Chillies are deliciously fascinating - their forms, colours and flavours tantalise the senses; their names alone are enough to make your tongue tingle in anticipation. I've been growing far more chillies over the past few years than sanity should dictate. I'm drawn in by the evocative colour and spice of names like 'Bolivian Rainbow', 'Numex … Continue reading What’s In A Name? Capsicum Annuum
Last month I wrote about my allotment woes which had resulted in an accidental potato monoculture, but since then the allotment has been working hard, producing an exciting range of cut flowers by the bucketload. After an inspiring spring harvest of daffodils and tulips, I planted summer corms and tubers, and sowed a host of … Continue reading Cutting Patch: Into The Limelight
We've had a spectacular spring for bulbs, both inside and out, largely thanks to J. Parker's who have kindly supplied us with a fabulous selection to trial this year. Bulb anticipation began in January when we planted the Hippeastrum with awed respect for the size of the bulbs. By late February, paperwhite daffodils were filling … Continue reading Bulbs To Light Up Spring
On Tuesday evening, David's Bookshop in Letchworth hosted a talk by botanist, writer and broadcaster James Wong on his new bestselling book. As usual James gave a lively and interesting talk in which he demonstrated a broad knowledge of the scientific data behind the ideas in the book. How To Eat Better is a cookbook with a difference. … Continue reading Book Review: James Wong’s ‘How To Eat Better’
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