This will be my fifth year growing cucamelons and the first year I've successfully overwintered them. Heralded as an exciting addition to cocktails by James Wong in 2012, I've spoken to many people who have grown cucamelons only to be disappointed with either the taste or harvest of these diminutive fruits. I am prepared to accept that for some (misguided!) individuals the … Continue reading Do My Cucamelons Look Big In This?
The winter garden is waiting, the new raised beds watching me through the windows, daring me to step out into the frost, the drizzle, the sunshine to tackle a host of gardening jobs. Instead I've been cooking, eating, playing, crafting, walking, cycling and enjoying this unusually long period of family time together. But this afternoon I … Continue reading Planning a Cutting Patch: Annual Choices
We've been having festive fungal fun all through December in our house, thanks to the Oyster Mushroom Kit sent by the nice people at the Espresso Mushroom Company. This week it's been the highlight of the process - harvest, cooking and scoffing them in waves of warm garlicky goodness. On Day 16 they were ready … Continue reading Oyster Mushroom Advent Calendar: A Christmas Harvest
Meet GOB (Guild of Oca Breeders) 1356, harvested in early December. It's a cheeky little number with attractively flushed red/pink skin and creamy white eyes. My chief tasters were pleasantly surprised by its sweet taste and refreshingly delicate, yet acidic endnote. They were also impressed with the soft, buttery texture and bite-sized proportions of these … Continue reading Confessions of an Ocaholic
I have a confession to make... well two really. The first is that I never manage to get my garlic in before Christmas and yet still usually get a decent crop, although I'm sure yields would be higher if I planted earlier. The second that we have a bad case of white rot in our garden (and, I suspect, … Continue reading Planting Garlic in Containers and Oyster Mushroom Update
On the first day of Advent the postman gave to me, some mushrooms to grow in coffee... My children (aged 4 and 7) were exploding with excitement this morning as they opened the first door in their Lego advent calendar - a special treat this year from Grandma and Grandpa. We also have the atmospheric beauty of … Continue reading Oyster Mushroom Advent Calendar: Part One
If, like me, you are starting to think about Christmas through a haze of concern for our world, then it makes sense to make your own gifts or buy presents that support charities and companies that offer ethical and environmentally-sound products. If you are buying for a fellow gardener or nature-lover this year, here are … Continue reading 10 Ethical Gifts For A Greener Christmas
Last year I started overwintering plants in style - or at least in quantity. As I discussed in Overwintering Tea, Coffee and Other Tender Edible Perennials a couple of weeks ago, this year there were even more tender plants knocking on the door once autumn's hoary fingers reached our garden. I did seriously consider whether or not … Continue reading Buzz Off: Sciarid Fly Nematodes
A cosy window seat has to be the best place to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book. As a child, I preferred to read near the top of our tall Scots Pine, with a Famous Five and an apple from the garden. Now I favour the cushion-strewn window seat in the lounge which … Continue reading Book Review: RHS Plants From Pips and The Little Book of Hygge
These little beauties work really well in cupcakes as they hold their shape and pack a punch with tiny flavour bursts. They are a lovely plant to grow and thrive in a sheltered position as an edible alternative to box hedging. I've been growing Chilean Guava (Ugni molinae) for 3 years and have had harvests from year one … Continue reading Plot to Plate: Chilean Guava Cupcakes