Walled Garden Diaries – September Update
The last of the updates from the Walled Garden was back in early Summer and, at that point, I don’t think I was prepared then for the heatwave that was about to hit the country. To be truthful, up in north Cumbria we got off lightly compared to other areas of England and Wales, but it was still a challenge, and coping with temperatures of … Continue reading Walled Garden Diaries – September Update
Walled Garden Diaries: Early Summer Update
May and June are always some of the busiest and most hectic months in a kitchen garden. That late Spring/early Summer period always comes with so much to sow, plant, prepare, and also, of course, weed. But there is also, satisfyingly, a growing amount of crops ready for harvesting. It has been a couple of months since my last Walled Garden Diary. I think April … Continue reading Walled Garden Diaries: Early Summer Update
Companion Planting for Fruit & Vegetables
Would you like healthy and strong plants? Crops that aren’t destroyed by pests? And a bountiful harvest of produce? If your answer is yes to any of these (and who wouldn’t want all three) then maybe it is time to consider taking a close look at companion planting. Anyone growing vegetables at home, or on an allotment, can take advantage of it. Companion planting is … Continue reading Companion Planting for Fruit & Vegetables
Walled Garden Diaries: Shape of Things to Come
The walled garden has really taken shape, with the attention on getting beds prepped and seeds sown ready for the 2022 season. The key job undertaken has been to prepare the beds in the walled garden for the coming season. It has been a long time coming and one that has really refreshed the garden as a whole, if I do say so myself. There … Continue reading Walled Garden Diaries: Shape of Things to Come
A Late Winter’s Visit to Dalemain
We made a visit on a February Sunday to Dalemain House and Gardens near Penrith in the north of the fantastic Lake District. After several weekends of wind and storms, the clouds broke to give a sunny, but albeit still nippy in the shade, chance to visit this delightful garden set against the beautiful Lakeland Fells. Dalemain features a large country house, part-Georgian, and part-Tudor, … Continue reading A Late Winter’s Visit to Dalemain
New Guest Writer Slot
I am delighted to unveil a new agreement with fruitnveggie.com. I will be featuring as a gardening ‘expert’, writing vegetable growing guides to help inspire people to grow their own food. Fruitnveggie.com is a blog all about fruit and vegetables that strives to provide educational and informative content to readers. The website has been running for almost 10 years and is full of inspirational food … Continue reading New Guest Writer Slot
Walled Garden Diaries: Espalier Extravaganza
The first month of 2022 positively flew by and so I welcome you all to the first of my diary updates to come from the Walled Kitchen Garden at Netherby Hall in Cumbria. January in the borderlands came and went with a wild range of weather, however, in the most, it seemed milder than to be normally expected. However, it should be said it did … Continue reading Walled Garden Diaries: Espalier Extravaganza
Gardening Reflections ’21
So comes the end of another eventful year in horticulture for me. It has been one full of success, lots of learning, and ultimately a year ending with an exciting new chapter in my gardening journey. I just wanted to take this opportunity to briefly cast my eye back on the last 12 months to pick out some of my personal highlights. After the disappointments … Continue reading Gardening Reflections ’21
Grow With the Pros: Tom Brown
Time for an extra little bonus ‘Grow With the Pros’ to end 2021 with, as earlier this year I was lucky to get a very brief Q&A with Tom Brown, Head Gardener at West Dean Gardens in West Sussex. Tom has worked in horticulture for 25 years and has been in his current role at West Dean for the last two. Away from the day … Continue reading Grow With the Pros: Tom Brown
A Fresh Challenge
It has been a time of change, leaving my old role in Worcestershire and heading north for an exciting new challenge as a specialist kitchen gardener in Cumbria. Continue reading A Fresh Challenge
Perennial Nerd 