Notes on growing ornamentals and edibles, and musings on other matters that interest me.
After sorting out the black bamboo, Phyllostachys nigra, we had to cut down in order to fix part of the fence that was knocked down in last weeks high winds, I’ve ended up with another lovely bunch of black canes. …
For Oxford Sow & Grow, my garden advice business, I’m going to start sending out a regular newsletter with gardening tips and information on upcoming workshops. If you would like to receive the newsletter, email me on jgp@cooptel.net and ask …
There is an exciting new food initiative in Oxford, Cultivate. It’s a new food co-op that is to be community owned, run and financed by people local to Oxford. I’m personally keen on Cultivate, not just because I know some …
It is the time of year when everyone is looking at ordering new seeds for the growing year. We should also go through our old packets of all seeds to see what we do and don’t have, before we get …
For 2012 I am going to blog about my front garden on the 1st day of each month. I’ll follow how it changes over the year, how much food I can produce from the space, and how my development plans …
Following the footsteps of other gardeners, such as Patient Gardner and Veg Plotting, I took some photos today of what was still flowering, out of season, this late in the year. These are all from my front garden, which is …
I never fail to get excited about the arrival of the next years Heritage Seed Library (HSL) catalogue. So many choices of wonderful sounding veg, often with great stories behind them. I’ve been a member for quite a few years …
Spent a couple of good hours in the sun down at the lottie, attacking brambles. Kevin and I were delighted to be joined by our friend Manishta, who for reasons best left to herself, thinks ‘brambles are cool’. Manishta, rugged …
A month after I first began the mulching experiment, here is the first update. Experiment 1: after 1 month For bed 1 (standard cardboard and compost mulch), you can see that the cardboard is starting to break down a bit. …
Green manure: Hungarian rye on the left, tares to the right. Will be dug in early Spring. It’s been the mulching time of year, well, more in Autumn, I’m just writing this up late! I decided to try experimenting with …