YARDZPLANT
12/02/2008
28/01/2008
FLEXIBLE RAISED BEDS
FLEXIBLE RAISED BEDS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR YARD VEGETABLE GROWING. For the small garden these galvanised steel module beds are great. They are supplied in three design modules in 40, 60 and 80cm sections. Just with a click -no tool is needed- the modules can be combined horizontally or vertically in many forms - simply and elegantly - to fit your purpose and ideas and the space available.
Obelisks in two heights that fit the 40cm wide modules are included in the range as well.
The system called LAND is available from the Danish company Gardenlife. www.gardenlife.dk
25/01/2008
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES
Looking to grow something different - try JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES.
The knobbly tubers are grown as an alternative to potatoes - fine for slimmers but not to everyones taste. They grow up to 3m tall, with bright yellow 'sunflower type' flowers - very dramatic. Grow in blocks, against a wall or in large containers. They can create an architectural feature.
In late Autumn the stems are cut down leaving the tubers in the ground to be harvested as required - remebering to save a few for replanting for the next crop.
Boiled, fried, baked, roasted or stewed - they can provide a novel alternative to potatoes. Try buying the variety FUSEAU, a white skinned, smoother variety that is a more compact plant growing to only 1.8m. Tubers should be available now in good garden centres or on line.
24/01/2008
UP THE WALL
is just what we lack in micro gardens. The floor space is valuable and limited and the design generally makes human activity, entertaining, sunbathing, etc, a priority. The one area that tends to be not used to the full are the WALLS. We may paint them, attach art work or grow climbing paints up the but are these the best uses or the best gain from the space. For the last few years LIVING WALLS have been created, mainly on public buildings, where plants are grown on the sides of building to create a living cliff of plants. The plants are grown on frames with growing media sandwiched between a water retention matting. They are irrigated from the top with the water flowing by gravity down the cliff face. In the USA we now are finding more of these living walls being manufactured for domestic use, from small square metre panels that hang on walls to complete house sides. Some are even designed with a range of houseplants to hang inside in living rooms or conservatories.
The best use in the yard though is as a VERTICAL KITCHEN GARDEN.
Even the smallest living wall could provide a welcome healthy addition to your diet. Planted with a range of quick growing salads and herbs, the wall would be both productive a decorative. Salad such as lettuce, spring onion and radishes are perfect especially the cut and come again varieties of lettuce that keep going throughout the season. Herb plants will provide an evergreen cover throughout the year and always be available for the keen cook. Ideal herbs include basil, mint, thyme, parsley, chives, rosemary and taragon. The salad and herb plants should be grown from seed or purchased as small plants or plugs from the garden centre, and planted directly throgh the matting into the growing medium. The growing medium must be well moistened before planting or water will not permeate easily once watering commences from the top of the wall.
21/01/2008
SHORT AND CURLIES
The soggy mild wet winter has meant that I have had moss curled parsley growing throughout the winter in my wall greenhouse. Perfect for garnishing, soups, stews and salads, curly parsley is a must for keen cooks.
I grow my parsley in a 600mm long windowsill trough which under normal usage provides a regular supply yeis small enough to move arround and fit onto the greenhouse shelves.
If you havn't got any, sow now indoors or outside in april.
11/01/2008
Humax Grow in the Bag
These great new organic 'grow bags' allow the 'non gardener' to grow and enjoy vegetables in even the smallest garden or on a patio or balcony. Each bag has been specially formulated with the correct compost and nutrients for each type of vegetable and will last the whole growing season. Its just a case of sowing or planting, watering and harvesting!
There are a choice of ten types of crop bag - salad, tomato, garlic,leek and sweetcorn, strawberry, peper and chilli, marrow and cucumber, carrot and root crops, peas and beans and potato.
The crop bags will be on sale at most good garden centres this spring and will cost around the £4 - £5 mark. www.humax.co.uk
26/11/2007
Rocket gardens
A 'Rocket Garden' is a box full of baby vegetable and herb plants that is delivered direct to your door. Once delivered all you need to do is plant then in a suitable container. It is so simple that no gardening experience is required.
The 'Window Box Garden is great for small spaces where the plants supplied will supply and amazing amount of fresh produce. Other 'Rocket Garden' packs include vegetable, salad and herb versions.
www.rocketgardens.co.uk as supply gift vouchers which make great Christmas presents.
09/11/2007
Worth waiting for
Just taken delivery of six Hosta White Feather, ordered in spring but suppliers ran out of stock. They produce amazing pale cream leaves in spring folowed by mid green streaks and pale lilac flowers. They're going to be planted under a cantelevered deck in the shade that they really like.
05/11/2007
Glory Glory
Vitis coignetiae, the Crimson Glory Vine, is a great achitectural climber for extreme small gardens. It is vast and vigorous, with large handsome, glaucous leaves that contrast well against brick walls. It explodes in autumn in rich colours of orange and red, before loosing its leaves and leaving a network of polished mahogany stems.
In a micro garden use it as a main feature with no other climbers diluting its strong presence. Echo the shape of the leaves in container planting using plants such as Ligularia or Bergenia or contrast with strong 'spikeys' such as Phormiums or Stipas.
Above all use the changing growth of the climber to be 'garden art' throughout the year.
