WhatToGrow - Summer 2023

EDITORIAL

Editior James Davis

Feature Editor Cheryl Elizabeth Davis

CONTRIBUTORS

Bearded Growers

Jessia Crowden

Helen Davies

Nature_nurture_life_

Rachel Locke

Jenny Winnard

Cara Addison

PHOTOGRAPHY

Pexels/Unsplash/Contributors

ADVERTISING

Media packs are available on request

CONTACT

4 Lingfield Road

Royston Hertfordshire

SG8 9JB editor@whattogrow.co.uk

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Edition

I’m very pleased to welcome you to this, our very first edition of WhatToGrow. Our magazine is a celebration of English style gardening and vegetable growing. Featuring seasonal ideas, engaging stories and expert tips from real gardeners. This edition is full of ideas to see you through those long summer nights.

Our magazine stands by three principles - Discover, Learn & Inspire. We hope to help you discover new plants and flowers, learn new skills for your garden and inspire others to get out into theirs.

I’m extremely grateful to all those who contributed their articles to this edition. From the beginning, we wanted to involve as many people as possible to create a community of dedicated and talented gardeners and I look forward to working with you all in the future.

Keep gardening!

James Davis Editor Summer

enjoy A TIME TO

Summer in the garden is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labour, from a winter of preparation and a spring of feverishly getting everything ready for the sunny seasons ahead - the change from spring to summer is spectacular.

By now, the spring bulbs will have died back and the summer annuals that you have sown, tended and nurtured will be growing nicely such as calendula, rudbeckias and ornamental poppies - in June you should see them start to flower.

Dahlias will hopefully be growing larger by the day and showing signs of budding up. Blousy peony blooms will be ending the spectacular show they put on from late May to June. Turrets of colour will be erupting into the sky as salvias, hollyhocks, foxgloves and gladioli reach up to show off striking colours which act as a beacon for pollinators.

Let’s face it all the hard work must be for something, and that something is to enjoy the space you have created. Every garden space needs to be enjoyed, that is its job after all. Take your time to admire your accomplishments, you deserve it.

Written by JJ on behalf of the Bearded Growers

Elders will be flowering with the bittersweet strange musty-spicy fragrance that amazingly works well as a cordial. Summer is a feast for the senses. It’s easy to miss some of the amazing show nature puts on for us, but the most important thing to do in summer is to simply stop and pay attention to the garden, for no other reason than to simply admire its beauty.

Edibles will get going in June with salad crops and summer fruits giving you the joy of homegrownand a taste that no shop bought produce can compete with.

To ensure you keep everything looking good you will need to do some light weeding, keeping an eye out for the continual menace that is bindweed. Hopefully we will need to water more frequently if we get some warm early sunshine. the best time to water is late in the evening as the sun is setting. This is one of the most enjoyable times in the garden, when the day is done, just breathe in the garden as you give everything a good feed.

Bearded Growers

@bearded.growers

You can catch the Bearded Growers live every Monday at 7pm for two hours of gardening chat on Cotswolds Radio.

Benefits of a raised bed

Why should you install a raised bed?

The benefits of raised beds are widely acknowledged. In short, they allow you to set up your growing areas to provide the easiest possible gardening experience. It is true that setting up a raised bed can be costly, both in terms of both time and money.

We have put together just some of the benefits of installing a raised be in your garden.

Reduces weeds

Creating a barrier between the growing area and the natural surroundings, there is less chance for weed seeds to spread.

Keep out the pests

It is easier to keep out pests. Slugs and snails can climb, but they are easier to spot and deterrents can be used. Larger animals can be kept out with fencing and bird barriers are easier to install.

Earlier planting

Raised beds can be planted earlier in the season. The soil dries and warms more quickly in spring.

Great for kids

Raised beds are ideal for children or inexperienced gardeners. Although there is higher initial investment, the effort required is reduced and the chances of success are improved.

Reduce on fertiliser

Compost, mulches, manures and other soil conditioners can be layered to improve soil quality, reducing the need for fertiliser.

Raised beds online

Look great

They look great – the clearly defined edges make the surrounding area easier to maintain. Available in different materials, colours and styles.

High Quality Metal

Raised Beds

£233.99

https://www.ecosure.co.uk/

Stylish new garden raised bed that come in a fantastic selection of sizes. Ideal for gardens and allotments, perfect for vegetable growers and general garden lovers. They create a modern look and make great patio planters. Made from strong, robust stee l that is weather resistant and made here in the UK.

Square Sleeper Raised Bed

£129.99

https://zestoutdoorliving.co.uk/

The Square Sleeper Raised Bed is a popular choice for gardeners as it requires little maintenance. It can easily transform your garden with a beautiful array of flowers or plants. Ideally suited to hard floor areas such as patios or decking.

raised beds for growing vegetables

I’ve been growing vegetables for years, but my passion really stepped up four years ago when we bought our family home.

My husband and I have four children, and as parents know, the struggle is real maintaining their interest in trying and happily eating an assortment of vegetables. However, children love to be involved. They watch us all the time and learn by mimicking us.

so the children helped sow seeds for radishes, lettuces, cucumbers, carrots, beetroots, kale, rocket and peas. We later decided to add a tomato plant, and whilst it wasn’t a bush variety (recommended) I snipped the top so I could still close the canopy. It produced a delightful crop which we ate fresh and later in homemade chutney. Fast forward and we were dashing out the back door to grab handfuls of lettuce, dozens of radishes, cucumbers, rainbow beetroot and pea. If the children (or I) haven’t snuck out and eaten them first! It’s hard to say no to a snack if it’s homegrown and healthy.

I treated myself to a Vegepod, which is a raised vegetable garden with a netted canopy, selfwatering wicking reservoirs and mist spray irrigators. The canopy helps create a micro climate and I have also found that with the soil being raised off the ground, it is much warmer.

The produce I have been able to grow has been fantastic: we’ve even grown carrots at the end of summer. I knew I wanted to grow a variety of fresh produce for our summer salads,

I believe you need to enjoy what you eat, and I want my meals look exciting. I want them to be colourful, full of different textures, contrast of flavours and homegrown. This year I’m hoping to grow a successful harvest of parsnips, so they can go into our soups!

@what_jess_grows

Jessica Crowden

The Benefits of growing Cut and Come Again Lettuce at Home

Whether you have a big or small space to grow your food, one of my favourite foods to grow has to be the cut and come again lettuce varieties. Cut and come again lettuce are easy to grow and require minimal care. It’s a great option for beginners or those with busy schedules who don’t have a lot of time to devote to gardening.

Cut and come again lettuce allows you to harvest only the outer leaves, while leaving the centre intact. This means that the plant will continue to grow new leaves, giving you a continuous supply of fresh, healthy lettuce for weeks or even months.

Cut and come again lettuce can be grown in containers, making it ideal for those with limited garden space, balcony or no garden at all. Even if all you have is one sunny window sill in your home, then this is enough to start growing your lettuce.

Growing your own lettuce is a cost-effective way to have fresh greens at your fingertips. You’ll save money on your food shop and reduce the amount of plastic you use.

There’s a unique joy in personally selecting your own lettuce leaves to enhance the taste and freshness of your salads and meals. The difference in flavour and quality is truly unparalleled.

Overall, growing cut and come again lettuce at home is a smart and satisfying way to have a fresh supply of healthy greens right at your fingertips.

@the_vegproject

Helen Davies

Growing your own lettuce is a cost-effective way to have fresh greens at your

Gardening for Pollinators

GARDENING

FOR POLLINATORS: CREATING A SUMMER HAVEN FOR BEES, BUTTERFLIES, AND MORE

Pollinators such as Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds are essential for a healthy ecosystem and the global food supply, but unfortunately their populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. Within this article we will discuss some changes you can make yourself. Whether you implement all these changes or just one within your garden during the summer months, it can help provide a simple and effective way to support these important creatures.

Diverse food source

Pollinators need a diverse and abundant food source. So look at choosing a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the season. Native plants are the best option as they attract local pollinators and are well adapted to the local climate.

Clear water

Water features, such as bird baths or small ponds, are important for pollinators. Bees and butterflies need access to shallow water to drink and cool off, especially during hot summer days. Incorporating shallow dishes filled with water or small water features can be done easily.

Pollinators need places to rest and hide from predators. Planting native grasses or creating small brush piles can provide shelter for bees and butterflies.

Beautiful Butterflies

Special habitats

Consider incorporating specific habitats for different types of creatures such as bee houses, butterfly gardens, and hummingbird feeders. By doing this it will make your garden more attractive to pollinators and provide them with a better environment.

So there you have it! Creating a pollinator-friendly garden is a simple approach to helping pollinator animals. You can support the environment by providing a variety of food supply, clean water, shelter, and particular habitats. So get out there and start gardening for pollinators this summer!

@nature_nurture_life_

Watching a butterfly float over the garden fence and dance amongst the flowers is a highlight of my summer in the garden.

Seeing these beautiful, colourful insects drinking nectar from the plants I have nurtured from seed brings me more joy than the pretty flowers they sit on. There are 59 different types of butterfly in the U.K. and each one requires a different plant to complete its life cycle. Buddleia is a favourite of butterflies but is an invasive species. Instead you could try bluebells, lavender, red-campion or cornflowers.

If you have fruit trees, leave the fallen fruit. In latesummer the red admiral and painted lady will feed on the fruit juices of over-ripe pears, plums and apples.

No gardeners favourite, but Nettles are a vital food source for the caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell, red admiral, peacock, comma and painted lady.

We have all heard about planting for pollinators, but not all of us plant for their larval. Caterpillars themselves are not well liked as they can decimate our crops – but, if we can move them, or better still, leave them be, we will be rewarded with more beautiful butterflies year on year.

by Rachel Locke @grow_with_the_griffiths

LittleGrowers

Gardening is not just for adults, kids can get involved too. It is an excellent way for them to learn about what plants need to grow and how to look after them.

In this edition we are looking at some crafty ideas anyone can do, no matter what size garden you have. The thing to remember is; anything can be a pot. Open your garden shed, garage or even that cupboard in your kitchen with all the old bowls in it. I’m sure you can find something that can hold soil.

Wash Tins & Drill

create drainage holes

Paint White

provide a base colour

Growing Lupins

Everything you need to know about growing your own beautiful, eyecatching display of these majestic perennials.

Everything you need to know about growing your own beautiful, eye-catching display of these majestic perennials.

A firm favourite of bees, what cottage garden would be complete without a beautiful display of lupins? These tall flowers are available in a wide range of splendid colours, enough to brighten up any border. With their towering spires, reaching 1m to 1.2m lupins would also suit contemporary gardens.

Growing from seed

Guide to growning lupins from seed

Lupins are grown from seed, the seed packets are likely to be a mixture of colours. Easy to grow, you can start growing your own lupins with a seed tray and a packet of seeds. Try soaking the seed the night before planting, this will encourage germination. Lupins are also self seeding, this is a great way for the plant to grow naturally.

You’ll need to protect the young shoots from slugs and snails. Keep them in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. Consider using a propagator in the early stages before planting out.

Some plants may flower in the first year. Others may only flower in the second year once fully established.

Planting out

A healthy size to plant out established lupins 9cm (3½in) or larger is Lupins benefit from either full sun or a dappled shade position and like most tall perennials, would appreciate being protected from the wind. While lupins will grow in pots, they will grow better and will be less prone to aphid (greenfly, blackfly) attacks if planted in the ground. Due to their height, lupins should be planted towards the back of a border which will also protect them from the wind.

After care

Like other perennials, the flowering period fades and you should deadhead flowers before they go to seed. This will encourage a second wave of beautiful flowers.

As Autumn approaches and flowering has finished for the year, you should cut lupins right back to the ground after collecting seed.

Likes

Lupins are sun-lovers, so give them a warm, open, bright position. They also like welldrained or even poor soil that is slightly acidic.

Dislikes

Lupins do not like heavy, wet soil. They also dislike drought when growth begins in spring. You need to find the right balance. Light shade is tolerated but full sun is better!

Plot 47 JUNE

June is a joyous month at the plot and is when I do a little happy dance!

All the hard work we have done in May, pricking out, potting on, worrying over the seed babies and wondering who will make it and who won’t, starts to ease in June.

TOP TIP FOR JUNE

Start of sowing and growing something easy...this will make your confidence soar!

The warmer weather and longer lighter days are here and the worries over the last frost dates are a distant memory. Its time to now enjoy the garden….hurra!

I grow a mixture of fruit, veg and flowers at my allotment, by now I have planted out all the potted up Dahlias and I am eagerly awaiting their arrival.

The salad raised bed is my favourite and well on its way, filled with lettuce, radish (which I love) beetroot, Swiss chard and spring onions – as I am only 2 years into being an allotment owner, I am still learning and having lots of fun doing so.

“Grow what you love to eat”

The best advice I was ever given is to grow what you love to eat! So this is what I do!

June is a great time for directly sowing seeds into the soil, the warm soil welcomes the seeds with pleasure, so this is something I do more of in June to keep the salad plentiful.

It always amazes me that placing a tiny seed, directly into soil, covering it and watering it in, can actually give you produce for the table. Salad can be super easy to grow and doesn’t take too long to grow.

Radish Red Round

Radish White Icicle

There are so many Radish varieties out there and seeds can be very inexpensive. Here are some varieties I am trying this year: Viola, White Icicle, Red Meat, Pink Lady Slipper, Red Moon, Mooli.

Directly sow Radish seeds in the ground – you don’t need a lot of space, this will work in plant pots too, just sow fewer seeds based on the pot size.

• Sow seeds in a line about 1cm deep and space seeds 3cm apart, cover with soil and water in

• Seeds should germinate within 7-10 days and be ready to harvest in another 2 weeks or so, when you see the radish bulging out of the soil it is ready – a joyous sight for sure!

Enjoy your yummy radish harvest!

Happy Gardening from Plot 47

Jenny Winnard

Follow my growing journey on Instagram

@jenny_ourfamilyallotment

TOP TIP

Keep them well watered and don’t let them dry out in June, they won’t like you for that!

Dahlias by a rookie gardener

Cara Addison

@gardening.with.cara

I’ve only been in my garden for one full year and as a newbie gardener I wanted instant colour and drama for my first Summer. I had watched an episode of one of the many gardening shows and saw someone with dahlias in their garden and immediately I knew I had to have some. Knowing absolutely nothing about them I spent the next weeks furiously googling how to grow them and proceeded to order about 10 different varieties of dahlia from small to dinner plate size!

Starting them off

I had to do a lot of googling and watching videos on what to do next. When the alienlooking tubers arrived in March I quickly found the best method to starting them off. Planting them in 3L pots of compost and giving them a little water. I watched those pots like a hawk! I was absolutely delighted when most of them woke up.

Planting out

When the time came for planting the out, I soon realised I didn’t have enough space in my newly dug raised bed for all the dahlias, so pots came in handy! Once they were all planted out in the beds and pots, I kept up watering and feeding them with a liquid feed and lo and behold I got my first flower in late July!

Staking system

I have to say the drought we had, and the heatwaves did cause me some issues and the plants did suffer a little bit. I also didn’t stake them properly so when the winds were strong some of them flopped over. This year I plan to put a proper staking system in place as soon as I plant them out to avoid them being blown over and snapping.

Give them a try!

You can put the smaller varieties like ‘Bishops Children’ in pots, they have gorgeous dark coloured foliage with bright flowers in yellows, reds, oranges, and pinks. The dinner plate varieties are such showstoppers and look amazing in vases around the house. I would highly recommend giving them a try!

Colours of plenty

I’m so excited for this year’s flowers and I’m hoping I can defeat the slugs who love munching on them. I really have become obsessed with Dahlias and still have so much to learn. They come in so many colours, shapes, and sizes.

Fathers day gift ideas

18thJune

Ecosure 180 Litre City

£235

Water Butt Planter

https://www.ecosure.co.uk/

Opinel 3 Piece Gardeners

Colourful Box Set

£56 https://www.farrar-tanner.co.uk/

15 jobs for the summer

Lift and store tulip bulbs

Gently lift your tulip bulbs with a fork after flowering and the foliage has turned yellow. Remove any remaining foliage allow the bulbs to dry and store them in a paper bag.

Plant bedding plants

Continue building and improving your borders by planting summer bedding plants.

2 5

1 3 4 6

Take cuttings from honeysuckle

Between July and August is the best time to take honeysuckle cuttings.

Support tall plants

As the summer continues, tallgrowing plants such as hollyhocks and delpiniums will require supporting to protect them from wind damage.

Weeds

No matter how had we try, weeds are inevitable in every garden. They fight for survival by drinking the precious rainwater and liquid feed we give our plants. Be vigilant and de-weed regulary.

Fertilise

Watering along may not be enough to create the garden you’re looking for. Many soil types do not have enough nutrients to help flowers grow.

Garden pests

During summer insects such as slug, snails and grasshoppers are all active and are hungry. Some gardeners are ok with them, while others choose to combat them. Just be aware they are around.

Harvest leafy salads

Home grown leafly salads can be cut and will then grown again, meaning you can have fresh salad throughout the summer.

Continue to deadhead

Continuing to deadhead flowers will encourages growth and keep your plants looking great.

Sow cabbages

Cabbages are a hardy vegetable to grow. They can be sown indoors and outside. Generally they can take four to six months to fully grow and mature.

Invest in a water butt

Using is rainwater is much better for your plants. Installing a water butt will also lower your water bills.

Mulch

Top up the water

As the summer warms up, water from you pond slowly evaporates causing the level to drop.

Mulching your garden will help your soils retain moisture and provide nutrients.

Hanging baskets

Clearing out the shed

Your shed is the result of a busy year in the garden. Empty your shed completely clean and reorganise.

Water hanging baskets and patio containers daily, in the morning or evening.

Homemade Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup

1 Halve your tomatoes and place them on lined baking tray together with the garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive and season with salt and pepper. Roast them for 35min at 200ºC

2 While the tomatoes are in the oven, slice up your onions and cook them in a pot with some olive oil for 20min until caramelised and turned golden. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and burning.

3 Once the tomatoes are done, allow them to cool. Blend the tomatoes, garlic and onions together in a blender or food processor.

4 Pour the blended ingrediance back into the pot and add vegetable both, oregano and season to taste. Simmer for around 10min. Serve with a warm crusty bread - straight from the oven.

INGREDIENTS

1.3kg Tomatoes (approx 12-16 tomatoes)

8 Garlic cloves, peeled

3tbsp Olive oil

2 Onions

½ tsp Basil

½ tsp Oregano

400ml Vegetable stock

Fanny Wilkinson The First Woman Landscape Gardener

Our busy thriving Capital City is filled with history, popular Landmarks and glorious shopping attractions. Amongst the busy streets and sky scraping buildings there are some popular open parks with some beautiful green areas which over the years have become widely popular to walk around.

Many of these popular open gardens were designed by a lady of the name Fanny Wilkinson otherwise known as the first female British landscaper Frances Rollo Wilkinson. A passionate suffrage for her time who along with her relative Millicent Fawcett believed strongly in women’s rights and women being able to be educated and earn equally to men.

Born on the 6th June 1855 to a well educated family and the eldest of six children, her father Matthew Eason Wilkinson was a wealthy doctor and mother Louisa came from a well to do family. Fanny spent a lot of her childhood growing up at Middlethorpe Hall which her father inherited from his first marriage. Fanny was interviewed once by the Women’s Penny Paper on the 8th November 1890 and said “I was always fond of gardening as a child, and I took it up because I felt it suited me, and wanted to do something. When my father died we went to live at our own place, near York, and there I began to devote myself to gardening in a practical way.’

Fanny went on and spent 18 months on a training course at Crystal Palace School of Landscape Gardening and Practical Horticulture which were only ever recorded to be for men. The Victorian attitudes of society were not about to get in her way of her self determination to achieve something she had found a passion for.

She chose her jobs and insisted when taking on a job that she employed her own men. She became an honorary landscape gardener by 1884 and the Lady Landscaper certainly was making a name for herself as her profession developed.

One of the many people in her circle of friends growing up was Octavia Hill who was one of the three people who founded the National Trust. Octavia and her sister Miranda Hill employed Fanny as their landscape gardener for the Kyrle Society which was founded in 1877.

In 1888 it was recorded in the St James Gazette that she was entrusted with a large sum of money by the lord Mayor for the employment of 30 labourers. Between her and her assistant Miss Svieken are to lay out fifthteen acres of land as a pleasure garden for the people who live in the east end. In 1887 Fanny became responsible for the layout of Vauxhall Park which at the time the house was occupied by Henry and Millicent Fawcett. Fanny was thriving and on 7th July 1890 the HRH Prince of Wales himself (Edward VII ) opened the park to the public and congratulated Fanny on her work.

Over the span of twenty years, Fanny was responsible for 75 public gardens for the MPGA which were all in London areas which aimed to bring some beauty and pleasure to the poor. The next time you sit on a park bench in London it might just be one of the many green open spaces which Fanny was responsible for. Fanny lived a healthy long life till the age of 95 where she died on 22nd January 1951.

By Cheryl Elizabeth Davis FamilyPast.co.uk

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