Landscape and horticulture expert

Woe betide the gardener who ignores the 'Saints de Glace'

I have blogged about the moon and it's effects on plant growth and influence over sowing times.

Here is France, the moon is taken extremely seriously as far as the farming fraternity is concerned and if you witness the flurry of activity in the fields at certain times, one can almost be certain that it falls in a particular moon phase that is regarded as perfect for that operation.

I am also aware, as a professional gardener, that anyone who puts their bedding plants out before the 1st June, is more than putting their plants at risk.

Martin, the Hampshire village that has set an example

You can find oodles of blogs on the internet now that are dedicated to growing vegetables and self sufficiency.
It is great how the allotmenteers share information and tips and you find, often, bloggers criticising the giant supermarkets for forcing the consumer to accept exactly what they want to put on their shelves.

The Hampshire Village of Martin has, since 2004, been bucking the trend and producing vegetables for sale within the village.

The Strasberry makes a comeback

I hope I can be forgiven for my ignorance when I admit to the fact, but I have to say I have never heard of a Strassberry until this morning.

Waitrose has started selling the fruit, said to taste in between a Raspberry and a traditional Strawberry but still having a unique taste of it's own.

They look to me like the little woodland strawberries - which I remember picking bowl loads of in a small grass clearing in a chestnut wood in the Loire many years back.

How to improve the heavy clay soil in your vegetable patch

I have always been very fortunate that all of my gardens, have been light and easy to dig.

It is only now, on my farm, that the soil has become rather heavier and less manageable. It is very heavy soil and heavy work but, on the whole, a much better yield.

Grow Veg online - vegetable plot planning software

Vegetable gardeners are patiently (or impatiently for some) waiting for the weather to improve, so that they can get onto the soil and begin some of this seasons preparation.

The seed catalogues have been consulted and orders put in, in order to provide the seasons fresh produce.

Wisley are looking for Radish trialists

The Royal Horticultural Society are looking for volunteers to trial two cultivars of Radish, commencing in early spring.

If you are interested, Wisley will give you one packet of a round-rooted cultivar (either 'Cherry Belle' or 'Rudi') and one long-rooted cultivar (either 'Flamboyant Sabina' or 'Mirabeau').

I love marrow!

It is Sunday so time for a little frivolity.

Pop over to Brian's website dedicated to Marrow growers.

Once there, you will find a great little video on Marrow tips and advice with little gems such as keeping slugs at bay or perhaps keeping an old marrow fresh.

I was surprised that there is nothing on the valuable process of Marrow transplanting; perhaps Brian will add this at a later date?

Growing vegetables a growing trend

It seems that the people that are at the heart of horticulture in the UK are awakening to what some of us have realised is happening for some time now - growing your won vegetables is hot.

Only recently I put vegetables on my list of the next ten hot trends in gardening and it appears to be backed up in an article on the Guardian site today.

A desire to be in control of your own food chain as well as environmental concerns have driven gardeners of all walks of life to take control.

Demand for seed and a rush for allotment spaces has reinforced the view that we are all turning again to a conscious effort to become semi self sustainable.

Tomatoes by the basket load

Regular readers will know that I do not water my tomato plants - except when first planted or in extreme circumstances.

This year is no exception but I must confess that we have had more than our usual share of rain here in South West France  this summer.

Never the less the harvest is strong with an absolute glut of tomatoes and true to form they are so tasty.

National Allotments Week

Next week sees the start of National Allotments Week at a time when the allotment and vegetable are seen to be making somewhat of a revival.

The Good Life with Richard Bryers and Felicity Kendall sparked a period or self sufficiency but more recently, fuelled by Alan Titchmarsh and his desire to deck out the whole of the UK, gardeners have been keen to re-invent their space and out door living experience.

Now it seems, after a recent survey by standard life, that one in six people now grow some of the food that they consume.

Read Jane Peronne's book 'The Allotment Keepers Handbook' for some great tips on starting an allotment or veg patch.