yardz

MICROGREENZ

Micro greens have been a favourite of professional chefs in recent years, adding that extra finish to meals with freshly sprouted and grown mini vegetable seedlings. But now they are availlable to grow and use in our own kitchens with the MicroGreenz kit.

The complete MicroGreenz kit, which  has been launched on Kickstarter,  uses its “Veg-Ledge” to turn your window into a tiny garden space, growing a regular supply of mini veg,

"MicroGreenz are veggie shoots grown from seed for 10 days in your window, clipped and eaten. These sassy little seedlings add a burst of intense flavors, vivid colors and crisp textures that transform any meal into a nutrient-packed gourmet experience."

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/microgreenz/window-grown-super-nutritious-mini-veggies-in-10-d

CYNARA INDOOR ALLOTMENT LIGHTS

No space for growing vegetables or herbs in the yard then why not move indoors and grow your crops under lights.

These Cynara lights from www.bulbolight.com use the same amount of power as your WIFI router yet provide the perfect light conditions for growing indoors.

Made in Italy from terracotta and anodized aluminium they have real style.

FUNKY VEG KIT

Love this Funky Veg Kit from www.plant-theatre.com

A great way to put some colour in your veg plot and on your plate as the veg seeds in this kit really will produce a great range of funky colours. it includes purple carrot, yellow courgette, stripy tomatoes, red brussel sprouts and multicoloured swiss chard.

Besides the seeds the kit inclues 5 starter growing pots made from peat 5 peat blocks which expand when watered 5 plant markers and Sowing & Growing Tips.

VERTICAL VEG

Mark Ridsdill Smith is a great champion of growing veg in very small spaces. His web site, www.verticalveg.org.uk ,is well worth a visit as is his blog. Log on to download his very helpful 'The Art of Growing Food in Small Spaces which has some great tips for those of us trying to produce food on our balconies and in our small yards.

CITRONELLA TINS

 
There are a variety of citronella candles available to keep flies away from your patio table and bbq. Most of the designs are a bit twee with little design. These Citronella Tins from www.thebalconygardener.co.uk have a great simplicity about them, have a larger than average wick to prevent blowing out on breezy days and last for about twelve hours. Available in pink or orange, they both cost £6.99 each.

LIVING LARDERS FOR SMALL SPACES

I am passionate about growing vegetables in small yards and salad leaves are about the most productive for small spaces. I grow them in trays in a small grow house but its not that attractive to look at. 
This Living Larder Salad Garden from www.sparrowandfinch.co.uk is not only attractive but also designed to grow three different sowings of salad leaves. You can either stagger your sowings to have a continuous supply of leaves or sow three different types of salad to mix and match.

Available in French Gray finish  £199.95

A MINIGARDEN FOR MAXI CROPS

 
 
Minigarden from one of my favourite websites www.gardenbeet.com, is a simple and stylish vertical garden system. It is a modular system that allows you to build a garden as large or as small as you require. The design helps reduce the need for watering by controlling evaporation.

Available in black and white.  £50.75

CEMENT BAG PLANTERS

 
Supplied by www.turtlebags.co.uk, these recycled tomato planters have been nominated for the RHS Product of the Year Award. They are made from recyced cement bags with sturdy webbed handles by the Womwns Uplift Programme in Bangladesh. These bags are from a range that includes herb and potato planters.

 
 
  
 

PEA SHOOTS - THE NEW LEAF GREENS

 
Growing salad greens in small spaces is easy today. There are many selections of easy to grow salad greens available as seeds or as small plants from garden centres. But for a change try growing pea shoots.

Plant 3-4 pea seeds in a small pot and germinate on a windowsill or in a growhouse. Once germinated and they have grown about an inch, plant outside into large containers - Potato Bags are perfect. After about three weeks you are ready to start picking the top shoots which have the crunchiness of lettuce and the sweet flavour.

Try using Pea Alderman or any Mangetout or Sugar Snap varieties

 

  

BUMBLE BEE SUMMER

The Beepol Garden Hive from www.dragonfli.co.uk houses a live colony of bumble bees in a maintenance free hive. These native disease free bees will help polinate your flowers fruit and veg including tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Though they only last till winter new queen eggs laid will help build the native bumble bee population.