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What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in January
January can be the beginning of your creative gardening year in your greenhouse or polytunnel. It’s the first awakening of the year. You can start off new seedlings on your propagator and sow and plant the first vegetables into the ground. I always think that the first sowings and plantings are the most special and …
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in February
In your greenhouse or tunnel you may now be fooled that spring has arrived. Your tunnel or greenhouse can easily warm up to 20˚C during sunny spells. You also notice that the days are getting longer and your gardening itch is starting up again.
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in March
You will really feel the warmth in your greenhouse or polytunnel now and so do your plants. They start to grow quite rapidly now but be aware that the nights are still quite cold and there is still a high risk of frost. Many garden centres will try and sell you tomato plants from the …
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in April
April is one of the busiest months and one filled with immense responsibility. All your crops are now sown and you care for them as if they are your little babies. You certainly can’t book a holiday during April because your seedlings in trays need to be watered every day and possibly twice if it’s …
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in May
May is the most exciting month in your tunnel or greenhouse. This is the time to plant out your summer crops – your tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers and basil.
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in June
June is one of my favourite months in the tunnel or greenhouse. The majority of crops are planted by now and the responsibility of watering your seedlings every day is nearly over. You can enjoy tending your crops and observe how they develop. There is also a relatively decent range of crops ready to harvest.
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in July
Your polytunnel or greenhouse is absolutely packed and you’ll be harvesting fruits from your summer crops – the first tomato of the year is always the most anticipated and delicious. Soon you’ll have more food than you can cope with. All the other summer crops (cucumbers, peppers, aubergines etc) are also starting to produce.
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in August
In August there is even more bounty than in July, whether you’re growing in a polytunnel or a greenhouse. You may have produced enough courgettes and cucumbers for the whole neighbourhood. The tomatoes are made into soups and frozen and you reap the rewards for all your efforts.
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in September
Your tunnel or greenhouse is likely to get a little bit out of hand during this month, with most crops not being at their prime any longer. Pests and diseases are also spreading much faster than before. You have to decide which plants to clear and which ones to leave a bit longer. Remember it’s …
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in October
October is the month for clearing and tidying. Your cucumbers and courgettes are likely to be finished and many other plants are getting exhausted and diseased, but hopefully you have a batch of new salad crops ready to plant out now. I always enjoy this time of year when the tunnel or greenhouse becomes completely …
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in November
We usually don’t think about our tunnel or greenhouse in November. There is very little need for it especially if you have planted the winter salads and overwintering garlic cloves and onion sets in October. There is much less need for watering and also the weeds have slowed down. Nevertheless the most important job is …
What to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse in December
It’s a good time to take a break from your tunnel or greenhouse. All you need to do is harvest your salads and ventilate as much as possible. If you have spare time you can prepare the beds for the following year. It’s a good idea to let the beds settle in for a while …
Basic recipe for 5 litres of cider
A Refreshing and resourceful recipe for cider: Every year thousands of tonnes of apples go to waste in orchards and gardens. The Orchard Project Community Cider hub have rescued an incredible 21 tonnes of apples from rotting since 2016. If you want to share in the joys of cider-making, we’ve shared an excellent cider recipe …
Key permaculture principles
The principles of Permaculture design are largely based on the study of natural ecosystems and their ecology.
Brief history of money
Here’s a quick and dirty history of money, but keep in mind that we mustn’t think of ‘money’ in long-gone societies as being similar to ours. Their words for money may have meant very different things – maybe receipts or IOUs or even tax vouchers. In modern Europe, coins were introduced about 1000 years before …
How to install a manufactured hydraulic ram pump
How to install a manufactured hydraulic ram pump, including sizing etc.
How to build a hydraulic ram pump to provide water for livestock
Detailed guide to building your own hydram: two designs, sizing, flow rates, troubleshooting etc.
Domestic energy saving tips
Here are lots of ideas about how to save energy. Also, there are hundreds of sites out there with energy saving tips. See our links page for a selection.
Sourcing your own wood for smoking
Sourcing your wood for smoking – Can be a very simple task, especially if you want to buy it online. If you’d rather enjoy a more DIY approach you can harvest wood after fresh autumn or spring winds.
Charcoal burning – the basics of a burn
Preparation of the kiln site The ideal site on which to put a charcoal kiln has free draining sandy loam. Because of the high risk of fire never burn on peat – never!