Tag Archives: tomatoes

Blossom End Rot What Is It and What To Do About It

Many gardeners are affected by blossom end rot, and it’s heart breaking to see your tomatoes inedible due to this damage. Don’t despair, it’s not all doom and gloom, and in most cases it’s an easy fix. So read on to find out how to identify it and how to deal with it. What Is The Blossom End? The blossom end is the end of the fruit furthest away from where the stalk joins the plant. It is literally the end the blossom was attached to, and that’s where we get blossom end rot. What Is Blossom End Rot? Blossom… → Read More

How To Grow Sweeter Tomatoes

Whenever this subject comes up, it turns into a massive debate because everyone seems to have an opinion. I tend to do as much research as I can and then come to a decision on any given subject. That’s why I want to tell you how to grow sweeter tomatoes, i have touched on this before on how to grow the tastiest tomatoes. This post however is just about how to grow sweeter tomatoes. To get the best from any plant you need to start at the bottom and in this case that’s the soil. Whether you’re growing tomatoes in… → Read More

Companion Growing

There’s a lot of talk lately concerning companion growing or companion planting and whether it works. Is it mumbo jumbo made up for peoples amusement? I have been using companion growing for years and I have had some impressive results. What Is Companion Growing? Any plant growing in close proximity with another plant could be called a companion plant. To my mind companion growing is all about assisting the plants I want to grow and to make them healthier, happier plants. Plants that will produce more fruit/vegetables and that crop will be the tastiest, most fullfilling flavoured produce. So by… → Read More

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

Companion Planting Lavender

A classic garden plant and no garden is complete without a lavender plant. There are many benefits from growing lavender and companion planting lavender will improve your garden. Not only in appearance but also fragrance and by the wealth of beneficial insects it attracts. Companion Planting Lavender To Repel Pests Grow lavender to repel many pests including fleas, moths, and white flies. Sprigs of lavender placed under the carpet will stop fleas from entering your home. Lavender attracts many beneficial insects as well and these will improve pollination and cut down on pests. Bees and hoverflies are attracted to lavender… → Read More

How To Tell Determinate From Indeterminate Tomatoes

I keep getting asked this question, it’s a valid question because they both need to be treated differently. The easiest way to describe how to tell determinate from indeterminate tomatoes is speed of fruiting. Determinate tomatoes usually fruit first but not for as long as indeterminate tomatoes. How To Tell Determinate From Indeterminate Tomatoes What Are Determinate Tomatoes They are often described as dwarf or bush tomatoes and their growth is limited. Determinate tomatoes will only produce one crop of fruit and do not need to have suckers removed (more on this later). Determinate tomato plants are smaller and don’t… → Read More

Companion Planting Catnip – The Benefits

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) also known as catnep, catswort, or catmint is a member of the mint family. Like all mints if planted with the correct plants catnip can be a very beneficial plant. Read on to find out the benefits of companion planting catnip. Companion Planting Catnip The Benefits Catnip has a strange, but not unpleasant smell and deters flea beetles, ants, aphids, weevils, cabbage white butterflies, and mice. It’s flowers attract many bees, hoverflies, and other pollinators. It also attracts parasitic wasps making catnip a very useful plant for the organic gardener. Companion Planting Catnip Just by looking at… → Read More

Amaranth Companion Plants

Grown extensively throughout South America as a cereal crop, amaranth grows well in the UK during Summertime. The leaves and seeds are edible and the plant is decorative enough to grow in the flower bed. Most plants do better if grown with other, helpful plants, read on to benefit from amaranth companion plants. Amaranth Companion Plants In it’s native lands, amaranth is a perennial plant but here in the UK it only grows as an annual. This gives us a short season between frosts, so it’s companions will also be warm weather crops as well. Amaranth companion plants include:- Cucumbers… → Read More

What Grows Well With Raspberries

Always expensive in the shops,raspberries make a great fruit for desserts and just to eat fresh. Raspberries are not that difficult to grow and are fairly undemanding to maintain. As with all plants they will do better with certain companions so what grows well with raspberries? What Grows Well With Raspberries The principles of companion planting are well known, some plants repel pests, some attract beneficial insects either to pollinate or as predators on the bad bugs. Some are sacrificial, taking the bad bugs away from your crop plant. Others share beneficial compounds through the soil whilst others do the… → Read More

Vegtrug Planting Guide

If you’ve been following my posts for a while you’ll probably be aware that I had a brain bleed a few years ago. What I haven’t told you is last year I had a quintuple heart by-pass and it’s left me very weak. I can’t manage my allotment so my son set me up a vegtrug and here’s my vegtrug planting guide. We went for the medium vegtrug which is actually the largest one they do? It’s 1.8 metres (6 foot) long, 76 cms (30 inches) wide and 80 cms (31.5 inches) high. That’s an area roughly 6 foot by… → Read More