Tag Archives: compost

Why Are Earth Worms Good For The Soil

Why Are Earth Worms Good For The Soil

As far as growing produce goes, the most important ingredient to get right is the soil. If you think about it, you are growing living plants and they need living soil to grow in, nutrient rich soil full of living organisms. Why are earth worms good for the soil? Because they help to create it. Why Are Earth Worms Good For The Soil The presence of earth worms indicates a healthy soil. Dig one spade depth into your soil, if you reveal earth worms then you have good healthy soil. To explain this better we need to look at how… → Read More

How To Clone Tomatoes

How To Clone Tomatoes

Sounds really technical and complicated doesn’t it? Well it’s not, in fact it’s easier than you could possibly imagine. I’m going to show you how to clone tomatoes and believe me if I can do it then anyone can. What Is A Clone? According to Merriam-Webster.com a clone is a copy of:- clone verbcloned; cloningDefinition of clone (Entry 2 of 2)transitive verb1: to propagate a clone from2: to make a copy ofintransitive verb: to produce a clone Merriam-webster.com How To Clone Tomatoes As any tomato grower will tell you, tomatoes grow from seeds however it is incredibly simple to clone tomato plants. Especially if you are growing… → Read More

4 Benefits Of Growing Elderberry Trees

4 Benefits Of Growing Elderberry Trees

If you think of the elderberry as just a weed tree, think again. Apart from it’s health effects on the human body, elderberry can be useful in the garden too. So here are 4 benefits of growing elderberry trees. What is a Elderberry Tree? Members of the Adoxaceae family of plants, there are several different varieties of the sambucus tree. The most common is sambucus nigra European or black elderberry. It can grow up to 30 feet ( 9 metres) in height with white flowers turning to clusters of black berries. Some grow more as shrubs than trees but they… → Read More

Allotment Ideas For Beginners

Allotment Ideas For Beginners

I live in Essex and I had to wait nearly 3 years to get my allotment, 3 years of growing in pots and containers. So when my offer for an allotment in my area came through I jumped at it. I soon started to realise how much I didn’t know, what I needed was allotment ideas for beginners. Allotment Ideas For Beginners So here’s my top tips for allotment newbies, some will be obvious and some not so, but I hope they help you on your allotment journey. The first thing I’ll say is you’re in a marathon, not a… → Read More

Companion Planting Dandelions (no…really!)

companion planting dandelions

This post might surprise a few of you gardeners out there. Companion planting dandelions ??? well it surprised me too. Companion Planting Dandelions Every body knows what a dandelion looks like and most of you will think of them as weeds. To be pulled up and destroyed as soon as they are spotted but on closer inspection dandelions are very useful little plants. Dandelions are great companion plants Allowing dandelions to grow near to early flowering fruits and vegetables will attract pollinators on the look out for nectar. Fruits and vegetables like :- Broad beans Early strawberries Apricots Plums Peaches… → Read More

Companion Planting Comfrey

companion planting comfrey

Comfrey is nature’s wonder plant. It’s uses in the garden are legendary, so welcome to companion planting comfrey. Companion Planting Comfrey What is Comfrey? Comfrey (Symphytum) is a herb with a deep tap root that can break through the deep soil and uptake minerals that other plants cannot reach. Why Grow Comfrey? As stated above comfrey reaches minerals in the soil that other plants can’t, so it is a good source of minerals to feed your plants. Comfrey is a particularly valuable source of fertility to the organic gardener. It is very deep rooted and acts as a dynamic accumulator,[6]… → Read More

The Number One Secret To Growing Great Plants

The Number One

Ask any gardener the secret to growing and they will all give you a different answer, but here is the number one secret to growing great plants. This is of course my own personal belief but it is based on years of gardening experience. Good Soil Having good soil is an important factor in growing great plants, the soil is where the plants get their nutrients from so of course good soil is a necessary element. This is why every season I add well rotted manure and fresh compost to my soil. Adding compost and / or manure will improve… → Read More

Do Tomato Plants Benefit From Garden Lime and Epsom Salts

DO Tomatoes Plants Benefit From Garden Lime and Epsom Salts

Do Tomato Plants Benefit From Garden Lime and Epsom Salts? Well I don’t know so it’s time to do some research to see what effect, if any adding these products to the soil when planting tomatoes has. What Is Garden Lime? Garden Lime or Ground Limestone with the active ingredient Calcium Carbonate is used primarily for vegetable crops to balance the soils PH levels. The PH levels indicate how Acid or Alkaline the soil is and can be determined by means of a simple test kit available at most garden centres. Too far to either end of the Acid/ Alkili… → Read More

The Best Way To Improve Soil

the best way to improve soil

There are many things that can be done to improve your soil, and there are many ways to improve your soil you can : Add Compost Add soil improver Grow a green manure Add leaf mould Add fertilizer Add seaweed So lets explore the best way to improve soil. Why Improve your Soil ? To grow good produce you need good soil.  That is it in a nutshell. Every crop you grow takes something out of the soil and to keep growing good produce you need to keep the soil as healthy as you can. What Is Compost ? Compost… → Read More

The Spanish Slug Invasion

The Spanish Slug Invasion

There is a new predator in your garden and you should be prepared for all out war. You work hard to prepare your soil to grow your  plants and vegetables,  you watch for slugs and snails during wet periods. Usually you can relax once the weather warms up as the slugs and snails keep to the shade and stay in underground… …. Not any more the Spanish Slug invasion has begun. The Spanish Slug Invasion They arrived by stealth, and as we speak they are probably invading your plot, make no mistake, this is no joke. Something has to be… → Read More