This year planting a diverse range of flowers has never been so important for pollination. The choice of flowers in our gardens is just as important as our choice of vegetables. We noticed increased pollination yearly as more butterflies, dragonflies, bees and long beaked birds take to the garden. The presence of moths and mantis insects have increased also. The more pollinators that visit the front garden, the more vegetables have thrived around our edible block.
Once merely a green field, the garden has taken many years to create, design and build. Upon leaving the nursery we head down a wide path with a forest of trees planted either side (...)
As our European counterparts warn of a “Fools Spring”, I succumbed to a “Fool’s Autumn”, as I planted in these cool initial days and then BAM, we were hit with a hot spell, almost a final wave of Summer heat, and we were enduring 30+ degrees of heat (Celsius) yet again. Back to watering the greenhouse 3 times a day. Foolish (...)
Fast forward to secondary college, I was about 15, and it was compulsory to select one subject from the “Science” or “B” section, so I chose “Gardening”, tried to grow the best beans on the school’s plot, and it reminded me a little that I liked to grow things. Read on...
Perfectly sized to be eaten by one person, the old heirloom variety called "Lemon Cucumber" (because of the colour of the skin, not taste) ticks all the boxes!
It's prolific, easy to grow, even here in our cold temperate climate, and miraculously develops a thick skin once it's picked, but remains sweet and juicy on the inside, without a hint of bitterness at all! It also tends to have a longer growing period than other cucumbers.