If you’re among the army of newbie veg growers inspired by lockdown free time, this issue contains fantastic handy hints for first-timers!
As I write this we are still well and truly locked down and I don’t mind admitting that despite having more time than usual to keep my garden in order, I’m really missing being able to get out and about, writes KG editor Steve Ott, pictured below with dog Ted. There is nothing like visiting lovely veg gardens and allotments and shooting the breeze with fellow gardeners. I miss comparing notes on what we are growing, how various crops are doing and complaining about the weather!
That’s where our monthly features from other readers’ plots can help. They keep us in touch with like-minded people and remind us that we are part of the bigger gardening community and sharing the same highs and lows.
Thankfully the internet age does allow us to have occasional chinwags over Skype, Zoom and the like and situations like this are surely what social media was made for. Kitchen Garden too is here for those of you who might be feeling a little disconnected at the moment and we hope you are enjoying the bonus of regular free seeds; so many of you have told us that you wouldn’t have known what to do without them this year.
Lots of you reading this may be starting out on a veg growing adventure for the first time, encouraged by erratic supplies and concerns about social distancing in the shops. So we have lots for those taking the first tentative steps. KG’s staff writer Tony Flanagan offers his advice to novices and of course our jobs pages in the front of the issue are a great prompt for those tasks that need to be done now. We have growing guides for pak choi, swedes and pumpkins and some great advice from gardening expert Rob Smith on keeping your crops pest free the organic way.
■ If you are having difficulty getting to the shops to pick up your copy of KG, don’t forget that we have some great subscription offers for you – call us on 01507 529529 or go to www.classicmagazines.co.uk
What else is in store?
We’ve all heard tales from the allotment about whether putting down crushed egg shells keeps slugs at bay, or that coffee grounds may do our plants some good. Dr Fay Edwards is an academic who takes complex research on horticultural topics and extracts practical advice for home gardeners. In the latest issue she looks at some popular gardening theories and reveals which are true and which are ‘fake news’.
Super summer recipes to try
From the kitchen of culinary queen Anna Cairns Pettigrew are some delicious summery dishes, ideal for outdoor lunches or light suppers. You can make and serve this delicious tomato tart (below) in just over an hour!
And there’s plenty more in the KG store cupboard for you to enjoy in the coming few weeks. We’re always here for you with handy hints, gardening tips and advice, recipes, fun, chat, how-to videos and more… just go to www.kitchengarden.co.uk where you’ll find the latest news, and links to our Facebook and Twitter feeds, and much more besides.
