Seed to Feed Me: January 2012

Monday, 30 January 2012

HOW TO GROW BEETROOT FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Beetroot is a easy to grow vegetable that can be enjoyed all year round. It can be harvested from June to late autumn, and stored until march. Pickled beetroot helps fill the gap in harvesting till next seasons crop is ready.

Beetroot likes to grow in a sunny position. Dig over your bed in autumn or early winter to a medium tilth and incorporate well rotted compost. If the soil is acidic add to the soil lime at the manufacturers' recommended rate. During the spring rake the bed to a fine tilth and incorporate a general purpose fertiliser such as growmore into the bed 2-3 weeks prior to sowing.

You can start sowing beetroot in mid April, earlier in March if you give your seeds the protection of a cloche or frame. To extend the season of your crop sow successively in monthly intervals until July. Sow two seeds together directly into the bed in drills 5 cm deep and leave a gap of 10 cm between seeds, spacing 30 cm between rows. Cover with soil and water gently.

Thin the seedlings when they are 2-3 cm high to leave a single plant in each position. Do not attempt the replant the discarded seedlings as they will not be successful. Birds can be problematic and uproot your crop at this stage so protection may be required.

Keep the soil free of competing weeds. Dry spells will lead to woodiness and low yield so ensure you water fortnightly during dry spells and add a mulch to conserve moisture. Thin the plants further when the beetroot have reached golf ball size by removing alternate plants. Don’t discard these plants as they can be used for cooking.

Globe beetroot varieties will be ready to harvest 11 weeks after sowing and long rooted varieties are ready after 16 weeks. Pull globe varieties of beetroot when they are no larger than cricket balls. Long rooted verities should be lifted out with a fork carefully to avoid damage to the roots. Do not cut the leaves with a knife as this will result in bleeding, but twist off the foliage leaving 4 cm crown of stalks. Harvest beetroot for storage during October, placing them in a shed in a box between layers of dry peat.

How to grow artichokes from rooted cuttings

How to grow artichokes from seed
How to Grow Asparagus from Seed
How to grow basil
How to grow beetroot from seed
How to grow cabbage from seed
How to grow carrots from seed
How to grow coriander
How to grow cucumbers from seed
How to grow french beans from seed
How to grow leeks from seed
How to grow lettuce from seed
How to grow onions from onion sets
How to grow onions from seed
How to Grow Pumpkins from Seed
How to grow runner beans from seed
How to grow strawberries from seed

Thursday, 26 January 2012

HOW TO GROW GIANT LEEKS FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

I think giant vegetaables are brilliant. I have loved giant vegetables since I was a child, and growing them indulges my passion for them. So go on, grab a packet of seeds and have a go at growing some yourself.

First of all you will need to select a suitable giant leek seed variety as you will not get giant leeks from standard leek seeds no matter how well you feed them! Varieties such as Mammoth Pot Leek are ideal.

Leek Bed Preparation

Preparation of your leek bed is essential, and should be started on a dry day in late autumn/early winter. When selecting an area for your leek bed ensure that the position is well drained, adding organic matter if necessary. You may wish to ensure this by planting in mounded or raised beds.

Dig trenches 45 cm deep, forking the bottoms to loosen up any hard ground. In an area 2.5 metres square incorporate a mixture of bone meal (70 grams) and potash (85 grams) into the bottom of the trench. Knock back the spoil and work in a barrow of well rotted manure, ensuring the majority of the manure is within 10cm of the top of the trench.

In March gently tilth the soil on top of the trench and in an area 2.5 metres square add either hydrated lime (28 grams), superphosphates (55 grams) or calcified seaweed (500 grams).

Sowing seeds

You can start sowing leeks from the end of January to the end of February. Fill a seed tray with John Innes Seed and Cutting compost, tapping the tray to settle the compost. Level gently with a flat piece of wood but avoid compacting the soil. Broadcast the giant leek seeds individually within the tray, approximately 50 seeds in total. Lightly cover with compost using a sieve.

Place the tray in a larger tray holding 2cm of water until the soil is moist and the surface of the compost turns from light to dark brown. Remove from the water tray and place in a well lit area such as a windowsill or bench in a heated greenhouse. Either cover with glass or place in a propagator until the first seedlings emerge or leave uncovered and water frequently by spraying daily. Do not allow the compost to dry out (or become waterlogged).

The seeds will germinate after two weeks and will be ready to be transplanted into individual pots when they each the crook stage. Fill 9cm pots with John Innnes No.1 compost and carefully lift the seedlings with a pencil or similar to avoid damage. Re-pot the leeks again into a larger pot when they have produced their third leaf.

Giant leeks are ready to be planted out in May, but will need to be hardened off for two weeks prior to being planted in their bed. You may wish to continue to protect them with a cloche or poly tunnel for a further month to give them a good start.

Maintenance

Ensure you water the giant leeks during the growing season to prevent the stalks becoming woody. You can top dress the soil periodically with seaweed, compost and weed free green material as this will help to mulch the soil and keep the soil friable, as well as conserving moisture.

The leeks will be ready to harvest from late summer onwards.

For related articles click onto:

How to grow giant cabbage from seed

How to grow giant celery from seed

How to grow giant leeks from seed

How to grow giant onions from seed

How to grow giant parsnips from seed

Record breaking fruit and vegetables

The worlds largest vegetable

Monday, 23 January 2012

HOW TO GROW ONIONS FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Before you sow your onion seeds, it is wise to prepare your bed for planting in late autumn or early winter. Good drainage is important, so add organic matter to the soil if required, or mound the bed. Onions prefer to be in the same for several years as this builds up soil fertility, but rotate the bed after that period to avoid a build up of pest and diseases.

Prepare the bed by digging over the soil to a medium tilth and incorporate well rotted farm manure. Ensure that the majority of the manure is near the top of the bed in order to encourage the roots of the onion to grow in it during the early stages of development. If the soil is heavy add plenty of grit and organic matter to the soil and plant in mounded rows to aid drainage.

In March gently tilth the top section of the trench and incorporate a general fertiliser such as Growmore, hydrated lime or calcified seaweed at manufacturers recommended rates. Onions like a soil pH of between 6 and 7.5.

Sow your onion seeds directly into your onion bed or container on a dry day between January and February, when the temperature is about 13 degrees celsius (any warmer and the onion seeds are at risk of poor germination rates). They should be placed in drills 1.5 cm deep, leaving 22 cm between rows. Cover with soil and gently water.

The seeds will germinate within 21 days. They can start to be thinned to 3-5 cm spacings, and then to 8-10 cm during the next few weeks. Ensure you protect your seedlings from birds as they can often uproot your whole crop. Keep the bed weed free as competing plants will result in a weakened crop.

The onion is mature between August and September, when the foliage starts to turn yellow and fall over, and should be harvested a few weeks after. Lift the onions on a dry day and move them to a suitable location to dry for 3-5 weeks. This will allow them to mature prior to using in the kitchen.

For related articles click onto:
Feeding plants
Growing rhubarb
Growing potatoes
Growing tomatoes
How to grow broccoli from seed
How to grow cauliflower from seed
How to build a cold frame
How to Grow Agave from Seed

How to grow artichokes from rooted cuttings

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

HOW TO GROW LEEKS FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

You can start sowing leeks from the end of January to the end of February. Fill a seed tray with John Innes Seed and Cutting compost, tapping the tray to settle the compost. Level gently with a flat piece of wood but avoid compacting the soil.

Broadcast the leek seeds individually within the tray, approximately 50 seeds in total. Lightly cover with compost using a sieve. Place the tray in a larger tray holding 2 cm of water until the soil is moist and the surface of the compost turns from light to dark brown.

Remove from the water tray and place in a well lit area such as a windowsill or bench in a heated greenhouse. Either cover with glass or place in a propagator until the first seedlings emerge or leave uncovered and water frequently by spraying daily. Do not allow the compost to dry out (or become waterlogged).

Leeks are ready to be planted out in May, but will need to be hardened off for two weeks prior to being planted in their bed. Place the seedlings into a hole 20 cm deep made with a dibber. Fill the hole with water and allow it to drain away, which will draw soil over the roots and support the seedling.

You may wish to continue to protect them with a cloche or poly tunnel for a further month to give them a good start.

Sowing seeds directly into beds

When selecting an area for your leek bed ensure that the position is well drained, adding organic matter if necessary. You may wish to ensure this by planting in mounded or raised beds.

The best time to sow leek seeds directly into the soil is between March and April. Sow the seeds in rows 1 cm deep, allowing 30 cm between rows. Cover with soil and water gently. The leeks will germinate in approximately two weeks. When the leeks have produced their third leaf thin the seedlings so that they are spaced at 15 cm intervals.

Maintenance

Remove any weeds in the bed as these will compete with your leeks for nutrients, space, moisture and light. Ensure you water the leeks during the growing season to prevent the stalks becoming woody. You can top dress the soil periodically with seaweed, compost and weed free green material as this will help to mulch the soil and keep the soil friable as well as conserving moisture.

The leeks will be ready to harvest from mid to late summer onwards.

For related articles click onto:

HOW TO GROW GIANT CABBAGE FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

I have loved giant vegetables since I was a child, and growing them indulges my passion for them. So go on, grab a packet of seeds and have a go at growing some yourself.

First of all you will need to select a suitable giant cabbage seed variety as you will not get giant cabbages from standard cabbage seeds no matter how well you feed them! You will need to start sowing your giant cabbage seed in early spring in order to harvest successfully in the autumn. The best time to do this is February.

Fill a seed tray with John Innes seed and cutting compost, tapping the tray to settle the compost. Level gently with a flat piece of wood but avoid compacting the soil. Set out the giant cabbage seeds individually within the tray, approximately 25 seeds in total. Lightly cover with compost using a sieve. Place the tray in a larger tray holding 2cm of water until the soil is moist and the surface of the compost turns from light to dark brown.

Remove from the water tray and place in a well lit area such as a windowsill or bench in a heated greenhouse. Either cover with glass or place in a propagator until the first seedlings emerge or leave uncovered and water frequently by spraying daily. Do not allow the compost to dry out (or become waterlogged). The seedlings are ready to transplant when they are showing two strong leaves.

Carefully transplant the seedlings into individual pots or modules filled with John Innes seed and cutting compost. The developing seedlings require a lot of space and you will need to report the cabbage seedlings on a regular basis. They will be ready to plant outside when the risk of frost has passed.

Harden off the seedlings prior to planting outside by placing in the ventilated cold frame during the day, bringing them back inside during the night. Continue this for a week, then leave them in the cold frame overnight for a few weeks. Finally, move them to a sheltered position for a further week.

Planting Giant cabbages thrive in a well feed soil, so incorporate manure into the final planting plot. Avoid beds that have previously suffered from club root and incorporate some lime within the hole prior to planting. Giant cabbages need plenty of room so space your cabbages at least 1 metre apart, and at the same spacing between rows.

Water well, these cabbages will be thirsty on hot days, and keep the bed well weeded during the season. Giant cabbages require high levels of nitrogen to produce all their large leaves so feed regularly with a liquid nitrogen feed during the growing season.

The cabbages will be ready to harvest in the autumn.

For related articles click onto:

How to grow giant cabbage from seed
How to grow giant celery from seed
How to grow giant leeks from seed
How to grow giant onions from seed
How to grow giant parsnips from seed
How to make compost
Manuring
Preparing a seed bed
The worlds largest vegetable
Watering plants
Which plant has the largest seed?
Which plant has the largest leaves?
Which plant has the largest flower?

Monday, 9 January 2012

WHAT IS A TREE?

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Approximately 25% of all living plant species are trees, made up from 100,000 tree species. But what are the defining characteristics of a tree?

Trees are long-lived perennial, woody plants. Trees parts include the trunk, branches, twigs, leaves and roots. The outer wood is covered by bark. They generally have a single stem with a crown of secondary branches held above a clear trunk, although some have multiple stems. Trees vary greatly in size but an accepted guideline is a minimum height at maturity of 3 metres, with a 30 cm trunk girth. Other woody plants that do not meet these requirements are called shrubs.

Trees are very significant within the ecosystem. They produce oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, as well as preventing erosion and moderating ground temperatures. Their branches and leaves provide a valuable ecosystem protected from the weather. A single oak tree can be home to over 300 insect species.

Trees evolved in the Triassic period, when gingkos, cyads and other gymnosperms produced woody tissues. Flowering trees followed later in the Cretaceous period. Most trees today are Angiospems (flowering plants) or conifers and are deciduous or evergreen.

Trees come in a variety of sizes, forms, shape, leaf shape and bark characteristics. They are categorised in their genus or species according to their shape and characteristics of their bark, flowers, fruit and leaves. The can range in size 3m tall to in excess of 100m. The tallest recorded tree is a Sequoia sempervirens (Coast redwood) in Redwood National Park, California which measures 115.56m (379 ft).

Trees can live for decades to several centuries, with some specimens living for several thousand years old. The record for the oldest tree is the Great basin bristlecone pine Pinus longaeva aged 4,844 years.

Thursday, 5 January 2012

HOW TO GROW CARROTS FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Like all root vegetables, to successfully grow carrots you need to ensure that soil conditions are favourable. The quality of the soil within the bed that they are grown in is very important.

Dig over the bed in late winter or early spring, breaking up the soil structure to create a fine, crumbly texture. To prevent the carrots 'forking' remove any stones or debris within the soil. Add a general purpose fertiliser one week prior to planting, which should occur in spring after the risk of frost has past or earlier if the beds are protected with a cloche or fleece.

Carrot seeds should be planted directly into the bed or container. Sow the seeds as thinly as possible in shallow drills 2-3cm deep, rows 25cm apart. The seeds are very small so you may wish to mix them with a handful of sharp sand in order to allow for a thinner sowing and aid drainage.

When the seeds have germinated and are showing their first true leaves, t

hin the seedlings to 5cm between plants. Carrots require space and will produce a vastly reduced crop if grown in crowded conditions. Discard unwanted seedlings; do not attempt to replant unwanted plants as they do not transplant well.

Keep well watered during the summer to prevent the roots becoming woody and weed out competing weeds regularly. Carrots will be ready to harvest in the autumn, but smaller carrots can be pulled and eaten at any time during the season. Feel the size of the carrot tops through the soil to feel how wide they are and pull when they reach the correct size.

For related articles click onto:
Feeding plants
Growing rhubarb
Growing potatoes
Growing tomatoes
How to grow broccoli from seed
How to grow cauliflower from seed
How to build a cold frame
How to Grow Agave from Seed

How to grow artichokes from rooted cuttings

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

HOW TO GROW CABBAGE FROM SEED

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

You will need to start sowing your cabbage seed in early spring in order to harvest successfully in the autumn. The best time to do this is February.

Fill a seed tray with John Innes seed and cutting compost, tapping the tray to settle the compost. Level gently with a flat piece of wood but avoid compacting the soil. Set out the cabbage seeds individually within the tray, approximately 25 seeds in total. Lightly cover with compost using a sieve. Place the tray in a larger tray holding 2cm of water until the soil is moist and the surface of the compost turns from light to dark brown.

Remove from the water tray and place in a well lit area such as a windowsill or bench in a heated greenhouse. Either cover with glass or place in a propagator until the first seedlings emerge or leave uncovered and water frequently by spraying daily. Do not allow the compost to dry out (or become waterlogged). The seedlings are ready to transplant when they are showing two strong leaves.

Harden off the seedlings prior to planting outside by placing in the ventilated cold frame during the day, bringing them back inside during the night. Continue this for a week, then leave them in the cold frame overnight for a few weeks. Finally, move them to a sheltered position for a further week.

Planting
Cabbages thrive in a well feed soil, so incorporate manure into the final planting plot. Avoid beds that have previously suffered from club root and incorporate some lime within the hole prior to planting. Space your cabbages 45-60cm apart, and at the same spacing between rows. Water well and keep the bed well weeded during the season. The cabbages will be ready to harvest in the autumn.

How to grow artichokes from rooted cuttings