Sharing with children the excitement of growing vegetables from seed, and cooking tasty, healthy food.
It’s that time of year again – a day full of everything cress-like and boy does that let you in for a peppery treat! It’s the annual Watercress Festival!
Not only are there food stalls and numerous cookery demonstrations there is the chance to have a tour round a real watercress farm and have your photo taken with one of the falcons that help protect the cress from any unwanted visitors. Continue reading
Mark Ridsdill Smith is also called the Vertical Gardener (not because he is very tall but because he is an expert in gardening in a small space which means growing vertically). Here are his tips to help you win the Giant Bean Competition.
Mark's runner bean flowers need the bees to form beans
1. Runners grow best with lots of water – so use a large pot (easier to keep well watered) or a container with a water reservoir (like an Earthbox)
2. They need pollinating by bees – so it can be fun and beneficial to grow some insect attracting flowers nearby.
Are your beans buzzing with bees?
3. Slugs love runner bean seedlings. You can protect with small home made cloches – cut empty drink bottles in half and put one over each seedling.
