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Garden Team's Blog - May 2008

The latest from the Garden Team, headed up by Simon Hansford, HQ Head Gardener. 

A roe doe was spotted with her fawn on the farm on Sunday (25th May).  I thought I'd share the picture of her with you; sadly you can't see the fawn. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week the Garden Team have busy implementing the seed project for Members. We have chosen three very different crops for you to try...



Squash 'Marina Di Chioggia' – This is a large, dark green tasty squash with knobbly skin and is easy to grow.

Just plant the seed on its side, about an inch deep in a small plant pot. Water this well and place in a propagator or on a warm light windowsill.

Once the plant is 4 – 6 inches high it can be safely planted out into the garden (make sure that you are not forecast any more frosty nights!).

In late summer the squashes can be eaten fresh, or stored in a frost-free shed or garage (the flavour improves with age).



Climbing French Bean 'Barlotto Di Fuoco' – This is a colourful bean that can be eaten fresh, or left to mature to harvest the beans for drying.

Sowing is the same as for the squash but sow 4 – 5 seeds per pot (alternatively they can be sown directly into the ground).

We normally grow Barlotto Di Fuoco up and around a wigwam, but you could consider growing them up a fence or intertwined through sweetcorn plants.

 



Chard 'Rainbow' – This is probably best sown directly into the soil in its final position.

Rake the soil to achieve a fine tilth and make a drill about one inch deep. Sow the seed in this drill about 4 inches apart (if your seeds are closer together then don’t worry as they can be 'thinned' out when they are big enough to handle – use these thinnings as a tasty addition to any salad).

Chard can be left to grow larger and used as an alternative to spinach – remember to use the colourful edible stems as well.

As this is rather a decorative plant, consider growing it in amongst your bedding plants or borders – it would also look fantastic growing in a large pot.


Now that the weather has improved and soil temperatures are rising, we've been busy out in the garden, direct sowing many crops including peas, carrots and spinach.

We've continued transplanting many of the early crops that we were growing in the polytunnel, including broad beans and some early lettuce.  And of course we've been spending time in front of the cameras - you'll see more of what we've been up to in the new series later this month.

See you soon!  

Simon

Comments

Hi Simon & Team,

What are your plans to keep the Deer off the garden? Do you have any hint's and tip's? Our local allotment group are thinking of putting Deer fencing up (at a great cost) as a final resort, as many of the members have had enough of the little blighters.

Well done with the new series by the way, I like the increased focus on vegetable gardening.
Paul Wyman

Paul Wyman

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