vegetable growing

Creating a Microclimate in your Garden

Creating a Microclimate in your Garden

08.01.2025

What is a Microclimate? A microclimate is a small localised area that differs somewhat from the surrounding weather conditions, for example being warmer, … Read more

08.01.2025

Do Pumpkins Grow in Ireland?

Do Pumpkins Grow in Ireland?

26.09.2024

Pumpkins can be a bit of a challenge to grow in Ireland, as they require a long growing season with good levels of sunshine - something that we can't reall … Read more

26.09.2024

April Vegetable Seedling Care Guide

April Vegetable Seedling Care Guide

18.04.2024

The end of March and early April is approaching prime seed sowing time if we are starting indoors in seed trays or pots (for planting outside in May). I … Read more

By Andrew
18.04.2024

Types of Frost Protection in the Garden

Types of Frost Protection in the Garden

01.02.2024

Frost, or even the spectre of frost, is something that all gardeners are wary of. While some plants are more able to withstand a spell of cold temperatures … Read more

By admin
01.02.2024

The Benefits of Clover as a Cover Crop

The Benefits of Clover as a Cover Crop

10.08.2023

I had quite a few emails following my previous article on  mycogardening (gardening with fungi) and on my plans to make my garden more biodivers … Read more

10.08.2023

 French Intensive Gardening

French Intensive Gardening

13.06.2023

‘French Intensive Gardening’. Sounds kind of daunting, who wants gardening to be intensive? Me, I like to do a little burst of work here and there and take it ea … Read more

By daniel
13.06.2023

No Dig Garden Beds

No Dig Garden Beds

17.05.2023

Put that shovel away! No-dig gardening continues to grow in popularity with home growers and gardeners, but what does it actually involve? Will you need to sell … Read more

17.05.2023

Early May in the vegetable garden

Early May in the vegetable garden

17.05.2023

The news from the Quickcrop garden could be described as 'mixed'. Outside, a mind boggling amount of slugs continue to eat everything in sight despite my b … Read more

17.05.2023

Vegan Vegetable Gardening

Vegan Vegetable Gardening

02.05.2023

Vegan gardening has a lot of overlap with organic or no-dig gardening. However, the ways in which it differs are related to the principles of veganism itse … Read more

02.05.2023

Organic Gardening

Organic Gardening

25.04.2023

What is Meant By Organic Gardening? You will no doubt often hear the term organic gardening or ‘gardening naturally’. What it actually means - or how … Read more

25.04.2023

​The Polytunnel in April

​The Polytunnel in April

19.04.2023

So, how is everyone feeling with the improvement in the weather? I for one am feeling pretty good about it. I don't know what the temperatures were like wh … Read more

19.04.2023

When is the best time to water plants?

When is the best time to water plants?

23.03.2023

Whether learning by experience or by reading up, you’ll soon come to realise that - for the most part - there are no hard and fast rules for gardening. This appl … Read more

23.03.2023

High Yield Vegetables

High Yield Vegetables

23.03.2023

A high yield vegetable is one that produces a large amount of end product per area of planting. ‘Output’ shouldn’t be seen as the be all and end all of growing y … Read more

23.03.2023

How to grow in a greenhouse

How to grow in a greenhouse

21.03.2023

Whatever style of greenhouse you opt for - whether it’s a ‘lean-to’, a compact house or a larger one - it will open up new possibilities for you and extend … Read more

21.03.2023

What type of Water is best for plants?

What type of Water is best for plants?

21.03.2023

Water is one of the most crucial building blocks for plant growth. The rest of the ‘Big 5’ consists of oxygen, light, favourable temperature and nutrients. Inter … Read more

21.03.2023

Grow Your Own Oyster Mushrooms.

Grow Your Own Oyster Mushrooms.

21.12.2022

We pay them scant attention and know so little about them, yet fungi are critical to our survival. They support us indirectly by recycling carbon rich orga … Read more

21.12.2022

The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Harvesting

The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Harvesting

29.11.2022

Those of you who are subscribed to our newsletter may already be familiar with this A-Z guide that I've been gradually putting together. It's easy to find sowing … Read more

29.11.2022

What are the best crops for beginners?

What are the best crops for beginners?

06.10.2022

When you’re just starting on your food-growing journey, it’s probably best to be a little selective about what you’re planning to grow. There are some food … Read more

06.10.2022

Can I Save My Own Vegetable Seeds?

Can I Save My Own Vegetable Seeds?

29.08.2022

Saving your own vegetable seeds in order to plant them again the following year (or even later) is a very worthwhile and rewarding activity - make no mista … Read more

29.08.2022

What Is Crop Rotation?

What Is Crop Rotation?

16.08.2022

Crop rotation is a system of moving the position of certain crops (or families of crops) around so that they are not being grown in the same soil for successive … Read more

16.08.2022

Why Grow Your Own Food?

Why Grow Your Own Food?

07.06.2022

Why grow your own food? It's a fair question to ask. 'Fruits and vegetables aren't that expensive in the first place', you might say. 'It's time-consuming', you … Read more

07.06.2022

Getting the season under way

Getting the season under way

16.02.2022

It is still early days for sowing but there are a few plants that you can start off now, especially if you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse or polytun … Read more

By Andrew
16.02.2022

Growing tips for beginners

Growing tips for beginners

11.02.2022

Last week the blog included some tips on starting a new vegetable garden and, judging by the emails I received (thank you), a number of you found it very help … Read more

By Andrew
11.02.2022

How to plan a vegetable garden

How to plan a vegetable garden

02.02.2022

A new year brings with it the temptation to try something new in the garden, overhaul your growing space or simply fine-tune the way that you do things.  … Read more

By Andrew
02.02.2022

Starting Seeds Early in the Season

Starting Seeds Early in the Season

26.01.2022

As we are probably all itching to begin the growing season, I thought it might be helpful to talk about starting seeds off early and how to give the best chance … Read more

By Andrew
26.01.2022

The January vegetable garden

The January vegetable garden

25.01.2022

Well, here we go again, another new year and another new season beginning in the vegetable garden! I really do love the fresh start a new season brings. Past blu … Read more

By Andrew
25.01.2022

How To Grow Runner Beans

How To Grow Runner Beans

10.11.2021

Runner beans, or 'scarlet runners', are native to central and northern South America, where they were seen as one of the 'Three Sisters', a famous companion plan … Read more

10.11.2021

Cabbage Spring

Cabbage Spring

10.11.2021

Recommended Varieties: Hispi F1 Where to grow: Cabbage needs a fertile moisture retentive soil with good drainage. The cabbages will remain in the … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Cabbage (Summer)

How To Grow Cabbage (Summer)

10.11.2021

Cabbage is a demanding plant both is the amount of nutrients it needs and the space it takes up in the garden. It really is easy to grow if you feed your soil … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Cabbage (Spring)

How To Grow Cabbage (Spring)

10.11.2021

Spring cabbage is delicious and tender and will be one of the first proper crops you can enjoy in the Spring. Remember Spring cabbage needs to be planted the … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Cabbage Red

How to Grow Cabbage Red

10.11.2021

The variety we use in our nursery is usually Red Rovite, it is a very reliable red cabbage to grow in Autumn and Winter. Where to grow: Although cabbag … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Cabbage (Winter)

How to Grow Cabbage (Winter)

10.11.2021

Cabbage is a demanding plant from the amount of nutrients it needs and the space it takes up in the garden. It really is easy to grow if you feed your soil pr … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Broccoli (Calabrese)

How to Grow Broccoli (Calabrese)

10.11.2021

  How To Plant & Grow Calabrese The supermarkets have helped to confuse the issue of what is broccoli and what a calabrese by calling both by eit … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Sorrel

How To Grow Sorrel

10.11.2021

Garden Sorrel, also known as Spinach Dock or Narrow Leaved Dock, is a commonly grown herb or leaf vegetable, it has tall juicy stems and edible oblong leaves. … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Celery

How To Grow Celery

10.11.2021

The trick with growing celery is to take a lot of care sowing your transplants, making sure the plants never get stressed or pot bound. When plant … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Pak Choi

How To Grow Pak Choi

10.11.2021

Pak Choi (also called bok choy) is a mild flavoured Oriental vegetable in the same family as Chinese cabbage, Tatsoi and Wong Bok which are all grown the same … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Leeks

How To Grow Leeks

10.11.2021

Lovely long slender stems, this variety makes a lovely, tasty baby leek for harvesting from mid summer onward. The flavour is no less impressive when eaten ful … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Kale (Italian)

How To Grow Kale (Italian)

10.11.2021

'Cavolo Nero' or 'Nero Di Toscana' is the only kale grown in Italy, simply because it is by far the best tasting kale. Its large strap like leaves are fantast … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Kale (Red)

How To Grow Kale (Red)

10.11.2021

How to grow red kale, the variety we use most often in our nurseries is Red Russian, this is a frost hardy variety with a sweeter taste than other kale. A … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Kohl Rabi

How To Grow Kohl Rabi

10.11.2021

Kohlrabi sports a rosette of blueish-green leaves above a swollen stem. This almost globe-like stem makes it appear like a turnip growing on a cabbage root, i … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Tat Soi

How To Grow Tat Soi

10.11.2021

Tatsoi is an oriental mustard green and is also called spinach mustard. Its a popular salad green in Aisan cuisine. Soil & Water Tatsoi greens prefer rich, … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Rocket

How to Grow Rocket

10.11.2021

Rocket is very quick growing, Rocket Cultivated Rucola Coltivata is a vigorous, robust plant with pungent leaves. Use as a main ingredient of a mixed green sal … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Onions

How to Grow Onions

10.11.2021

Onions are one of the most popular vegetables for growing in home gardens and are one of the first crops of spring. They can be stored over winter thus making … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Parsnips

How To Grow Parsnips

10.11.2021

Parsnips are easy to grow members of the cow parsley family. This family includes carrot, dill, fennel and parsley among others. These seeds tend to have a sh … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Sugar Snap Peas

How To Grow Sugar Snap Peas

10.11.2021

Peas are well-suited to cooler temperate climates. In fact, when temperatures exceed 20C (70F), most varieties of peas will stop producing pods. Peas are p … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Chard

How to Grow Chard

10.11.2021

Chard is basically a beet without the bottom. It's a biennial that is grown as an annual for its big crinkly leaves. The stalks are red or white with large, d … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Spring Onions

How To Grow Spring Onions

10.11.2021

Spring onions tend to be treated as an afterthought by most gardening books yet they are a popular crop and very useful, possibly because they are really easy … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Perpetual Spinach

How To Grow Perpetual Spinach

10.11.2021

Perpetual spinach is actually a chard (beet family) but is very similar to true spinach in flavour. We prefer it as it is much easier to grow and far more vigo … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Pumpkins

How To Grow Pumpkins

10.11.2021

Pumpkins have a special appeal for both adults and children, especially at Halloween. The carved pumpkin outside the front door - or being carried house to … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Radish Black Spanish

How to Grow Radish Black Spanish

10.11.2021

Radishes are a cool season vegetable that can mature very quickly. The small, round varieties will get woody if grown in hot temperatures.Planting Radishes … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Climbing French Beans

How To Grow Climbing French Beans

10.11.2021

Sowing French Bean - Climbing Recommended varieties: Cobra. You can sow climbing french beans indoors from the middle of May to plant out later or sow outdoor … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Oriental Salads

How To Grow Oriental Salads

10.11.2021

Soil and Site Any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil is good. A sheltered semi shade position is ideal. Rotation Oriental salads are part of the … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Endive

How to Grow Endive

10.11.2021

How to grow endive, a popular salad vegetable on the Continent there are two types: curly endive (chicorée frisée), which is more heat-resistant, and Batavian … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Turnip (White)

How To Grow Turnip (White)

10.11.2021

Milan Purple Top has distinctive flat-topped roots, white with purple crown. Quick maturing, useful in frames and under cloches. They are a fast crop, being … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Caraway

How To Grow Caraway

10.11.2021

Caraway, also known as Persian Cumin or Meridian Fennel, is part of the carrot family and similar in appearance too. It has aromatic leaves and tasty seeds wh … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Corn Salad

How To Grow Corn Salad

10.11.2021

Corn Salad has a delicate flavor, which resembles a nutty, concentrated butterhead lettuce. The leaves provide a nutritious boost of vitamins and minerals, es … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Chives

How To Grow Chives

10.11.2021

A member of the onion family, chives are well worth cultivating in the vegetable and flower garden. They take up very little space, and the whole plant can be … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Lettuce

How To Grow Lettuce

10.11.2021

Lettuce is a favourite in the garden because it is relatively easy to grow, is one of the first crops that can be planted, and is one of the first crops … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Land Cress

How To Grow Land Cress

10.11.2021

Land cress is also known as American cress and is a tasty and fast growing watercress substitute. It is ready to eat seven or 8 weeks after sowing so is an ex … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow French Beans (Dwarf)

How To Grow French Beans (Dwarf)

10.11.2021

Growing Dwarf French Beans Dwarf French Beans are a compact habit plant that don't need staking like runner beans or peas. They are easy to grow and withstand … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Rhubarb

How To Grow Rhubarb

10.11.2021

Choose a sunny open site in which to plant your rhubarb crown as rhubarb does not grow well in shade. November is the perfect time to plant a rhubarb crown. M … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Mizuna

How to Grow Mizuna

10.11.2021

Mizuna is one of those strange oriental vegetables which arrived in the West in the last 20 years or so. The name for this leafy green comes from the Japanese … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Chinese Mustard

How To Grow Chinese Mustard

10.11.2021

Grow Your Own Oriental Salads Spicy Chinese Mustard. Mustard greens are very popular in China for stir-fry, and mostly used cooked. The oriental mustards are a … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Claytonia

How to Grow Claytonia

10.11.2021

Claytonia is also known as winter purslane or miners lettuce, it tastes quite like spinach and is full of vitamin C. It is a tough, cold resistant salad for g … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Celeriac

How To Grow Celeriac

10.11.2021

Celeriac is a cool-season biennial grown as an annual. It is similar in growing habit and requirements as celery. Celeriac is best when it comes to harvest in … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Diakon Radish

How To Grow Diakon Radish

10.11.2021

How to grow daikon radishes. Daikon is a long, white variety of radish. Also known as white radish, mooli or Oriental radish, daikon radishes can grow over a f … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Osaka

How to Grow Osaka

10.11.2021

Mustard greens are very popular in China for stir-fry, and mostly used cooked. The oriental mustards are a very large group of rather coarse-leaved brassicas, … Read more

10.11.2021

How to Grow Potatoes

How to Grow Potatoes

10.11.2021

For me potatoes are the backbone of the vegetable garden. If you get the seed potatoes in relatively early, there is very little to do apart from earth … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Sprouting Broccoli

How To Grow Sprouting Broccoli

10.11.2021

Know Your Broccoli! In Italian the word broccoli means 'little sprouts'. It is part of the Brassica family of vegetables, which also includes cau … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Carrots

How To Grow Carrots

10.11.2021

Get the soil conditions correct and carrots are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the cooler climates. Incorrect soil conditions lead to misshape … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Artichokes (Jerusalem)

How To Grow Artichokes (Jerusalem)

10.11.2021

A comprehensive article on How to grow Artichokes (Jerusalem variety). Artichokes area very easy crop to grow but be careful as they are very hard to get rid … Read more

10.11.2021

How To Grow Radishes

How To Grow Radishes

10.11.2021

Most people think of a small, round, pink variety when picturing a radish, usually either sliced or added whole to a garden salad. You may also remember th … Read more

10.11.2021

Storing & Preserving Homegrown Vegetables.

Storing & Preserving Homegrown Vegetables.

22.09.2021

As September is one of the busiest harvesting months, this week I thought it might be helpful to talk about preserving or storing vegetables over winter as, if y … Read more

By admin
22.09.2021

September in the Quickcrop Garden

September in the Quickcrop Garden

07.09.2021

As you know, September is about the final act in the vegetable garden when we harvest many of our crops and prepare the soil for winter. This week I have had a q … Read more

By admin
07.09.2021

September Seeds & Super Soil

September Seeds & Super Soil

31.08.2021

September in the Vegetable Garden Following our article on Autumn sowing for the polytunnel (17th August), we have had a number of requests for information on o … Read more

By admin
31.08.2021

What to Grow in the Polytunnel in Winter

What to Grow in the Polytunnel in Winter

17.08.2021

We had a number of questions recently on polytunnel growing: particularly whether polytunnels are worth the investment and whether it is true that they ena … Read more

By admin
17.08.2021

August in the Quickcrop Vegetable Garden

August in the Quickcrop Vegetable Garden

04.08.2021

I can't believe I am already writing about the vegetable garden in August, where has all that time gone? I don't know what the weather is like where you are but … Read more

By admin
04.08.2021

Mid July Vegetable Garden Update

Mid July Vegetable Garden Update

12.07.2021

Pollinating Sweetcorn As you may know from previous mails I am growing sweetcorn in the polytunnel this year as part of our video project. I thought you might l … Read more

By admin
12.07.2021

What to sow and grow in July

What to sow and grow in July

04.07.2021

Some very welcome rain The vegetable garden was beginning to get very dry over the last few weeks, so much so that I found myself out with the hose watering cro … Read more

By admin
04.07.2021

The Quickcrop Garden in Mid June

The Quickcrop Garden in Mid June

25.06.2021

Well folks, I am back from my week's holidays loafing around with the day to myself. If anyone is interested, I was in Oysterhaven, a pretty spot on the sea in c … Read more

By admin
25.06.2021

The Quickcrop Garden in Early June

The Quickcrop Garden in Early June

08.06.2021

Firstly, thank you to anyone who mailed me last week to let me know you found our most recent article on plant feed for container growing useful. It is always gr … Read more

By admin
08.06.2021

Late April in the Quickcrop Garden 2021

Late April in the Quickcrop Garden 2021

23.04.2021

We are now very close to being able plant out seedling plants outdoors or to be able sow directly in the garden soil. Please be aware, however, that despite the … Read more

By admin
23.04.2021

The Polytunnel in mid April 2021

The Polytunnel in mid April 2021

19.04.2021

This week I thought I would concentrate on the polytunnel or greenhouse as there is a lot to be done in April both in terms of sowing new seed and in potting on … Read more

By admin
19.04.2021

The Vegetable Garden in April 2021

The Vegetable Garden in April 2021

09.04.2021

Hi folks, I hope you all had a good Easter break. I don't know what the weather has been like for you but we have had a very pleasant few days with warm sunshine … Read more

By admin
09.04.2021

Tips on Vegetable Seed Sowing Times

Tips on Vegetable Seed Sowing Times

26.03.2021

Seed sowing dates This week I thought it might be helpful to include some more detail on seed sowing dates as, with some minor planning, you can skew the season … Read more

By admin
26.03.2021