Kitchen Garden - October 2014

WIN PRIZES

WORTH £1830

INCLuDING 6 VEGTRuGs

Kitchen

SEEDS S + 5 FRee e asPaRaGUs PLaNts

DISCOVER TOBY BUCKLAND'S WINNING WAYS WITH WINTER HERBS

LEARN

How to

GROW yOuR OWN

PATIO ORCHARD

No. 205 October 2014

FREE E

£4.99

Down-to-earth aDvice for growing fruit & veg | kitchengarDen.co.uk | octoBer 2014

EXPERTADVICE sUCCeeD WItH CUCUMbeRs TESTED best FRUIt PICKING KIt SAVE ££S bUILD a COLD FRaMe

sttore store pumpkins umpkins kins

COULD YOUR PLOt WIN YOU £1300? ★ WateRCRess MaDe easY

CONTENTS

EXPERT ADVICE TO HELP YOU GROW GREAT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

66

10 YOU

&

YOUR PLOT

JoBs tHis montH: 6 on tHe Veg PAtcH

✪ oN tHE CoVER

this month protect roots, care for fruit trees and control weeds

Follow us At facebook. com/KitchenGardenMag FOR OUR CONTACT DETAILS TURN TO Pg 17

SUBSCRIBERS’ CORNER See page 28 for details

10 in tHe greenHouse

Just Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy each month

4 | OCTOBER 2014

GET GROWING 20 Beginners’ guide to cucumBers ✪

Andrew tokely has some good advice on growing indoor and outdoor cucumbers

24 tried And tAsted ✪

sow peas, plant spring cabbage and swiss chard. sow winter lettuce

KG veg expert Joe Maiden brings us the results of his trials on cress

12 Hot toPics

30 enJoY A LAte HerBY HArVest ✪

the latest news and comment from the world of kitchen gardening

14 Your Letters And tiPs

learn what other KG readers have been up to and pick up some great first-hand advice.

16 Let’s tALK Veg

top tips and chat from KG’s website and Facebook page

18 Question time

Regular Gardeners’ Question time panellists, Bob Flowerdew and Anne swithinbank answer your fruit and veg growing conundrums

102 neXt montH

hAvINg TROUbLE FINDINg A COPy OF ThIS mAgAzINE?

20

toby Buckland looks at rejuvenating herbs and extending their season

34 Are You our most PAssionAte PLotter? ✪

last chance to enter our competition and win some great prizes

38 FruitFuL educAtion At WAterPerrY

sue stickland visits some gardens near oxford that have inspired thousands

44 soiL imProVing – does it WorK?

Discover the highlights in your November issue plus details of your next gift of free seeds

Does manuring your soil really help? Charles Dowding has done some trials and here reveals the results

106 LAst Word

47 KnoW Your onions

this month KG reader Valerie Peters on the exciting arrival of her first allotment shed

lynne McDonagh describes a whole host of different alliums and offers some growing tips www.kitchengarden.co.uk

OCTOBER 2014

recipes Gaby Bartai and Anna Pettigrew offer some innovative recipes using produce from the plot and hedgerow

98

Pg 98

38 30

74

52 ANNE’S TOP 10

This month it’s Anne Swithinbank’s top 10 winter squashes

Helen Gazeley reviews the very best gardening blogs and websites

89 SAVE £9 ON A NOVEL NEW ONION VARIETY

58 TAMED PLOT WITH A WILD STREAK

Your chance to try new allium ‘Quattro’ which looks as good as it tastes

Alice Whitehead meets a couple of pioneering permaculturists on Anglesey

90 JOIN OUR READER SURVEY

62 APPLES FOR ALL

91 GIVEAWAYS WORTH £830

RHS Fruit expert Jim Arbury looks at the many different ways apple trees can be trained and grown on the smallest of plots

54 74 A CELEBRATION OF ANCIENT WISDOM

68 WIN WONDERFUL VEGTRUGS WORTH OVER £1000! ✪

A new area of Chelsea Physic Garden has been developed. Head gardener Nick Bailey introduces the new garden and its plants

70 HOW TO MAKE A COLD FRAME

80 HAVE YOU TRIED… POTTED FRUIT ✪

In our monthly prize competition

Keen kitchen gardener Joyce Russell gives a step by step guide to making a slug-proof cold frame with a clever twist ✪ www.kitchengarden.co.uk

84 PRODUCT REVIEWS

88 GROWING GUIDES

Ben Vanheems shows you how to harvest and store winter squash including those giant pumpkins

Lucy Halliday has some great tips on growing this exotic climbing fruit

£

KG regular Joyce Russell puts a range of fruit harvest equipment to the test

54 PREPARING THE SLEEPING GIANTS ✪

66 THE LOWDOWN ON PASSION FRUIT

WHAT TO BUY

This month gardening expert Lucy Halliday offers some top tips on growing fruit trees in containers

This month you could win Okatsune secateurs, Wish4Beauty Exfoliation Treatments, a MyGardenSchool course place

92 GARDEN STORE

News of the best new products and services reach the KG offices this month

94 READER SAVERS

Five free asparagus crowns worth over £8.95, plus save ££s on shallots, garlic, gooseberries and blackcurrants and sweet pea seeds

96 DIARY DATES

Plus full details of all the major UK seed and young plant suppliers OCTOBER 2014 | 5

GET GROWING

KG Beginner’s Guide

Cucumbers

Whether it is sandwiches for a church bazaar or a mixed salad, neither would be complete without cucumber. Veg expert Andrew Tokely brings you his tips for bountiful summer fruit

Newly emerged seedlings. Note the pots are half full and will be topped up shortly.

20 | OCTOBER 2014

C

ucumbers are a member of the cucurbit family along with courgettes and marrows, however this is one family member which many gardeners find challenging to grow. This is mainly because it needs care and attention from the moment the seed is sown, to the day the fruits are harvested. However, with a little help, and care along the way you should have more cucumbers than you could possibly eat.

bred to only produce female flowers, which will develop into perfectly formed, quality fruits.

Ridge cucumbers, are usually grown outdoors or in a cold frame. Traditionally these had a prickly skin although modern breeding has now developed some varieties which are slightly smoother. These varieties often produce both male and female flowers and the male flowers should be removed once a sufficient number of fruits have set to avoid bitterness.

VaRIetY CHoICe

How and wHen to sow

There are varieties for indoors or out, offering various sized fruits with both smooth and prickly skins. Traditional indoor cucumbers were open pollinated types which produced both male and female flowers. The male flowers had to be removed otherwise the fruits would become bitter when pollinated. Thank goodness for modern breeding techniques as the introduction all-female F1 hybrids has solved this problem. These are the best indoor varieties to grow and have been

All cucumbers are sown in the same way; each, seed is sown individually into 9cm (3½ in) pots which are only half filled with multipurpose compost. Gently push the seed into the compost, so it is approximately the same depth as the seed itself. The pots are only half filled with compost so that once the seedling emerges compost can be topped up around the stem to encourage more roots to develop and, as a result a stronger sturdier plant will be produced. www.kitchengarden.co.uk

CUCUMBERS

CUCUMBERS AT A glAnCE Sow

Harvest

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Andrew grows two plants per growing bag, planted in a bottomless pot which sits on top. The small pots in the centre aid watering. Note also the netting support.

Once sown the pots are lightly watered so the compost is just moist, but not over wet. Then the pots are placed into a heated propagator set at 2123ºC (70-75ºF). Germination can be erratic, but usually takes between three and seven days.

If growing indoor cucumbers in a heated greenhouse sowings can begin at the end of February, but only if you can guarantee the temperature will not drop below 15ºC (60ºF), otherwise the young plants will become chilled, suffer a check in growth and may die.

If planning to sow in temperatures lower than 15ºC (60ºF) you are best to hold fire until Mid March or early April. If you only have a cold (unheated) greenhouse, delay sowing until mid April or early May. Sowings of outdoor ridge cucumbers can be made under glass as above from early May to early June for planting when the soil and daytime temperatures rise in mid to late June.

Once the seeds have germinated these young plants are very sensitive to cold so must be kept frost free, out of all cold draughts and grown at a minimum temperature of 1015ºC (50-60ºF).

nov Dec

Care of indoor CueS

Once the roots of the plants are touching the sides of the pot they are ready for repotting into 13cm (5in) pots. For this potting use multipurpose compost taking care to only gently firm them in; the slightest damage to the stem may allow diseases to enter. Grow these plants on until they have a good root system at which time they are ready for planting into their final positions.

I grow my indoor cucumbers, two per bag, in bottomless 25cm (10in) pots filled with growing bag compost. Before filling, the pots are inserted through circles cut in the plastic of the growing bag. Using large pots inserted in this way provides more compost for the plants to grow in and it is easier to control watering and feeding ensuring bigger and better crops of fruit.

Care must again be taken when planting to avoid damage to the stem. After planting the compost is watered well to settle the plants into their new home and then left for a few days before watering again. This encourages the roots to search for moisture and to build up a strong root system.

Once the plants are growing well they will need support. This can consist of a single upright cane for each plant with two or three horizontal canes tied at different heights up its length. This provides a framework to train the plants upright and the sideshoots across. Plants are tied in Cucumbers are using a soft string, often two or three times made up of a week when they are growing well. At the 96% water same time as tying in, remove all the tendrils that grow from the shoot tips since these are not needed and only divert energy form the fruit.

An easier way to support your plants however, is to use pea and bean netting suspended from roof supports and in this case the plants are left to cling on using the tendrils. Occasional placement of shoots may be required to keep plants in order and to avoid overcrowding. ➤

DIDYOU KNOW?

Care of outdoor cues

These are sown later and planted direct into final positions from their original 9cm (3½in) pots. Choose a sheltered spot or plant in a cold frame. Before planting, the soil should be prepared by incorporating plenty of well rotted organic matter to improve fertility. The plants are spaced 60cm (2ft) apart allowing them plenty of room to trail over the soil.

Alternatively you can plant against a net so they climb and this will give straighter cleaner fruits. I have also grown these in large containers on the patio, planting three plants in a 60cm (24in) diameter container and training the stems up a framework of canes as described for indoor varieties. This method produces some excellent quality fruits.

Ridge cucumbers tend to produce smaller, dumpier fruits with rougher skins, but are still delicious.

OCTOBER 2014 | 21

Fruitful education at OUT & ABOUT

Waterperry Waterperry Gardens near Oxford was once a school of horticulture and today it still inspires and teaches gardening. Sue Stickland paid a visit to its orchards, allotment and museum

W

aterperry Gardens with its spectacular ornamental borders, diverse acres of fruit and opportunities for tasteful garden shopping, is now an attractive place to spend a relaxing day out. However, its atmosphere wasn’t always so restful.

In the early 1930s, the grand Waterperry House and surrounding grounds became home to a School of Horticulture for Ladies, run by Beatrix Havergal – a somewhat fearsome but courageous woman with a passion for horticulture and teaching. The girls boarded in the house and worked from before breakfast until late afternoon in the glasshouses, fields and gardens. The main emphasis of the school was on the production of fruit and vegetables, and it had a reputation for hard work and high standards.

Although the grounds have been transformed since the school closed in 1971, Miss Havergal’s vision remains central to Waterperry today. The gardening methods might be different (not to mention the gardening clothes and tools!), but the focus is still on sharing the knowledge of the staff with visitors and on providing courses on all aspects of horticulture – including ‘growing your own’.

Fruit past and present

Apple picking at Waterperry, showing padded buckets to prevent apples bruising.

Fruit was Miss Havergal’s greatest joy. She was known as ‘the strawberry queen’ for her medal-winning displays of ‘Royal Sovereign’ strawberries at the Chelsea Flower Show, and the school specialised in producing plants of this deliciously flavoured variety.

Acres of fruit trees were also planted in the grounds, and today, walking out from the formal gardens towards the meadows and River Thame, you go through a long corridor of beautiful cordon apples and pears – some more than 70 years old. These remnants of Miss Havergal’s school are still used on Waterperry’s yearly pruning courses.

Although strawberries are no longer grown, five acres of orchard are still cultivated and Waterperry has about 65 different varieties of apple as well as pears, plums, gages and damsons. To remain a commercial proposition, this ➤ OCTOBER 2014 | 39

Picking apples in the early days at Waterperry.

Chris Lanczec, Waterperry’s orchard manager, with ripe ‘Cox’ apples.

The school allotment which gives local children the chance to grow their own veg.

Howto pickanapple

All apples have a season – some are ready in August, and some will stay on the tree until the beginning of November. If you know the variety, Waterperry’s orchard manager Chris Lanczec recommends first looking up the suggested harvest time, although in practice this can vary by

40 | OCTOBER 2014

orchard has had to move with the times, as manager Chris Lanczec can testify. He came to Waterperry as a fruit apprentice 45 years ago when he was 15 years old. “It was an interesting place to work as a lad,” he says, “not least because it was a school for young ladies!”

Back then, at harvest time, you would have seen pickers climbing tall wooden tripods to reach into huge trees. Now there are rows of trees on dwarfing rootstocks with branches pulled down along the row to make them more productive. It checks the sap flow and encourages fruit buds, according to Chris, and any vigorous upright growth is removed.

Another difference is in the control of pests. The trees used to be sprayed routinely at certain times of the year. Now, pests are monitored using pheromone traps which lure them in and provide a warning of any trouble, so the trees are sprayed only when absolutely necessary and with pesticides which target very specific pests. The only fertiliser routinely used is a seaweed foliar feed to help the uptake of calcium by the trees and helps prevent the disorder bitterpit (which causes brown flecks in the flesh).

At harvest time, the pickers walk along with special padded buckets strapped to them, which make carrying the weight of the harvested fruit easier. When a bucket is full, its base can be unfolded into a tube which lets the apples down gently into the crates.

several weeks depending on where you live and the season.

Apples should come off the tree easily if they are ready, so look out for the first windfalls – undamaged apples falling to the ground. Try cupping an apple in your hand, then twist and push up. “If you have to tug,

the apple is better off left on the tree.” says Chris. “The danger of pulling is that twigs and leaves also come off, and this could be next year’s fruit buds that you are losing.”

Once harvested, handle the apples gently, to avoid bruising: “You should treat apples like eggs” Chris warns.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk

GET GROWING

The lowdown on

Passion fruit

A stunning addition to any hot spot, delicious passion fruit are not beyond the UK kitchen gardener.

Passion fruits grow as eggshaped orange beauties on climbing vines that will happily cling to anything. They can Given the right site a passion grow to 5m (over 16ft) assion fruits evoke thoughts fruit vine will earn its keep in if left unchecked. flowers alone but is also of the tropics like few other Preferring free-draining, an unusual way to make fruits and are native to fertile soil but not overa vertical surface Central and South America. rich, their most important productive They got their name from the missionaries requirements are reliable who used them to illustrate the Passion of Christ. moisture and lots of sunshine.

Surprisingly vigorous and hardy plants, in fact in They can be grown outdoors and will die back some parts of the world they are considered a to the ground in winter but you seriously invasive weed. will need a very warm sheltered The most common species grown in Britain is spot in the mildest UK areas to Passiflora caerulea, cultivated for its gorgeous be assured of ripe fruits. More flowers and decorative orange fruits. These are reliable is to cultivate edible when fully ripe but can cause stomach them in a upsets if still yellow and underripe, and the rest glasshouse or of the plant is most certainly toxic. polytunnel, For the kitchen garden you will likely want where they to seek out Passiflora edulis, grown specifically for double as a its edible fruits though with no less glorious wonderful blooms (see main picture). Potted plants attractant for should produce fruit in their first or second bees and other year and can fruit well for five to seven years. beneficial insects to More unusual varieties of passion fruit are pollinate your available to grow from seed which is not other crops. too tricky.

They require

P

66 | OCTOBER 2014

Didyou know...

conditions of 10-16°C (50-61°F) minimum throughout their growing season to thrive. As vigorous growers it is a good idea to feed regularly during flowering and fruiting, ordinary tomato food being perfectly suitable. Don’t give nitrogen-rich food as this will encourage rampant leafy growth.

When planting potted passion fruit vines, disturb the roots as little as possible. Dig a large hole at least twice the size of the rootball, fill with water and let it drain before planting. Backfill with soil and firm in. Mulch around base with compost or bark. Pruning is done to remove dead or diseased growth and anything out of bounds in spring. You can cut back all stems by as much as one third and removing a few stems increases ventilation.

Harvesting is hassle-free as the ripe fruits simply drop to the ground. Different species ripen to different colours.

The skin should be wrinkled and for P. edulis, purple all round. Inside the sweet fragrant fruit is an aromatic delight rare in the British garden.

www.kitchengarden.co.uk

Fasttrack to success less is more

Passiflora make large vigorous vines so plant outside and train just a couple of stems for fruit in through a greenhouse vent or window to avoid filling your greenhouse.

speedy climBers

Passion vines are fast growing so ensure that your support structure is in place well before they grow away.

soil essenTials

Although rather unfussy about pH (lime levels), passion vines hate waterlogged soils and want a warm, consistently moist, free-draining soil with plenty of happy microbial activity, so cold clay and light sandy soils will need improving.

Top heaVy

whaT To do when

Little and often is the best strategy for watering as passion fruits, harking from shallow tropical soils, have a surprisingly small root system to support all that vigorous growth so need regular top-ups.

■ January: Trim back old growth that has died back to the ground on outdoor grown plants to make room for new spring growth.

■ feBruary: Plants will begin to reshoot from ground level once weather is warm enough but be prepared to give protection against late frosts.

■ march: Spring is the time to prune in cooler climates and don’t be shy if your vine is threatening to strangle other plants.

■ april: Mulch vines with rotted garden compost to help moisture retention and give them a springtime boost.

■ may: A good month for planting out young plants as soil and air warms up.

■ June: Feed weekly especially if containerised with tomato food to encourage fruit set.

■ July: Enjoy the tropical glory of these vines at peak flowering time.

■ augusT: The very earliest fruits may ripen at the end of this month. Check you know the correct ripened colour for your species!

■ sepTemBer: Check regularly for ripe fruits and trim back any over-vigorous growth.

■ ocToBer: This is likely the last month of fruiting before weather cools too much.

■ noVemBer: Bring potted plants indoors if possible to protect from the worst excesses of winter for a quicker spring start.

■ decemBer: Tidy up and thin out dead foliage and stems but don’t cut into living growth as it won’t heal well in the cooler weather.

poTTed passion

For container growing use a generous pot size to keep watering requirements less demanding and fill with a John Innes No 3/multipurpose compost mix.

Try These...

www.kitchengarden.co.uk

The Passiflora alata produces beautiful fragrant flowers and orange fruit.

harvest fruits from late august.

Photo: Jungle Seeds.

■ Blue/ediBle passion flower (passiflora edulis): See main picture. A perennial climbing vine with glossy evergreen leaves, opulent fragrant flowers and round purple fruit. Available as plants from Victoriana Nursery.

■ Banana passion flower (passiflora mollissima): This pink flowered passion fruit is native to high altitudes and prefers cooler, less humid conditions so may fruit in an unheated greenhouse. Fruits are long and yellow like a straight banana and very sweet when fully ripe. Available as seed from Jungle Seeds and Plant World Seeds.

■ acTinia passion flower (passiflora acTinia): A pretty coldtolerant vine which will cope with mild frosts, it has superb flowers in white and purple followed by yellow edible fruits.

Available as seeds from Jungle Seeds.

■ wing sTemmed passion flower (passiflora alaTa): The bright red fragrant flowers are show stoppers themselves but also deliver fabulously flavoured edible orange fruit. Its long tendrils make it an efficient climber over almost any support. Will tolerate light frosts but prefers frost-free. Available as plants from Spalding Bulb and Plant Co and Jungle Seeds.

Passiflora mollissima is quite hardy and prefers cooler conditions than most.

Suppliers ■ Jungle seeds: 01491 61476501491 614765 www.jungleseeds.co.uk ■ Victoriana nursery gardens: 01233 740529 www.victoriananursery.co.uk ■ plant world seeds: 01803 872939 www.plant-world-seeds.com ■ spalding Bulb and plant co: 0844 481 1000 www.spaldingbulb.co.uk OCTOBER 2014 | 67

GET GROWING

DIARY DATES

SHOWS, TOURS AND COURSES: THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO THIS MONTH ShOwS AND hARvEST fESTivALS TASTE Of AUTUMN OcTObER 4-5.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Celebrate the autumn harvest; 10am-4pm.

01423 724655 www.rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr gROw, cOOK, EAT OcTObER 4-5.

West Dean Gardens, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex. Harvest celebration with fruit and veg displays, cooking and gardening talks, demonstrations, tastings; 10.30am-5pm. 01243 811301 www.westdean.org.uk hARvEST fESTivAL ShOw OcTObER 7-8. RHS Lindley Hall,

Elverton Street SW1. Includes RHS autumn fruit and vegetable competition 02078 213142 www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events PUMPKiN fESTivAL AND ScAREcROw AvENUE OcTObER 11.

Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Southampton. 12noon5.30pm. www.jst.hampshire.org.uk hARvEST fESTivAL OcTObER 18.

Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton, Shropshire. Harvest produce from the edible woodland, 10am-5.30pm. 01630 647237 www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk LATE fRUiT AND vEgETAbLE cOMPETiTiON NOvEMbER 7-8.

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey. RHS competition, open to all; 10am-4.30pm. 02078 213142 georginabarter@rhs.org.uk

APPLE DAYS

APPLEfEST OcTObER 4. Burgage

Recreational Area, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. Apple displays, husbandry, identification, cookery; 10am-5pm. www.tenburyapplefest.co.uk APPLE DAY OcTObER 5. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon. Apple identification, displays, tastings, growing tips and talks; 10am-4pm. 0845 2658072 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor APPLE DAY OcTObER 5. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. Taste varieties from the historic orchards, talks on pruning, training and tree care, 10am-5pm. 01625 374400 www.tattonpark.org.uk APPLE wEEKEND OcTObER 10-12.

Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, Oxfordshire. Orchard tours, tastings, apple identification, advice. 10.30am4pm. 01844 339254 www.waterperrygardens.co.uk

Pumpkins in the walled garden at West Dean Garden near Chichester star in the Grow, Cook Eat harvest celebration, October 4-5.

ThE big APPLE OcTObER 11-12.

Much Marcle, Herefordshire.

Talks, demonstrations, apple and pear displays; activities in and around local orchards www.bigapple.org.uk QUiNcE AND APPLE DAY OcTObER 12. Norton Priory, Runcorn,

Cheshire. Celebrate autumn in the walled garden, which houses the National Quince Collection; 11am4pm. 01928 569895 www.nortonpriory.org

APPLE wEEKEND OcTObER 18-19.

Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Variety tasting, cookery demos in the walled kitchen garden; 12noon-4pm.

01909 544917 www.nationaltrust. org.uk /clumber-park APPLE fESTivAL OcTObER 18-19.

Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent.

About 400 apples on display, tastings, orchard tours; 10am5pm. 01795 536250 www.brogdalecollections.co.uk APPLE DAY OcTObER 19. Forty Hall Farm, Capel Manor College, Enfield, North London. Tours of community vineyard and orchard, apple tasting, stalls; 10am5.30pm. 07713 488501 www.fortyhallfarm.org.uk APPLE DAY OcTObER 26.

Bateman’s, Burwash, East Sussex.

Explore the orchard, taste apples, juice and honey; 11am-4pm.

01435 882302 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/batemans

Apples on display at Barrington Court, Somerset (October 26).

96 | OCTOBER 2014

OPEN DAYS, TALKS AND TOURS EAST MALLiNg TOUR OcTObER 3 OR 31, NOvEMbER 7 OR 28. East

Malling Research Centre, Kent.

Behind the scenes of the fruit research centre, focusing on harvest, pruning and storage.

Book on 01732 523781 www.theorchardseastmalling. co.uk gARLic AND ONiON DAY OcTObER 11. Seeds of Italy,

Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, Middlesex. Bulbs for planting, advice, recipes, 9.30-3pm.

02084 275020 www.seedsofitaly.com SEcRET gARDEN SUNDAY NOvEMbER 2. RHS Lindley

Hall, Vincent Square, London SW1. Local food and grow-yourown stalls, advice, workshops; 10am-4pm. www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events

APPLE DAY OcTObER 26.

MAxiMUM fLAvOUR, MiNiMUM LAbOUR NOvEMbER 18.

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset. Picking, pressing, identifying, tasting; 11am-4.30pm.

01460 243124 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/barrington-court

RHS Lindley Library, Vincent Square, London SW1. Talk by James Wong; 6.30-7.30pm.

Book on 0845 6121253 www.rhs.org.uk www.kitchengarden.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT fRuIt WORKshOps

VEG GROWING

GROWING sOft fRuIt OctObER 9.

INtROductION tO ORGaNIc VEG GROWING OctObER 6.

Barnsdale Gardens, Exton, Oakham, Rutland. Garden tour and tips, 10.30am-12.30pm. Book on 01572 813200, www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk fRuIt cOOKERy OctObER 11.

Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex.

When and how to harvest, store and use your fruit. 07746 185927 www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk fOcus ON fRuIt OctObER 14.

Crown Nursery, Woodbridge, Suffolk. Fruit growing workshop, 10am-12noon. Book on 01394 460755 www.crown-nursery.co.uk tRaINEd fRuIt tREEs NOVEmbER 5. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking,

Surrey. Shapes to suit your space; 10.30am-12.30pm. Book on 0845 612 1253, www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley GROWING bERRIEs aNd cuRRaNts fOR bEGINNERs NOVEmbER 8. RHS

Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Introductory course; 10am-4pm. Book on 0845 6121253 www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlowcarr WINtER pRuNING NOVEmbER 8.

Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent.

Talk, demonstrations and practical, at the home of the National Fruit Collection; 10am4pm. Book on 01795 536250 www.brogdalecollections.co.uk GROWING applEs, pEaRs, plums & chERRIEs NOVEmbER 8. West

Dean College, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex. All aspects of top fruit growing, 9am5pm. Book on 01243 811301 www.westdean.org.uk

KG OctObER GIVEaWays

Barnsdale Gardens, Exton, Oakham, Rutland. Theory and practice, 10.30am-3.30pm. Book on 01572 813200, www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

simply fill in the details below and return to us at: Kitchen Garden October-14 Giveaways, Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ. You can also enter online for free at: www.kitchengarden.co.uk Closing date for entries Friday, October 10, 2014.

INspIRING allOtmENts OctObER 7. RHS Lindley Library, Vincent

Name

Square, London SW1. Talk by Lia Leendertz , 6-7.30pm. Book on 0845 6121253 GROW yOuR OWN VEGEtablEs OctObER 8. RHS Garden

Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex. Autumn workshop, 11am-1pm. Book on 0845 6121253 www.rhs.org.uk/ gardens/hyde-hall GEttING thE bEst fROm yOuR allOtmENt OctObER 18. West

Dean Gardens, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex. Soils, growing systems, tools, crops, varieties; 9am-5pm. Book on 01243 811301 www.westdean.org.uk VEGEtablEs all yEaR ROuNd OctObER 22. Barnsdale Gardens,

Exton, Oakham, Rutland. Extend the growing season – course for both experienced and novice growers, 10am-3.30pm. Book on 01572 813200, www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk

Address

Postcode Telephone Email Address

to enter: Once you have supplied your details, cut out and send this coupon to the address above and you will automatically be entered into the following competitions: Japanese secateurs: a cut above (p91) .............. ✔ Hand care and repair (p91)................................. ✔ Go back to school on gardening (p91) .............. ✔

DisclAiMeRs: Only tick this box if you do not wish to receive information from Mortons Media Group regarding or relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription offers) via email/post/phone ❏ On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties, that we deem to be reputable, to contact you by email/post/phone/fax regarding information relating to current offers of products or services which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you wish to receive such offers please tick this box. ❏

❚ For full giveaway terms and conditions please visit: www.kitchengarden.co.uk ❚

cONTAcT seeD cOMPANies cHilTeRN seeDs

❚ PLEASE NOTE ❚

We have made every effort to ensure these details are correct at the time of going to press, but recommend you check with organisers before travelling.

tel 01491 824675 www.chilternseeds.co.uk

tel 01449 721720 seedsofdistinction.co.uk

MOReveg

tel 01823 681302 www.moreveg.co.uk

tel 01985 845004 simpsonsseeds.co.uk

DT BROwN & cO

Nicky’s NURseRy

tel 01376 572456 www.suffolkherbs.com

sAMUel DOBie AND sON

THe ORgANic gARDeNiNg cATAlOgUe

tel 0845 371 0532 www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk

THOMAs eTTy

tel 01843 600972 www.nickys-nursery.co.uk

tel 01932 253666, www.organiccatalogue.com

siMPsON’s seeDs

sUFFOlk HeRBs

sUTTONs

tel 0844 922 0606 www.suttons.co.uk TAMAR ORgANics

tel 01460 298249 www.thomasetty.co.uk

PlANTsByPOsT.cOM

tel 0115 727 0606

tel 01579 371098 sales@tamarorganics. co.uk

MR. FOTHeRgill’s seeDs

THe ReAl seeD cATAlOgUe (Vida Verde)

THOMPsON & MORgAN

tel 0845 371 0518 www.mr-fothergills.co.uk

THe HeRBARy

tel 01985 844442 www.beansandherbs.co.uk HeRiTAge seeD liBRARy

tel 02476 303517 www.gardenorganic. org.uk JekkA’s HeRB FARM

tel 01454 418878 www.jekkasherbfarm.com ew kiNg & cO

tel 01376 570000 www.kingsseeds.com se MARsHAll & cO

tel 0844 557 6700 www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk

www.kitchengarden.co.uk

siMPly vegeTABles

cN seeDs Pymoor, Ely, Cambs CB6 2ED tel 01353 699413 www.cnseeds.co.uk

tel 0844 701 7625 www.dobies.co.uk

The Big Apple Association harvest event takes place in the parishes of the Marcle Ridge in Herefordshire (October 11-12) with farms and orchards to visit, apple and pear pressing and many other apple-related activities.

MeDwyN’s seeDs

tel 01248 714851 www.medwynsof anglesey.co.uk

tel 01239 821107 www.realseeds.co.uk

w ROBiNsON & sON lTD

tel 01524 791210 www.mammothonion. co.uk seeDs-By-size

tel 01442 260237 www.seeds-by-size.co.uk seeDs OF iTAly

tel 0208 427 5020 www.seedsofitaly.com selecT seeDs

tel 01246 826011 www.selectseeds.co.uk sHelley seeDs

tel 01244 317165

tel 0844 573 1818 www.thompsonmorgan.com eDwiN TUckeR & sONs lTD

tel 01364 652233 www.edwintucker.com UNwiNs seeDs

tel 0844 573 8400 www.unwins.co.uk wAllis seeDs

tel 01245 360413 www.wallis-seeds.co.uk vicTORiANA NURseRy gARDeNs

tel 01233 740529 www.victoriananursery. co.uk

subscRIbE tO KITCHEN GARDEN paGE 28 OCTOBER 2014 | 97

3 £3 *

ISSUES FOR

plUS 10 packEtS

OF SEEdS wORth OVER £14

*

3 easy ways to subscribe SUBSCRIBE SECURELY ONLINE AT www.classicmagazines.co.uk/kgdps

CALL 01507 529529

OVERSEAS CALL +44 (0)1507 529529.

LinES OpEn MOn – FRi, 8.30AM – 7pM & SATURDAYS, 8.30AM – 12.30pM

OR SImpLY fILL IN ThE fORm pROvIdEd ANd RETURN TO OUR fREEpOST AddRESS

Terms & Conditions: Offer available for new subscribers in the UK only. Expires 10/10/14 while stocks last. Seed varieties may not match those publicised. *Introductory direct debit offer of three for £3 followed by £18 every six months.