are packed with antioxidants that strengthen both the body and the brain. Being a perennial means that rosemary …
If you’re not usually a fan of Brussel sprouts, don’t give up on them until you’ve tried growing your own. Not only do these tall, architectural plants look impressive in a garden, but years of selective breeding have produced varieties …
How to Grow Sweet Brussel Sprouts That Everyone Will Love Read More »
With an incredible sweetness, juiciness, and richness that seems almost impossible, freshly-picked sweetcorn is a late-summer highlight for every gardener that grows this crop. While it used to be difficult to grow sweetcorn in cooler climates, the many new varieties …
How to Grow the Sweetest and Juiciest Cobs of Sweetcorn Read More »
A deliciously sweet winter vegetable that can be harvested throughout the colder months, parsnips are not only versatile in the kitchen, but are also packed with several key nutrients. Even better, parsnips are an easy and low-maintenance vegetable to grow. …
With regular and substantial harvests throughout the summer months, courgettes are one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow. It’s true, you’re likely to end up with a glut towards the end of the season, but be adventurous when it …
A warm-weather annual herb that adds such a distinct flavour to dishes, basil is a common sight in both home gardens and sunny windowsills. While this may be a herb that you could easily buy from any supermarket, freshly-picked basil …
Whether your preference may be new potatoes topped with butter, or chips, roasties, and slow-baked jackets of perfection, chances are that the potato features relatively heavily in your diet. While saving money is one reason to grow your own, gardeners …
How to Grow Enough Potatoes to Feed You for a Year Read More »
Although native to the Mediterranean, parsley’s adaptability allows it to tolerate a variety of climates, making it a key herb in cuisines from all over the world. If you’ve been looking for an easy way to improve the vitamin content, …
Carrots are a staple in many diets, and while it may be easy enough to buy a bag of carrots whenever you need some, nothing quite beats the fresh flavour and crunchy texture of carrots that you’ve grown yourself. Even …
How to Grow the Sweetest and Crunchiest Carrots You’ve Ever Tasted Read More »
Although it often has a high price tag accompanying it on supermarket shelves, watercress is actually such an easy vegetable to grow and harvest throughout the year. Many don’t realise that this peppery salad leaf, which also happens to be …
Whether you want to grow your own vegetables, maintain a tidy lawn, or create a wildlife haven, reading is one of the best ways to expand your gardening knowledge. Varied sources are always essential to expose yourself to different ideas …
Gardening Glossary: A List of Terms That Every Gardener Needs to Know Read More »
You’ll never fully understand the sweet and complex flavour of a pea until you’ve eaten one that’s been freshly picked. Their natural sugars quickly turn starchy as soon as each pod has been detached from the vine, which is why …
Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables out there – some varieties are ready to be eaten just four weeks after sowing! They also happen to be a very low-maintenance crop, with these compact plants being perfect for filling in …
How to Grow Radishes That Are Perfectly Crisp, Crunchy, and Zingy Read More »
Purple sprouting broccoli is one of those vegetables that’s always quite pricey in a supermarket. This means that, even though it may be absolutely delicious and packed with nutrients, most people don’t eat it on a regular basis. What they …
How to Grow Productive Purple Sprouting Broccoli Plants to Feed You Through the Winter Read More »
Did you know that the cucumbers sold in supermarkets are often picked two weeks before they actually end up on shelves? The blandness and bitterness often associated with old cucumbers is why many aren’t fans of this classic summer vegetable, …
Leeks are one of the few vegetables that can be harvested over the winter, making them a popular choice for gardens and allotments. Homegrown leeks are also noticeably sweeter and more tender than their commercially-grown alternatives, while also being a …
How to Grow Tender Leeks with Thick, White Stems Read More »
Although the tangy and citrusy flavour of sorrel leaves hold so much culinary potential, sorrel isn’t an ingredient that’s often sold in supermarkets. While this may mean that many miss out on its unique taste, you don’t have to – …
How to Grow Large and Leafy Sorrel Plants at Home Read More »
While edible flowers used as a garnish can make even the dullest dish look more interesting, it’s not solely about appearances. Flowers are packed with a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making edible flowers a tasty and nutrient-rich …
How to Grow Colourful Edible Flowers That Taste as Good as They Look Read More »
Nothing quite compares to the juicy sweetness of a sun-ripened strawberry – they really are at their best when eaten fresh. Even better, strawberries are easy to care for and don’t require much space, making this a fruit that everybody …
How to Grow Perfectly-Sweet Strawberries Throughout the Spring and Summer Read More »
For those of you who haven’t heard of lovage, this leafy perennial herb is closely related to celery. In fact, many would describe its flavour as being a cross between celery and parsley. While it’s probably not a plant that …
While all parts of a beetroot plant are edible, this superfood is mostly grown for its subtly sweet, richly earthy root. Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, beetroot is an easy yet substantial vegetable to grow at home, and is one …
How to Grow the Juiciest Beetroot You’ve Ever Eaten Read More »
A fast-growing cool-weather crop, spinach is considered to be a superfood because it’s packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Regularly eating this leafy green can do wonders for your health, but, let’s face it, a bag of supermarket spinach …
How to Grow Large and Leafy Spinach Plants at Home Read More »
Cauliflowers are quite sensitive when it comes to growing conditions and temperature fluctuations, meaning that many find it a difficult vegetable to grow. However, get things right and you’ll be able to experience the immense satisfaction of harvesting perfectly-formed cauliflower …
How to Grow Cauliflowers with Large, Perfectly-Formed Heads Read More »
Not only are spring onions so easy to look after, but they usually mature in just eight weeks, making this fast-growing vegetable a satisfying one to have in the garden. Sow your seeds successionally from late winter to the end …
How to Grow Crisp and Sweet Spring Onions at Home Read More »
A popular springtime treat for foragers, the incredible flavours offered by wild garlic has recently brought this plant into the limelight. From the bulbs and stems to the leaves and flowers, almost every part of a wild garlic plant is …
How to Grow Your Own Patch of Wild Garlic at Home Read More »
One of the world’s earliest cultivated vegetables, cabbages come in so many different shapes, sizes, and colours, and are incredibly nutrient-dense. Plan carefully and you could be eating home-grown cabbages throughout the year. That being said, timings and techniques are …
How to Grow Large Summer Cabbages with Full and Firm Heads Read More »
Not only is rhubarb a vegetable that’s so easy and undemanding to grow, but its vivid red and pink stalks also look exceptionally striking in a garden. Loved for its distinctively tart flavour that adds a zing to sweet dishes, …
The Szechuan pepper may be relatively unheard of in some parts of the world, but the red seed pods from this spiky shrub/small tree are commonly used as a citrusy pepper substitute in many parts of Asia. For those in …
How to Grow Szechuan Pepper for Tongue-Tingling Meals Read More »
Although it’s usually one of the most expensive vegetables on store shelves, asparagus is a crop that many home gardeners don’t bother with. The 2-3 year wait before the first spears can be harvested puts many off, but don’t forget …
Many gardeners would agree that horseradish is one of the easiest perennial crops to grow. In fact, once you have an established horseradish patch, those long roots are near-impossible to ever completely get rid of it, so choose your location …
How to Grow the Most Intensely-Flavoured Horseradish You’ve Ever Tasted Read More »
Also known as eggplants, aubergines are native to the tropical regions of India, but became a staple in Mediterranean cuisine after being introduced to Europe in the 8th century. Although loved by many, aubergines aren’t a vegetable that supermarkets tend …
How to Grow a Heavy Crop of Firm and Flavourful Aubergines Read More »
Not only is oregano so easy to grow, but it’s also a perennial – once your oregano plants get going, they’ll produce fragrant leaves and flowers year after year, often in the winter too! If you would like to jazz …
Although they share many similarities with onions, shallots are loved for their sweeter and more delicate flavour, making them perfect for eating both raw and cooked. Shallots are often considered to be quite a specialty ingredient, which is surprising when …
Sweet, juicy, and satisfyingly succulent, raspberries are such an easy yet rewarding fruit to grow at home. Even better, if you plant the right mix of varieties, you could be enjoying fresh raspberries for six months of the year. Tempted? …
How to Grow the Sweetest Raspberries You’ve Ever Tasted Read More »
Chillies are so much more versatile than many people realise. While the chillies available in most supermarkets may taste quite similar, with equal levels of heat too, there are actually hundreds of different varieties that you could grow, with each …
How to Easily Grow Hundreds of Tasty Chillies at Home Read More »
There’s a myth out there that giant onions, those same ones that you see winning country shows, don’t taste good, but this is definitely not the case. In fact, grow them correctly and you’ll not only end up with onions …
Garlic is one of those essential ingredients that’s used by cultures all over the world. People first started growing garlic more than 7000 years ago, and it’s still one of the most popular plants in kitchen gardens today. It’s easy …
Most gardeners would agree that tomatoes are one of the most rewarding foods to grow. The texture, fragrance, and flavor of a homegrown tomato completely outshines that of store-bought alternatives, especially since many of the best varieties aren’t even sold …
How to Grow Juicy and Flavorful Tomatoes at Home Read More »
Source Many plants happily flourish over the summer months without any human intervention, but it’s a different story in the winter. Icy temperatures, bitter winds, days of endless rain – the winter months are difficult for many plants to cope …
Kale is one of those fool-proof crops that everyone should grow because it’s hardy in the cold months, it’s resistant to most diseases, and grows in all types of soil. Kale is a member of the brassica family. It’s a …
