Grow Your Own
We offer our customers the widest range of vegetable plants available between April and June. Sourcing new varieties from specialist growers and our own nursery gives our customers a superb choice for those wanting to “grow your own” this year.
The huge increased demand for growing your own vegetables is not from the allotment gardeners, but from the new gardeners that are keen to learn and want to grow them in their own back garden again, a bit like my father did forty years ago.
The supermarkets made buying vegetables easy and convenient and so the expertise was lost by the younger generation who now have families and are now keen to provide them again with a fresher more healthy option.
The demand for SEED POTATOES, ONION SETS and SHALLOTTS early in the year have grown ten fold with many looking now for GARLIC and ASPARAGUS as they become more adventurous.
LETTUCE, BROAD BEANS and CABBAGE plants are available from march as plants with TOMATO plants a must in April if you have a greenhouse or May if you have to plant them outside. Choose a sunny spot for all your vegetables as this will cut down the growing time and that sunshine will make them just that little bit sweeter.
The demand for VEGETABLE seeds outstripped flower seeds a couple of years ago as we demanded a greater choice of more unusual varieties. CARROTTS and RADDISHES germinate quickly once the soil warms up.
Preparation is all important when sowing vegetables. Apply a good Organic Fertiliser like Blood, Fish and Bone before sowing and preparing a good tilth before using a garden line will give you a nice straight line.
Draw out a shallow trough with the corner of a draw hoe and sow the seed thinly otherwise you will need to thin the seedlings once germinated.
Remember if the seedlings are too crowded they will compete for the same piece of good soil and the quality and size will be dramatically effected.
Many vegetables like RUNNER and FRENCH BEANS are best sown in a cell tray, or bought as plants which allows them to establish themselves before planting out.
F1 CUCUMBERS are only female and are easier to grow because they do not need to be pollinated like the old telegraph varieties. They produce a huge quantity of cucumbers if given enough food as the grow bags will need feeding after a few weeks. The only draw back is that they prefer the shelter of a greenhouse and like it warm to be at their best.
RIDGE CUCUMBERS can be planted outside. Easily recognisable by their prickly skin and like CORGETTES and MARROWS are best picked while small to get the best flavour.
Look out for pests and diseases, everyone likes to grow organically but this can be harder if the summer weather doesn’t help. There are many organic friendly options on the shelves that will help against greenfly and slugs without harming the natural predators like ladybirds.
Pests are usually harder to control in a greenhouse as this provides the optimum breeding grounds, but planting the old fashioned marigolds amongst your tomatoes and cucumbers can sometimes help.
Finding an area in your garden to grow vegetables is not always easy and if not looked after it can easily become untidy and overgrown.
Last year we introduced our “Veg Tables” for those customers who either found working near to the ground difficult or simply wanted to bring their vegetable growing onto the patio and nearer the kitchen. They were a great success and also made a very worth while present for the keen gardener.
This year we have seen numerous additions to our “grow your own range” from many suppliers and with the addition of a new Walk-In Polytunnel at only £99, it means you can now extend the season even longer.
We have added a new affordable growing POLYTUNNEL to our range this year which will give the gardening enthusiast a real head start in the garden. The vegetable tables continue to be one of our best sellers with raised wooden beds , fruit cages etc expanding the "Grow Your Own" range each year.
Tomatoes
