Beginner Plants: Non-Native Flowers

Read time: 3 minutes

I've covered native flowers, and now it's the turn of the non-native flowers. While it is good to plant native, provided you choose non-natives carefully and don't let them take over, these plants can be beneficial too. Some of the below plants have been naturalised, meaning that it grows on its own in nature in its new environment.

Other Flowers

Pot Marigold

Annual.

Sow seeds between late March and late June, or between late September and late December.

Grows up to 8 - 24 inches tall and spreads up to 1 - 2 ft.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers between June and September if sown in spring, or May to July if sown in autumn.

They are great companions for many plants as they repel many different pests, and can attract pollinators.

The petals are edible.

Pot marigold flower

Nasturtium

Annual.

Sow seeds between March and June.

Grows up to 5 - 8 ft, and is a climber, meaning it will spread on the ground or grow up a support. 

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers between late July and your first frost.

They are great companions for many plants as they attract pollinators and can act as a trap crop, luring pests to them instead of other plants.

All parts of the plant are edible. 

Nasturtium flower

Snowdrops

Perennial.

Plant snowdrop bulbs immediately after buying, in late April or May. Divide clumps as the leaves are turning yellow. Collect and sow seeds as soon as they ripen, around mid May - mid June.

Grows up to 5 inches tall and spreads up to 8 inches.

Grows best in partial shade.

Flowers from January to March.

They are a great early source of pollen for pollinators. 

They have been naturalised after being brought to the UK in the 15th or 16th century.

Snowdrops

California poppy

Annual.

Sow seeds in March, April, May, August or September.

Grows up to 1 1/2 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers between June and October.

They have been naturalised in the UK.

The flowers and seeds are edible. 

California Poppy

Lupin

Usually perennial.

If you are buying them as plants, then plant them as they become available, between March and July. If you are sowing seeds, then do so between late March and late April.

Grows up to 1 1/2 - 4 ft tall, depending on variety. Spreads 1 1/2 - 3 ft.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers in May and June.

They are very good at attracting pollinators.

Naturalised to the UK. They readily self-seed and grow big roots, so keep them under control.

Lupins

Borage

Annual.

Best to sow seeds or plant young plants in April or May, but can be done at other times of the year.

Grows up to 1 1/2 - 2 ft tall and spreads up to 3/4 ft.

Grows best in full sun, but can grow in light shade too.

Flowers between June and September.

Leaves and flowers are edible.

Good for attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Readily self-seeds.

Borage

Rose Campion

Hardy biennial or short-lived perennial.

You can sow seeds between late February and late April or between late September and late December.

Grows up to 1 - 2 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers from June to October.

It has been naturalised to the UK in some areas.

Readily self-seeds.

Love-in-a-Mist

Annual.

You can sow seeds outside between April and September.

Grows up to 16 - 24 inches tall and spreads 8 inches.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers between July and September.

Naturalised in the UK after being introduced in the 16th century.

Readily self-seeds.

Love-in-a-mist flower

Sunflowers

More of a typical 'crop' plant than the other flowers here.

Usually annual, but some varieties are perennials.

Sow seeds inside from mid April to late May, or sow outside after your last frost.

Depending on variety, they can grow up to 13 ft tall, but most varieties won't be as tall as that.

Grow best in full sun.

Typically flower from late July to early October. 

They will self-seed.

Good at attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects that prey on insect pests.

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ

Beginner Plants: Native Flowers

Read time: 5 minutes

The flowers I'm going to list here are native to the UK, for various pollinators, and can be grown with minimum effort, mostly being able to just leave them once the seeds have been sown or planted. There are many more flowers to choose from.

Spring Flowering

Bluebells

Perennial.

Propagate by sowing seeds in September or October. 

Grows up to 1 1/2 ft tall and spreads up to 4 inches. 

Grows well in partial shade.

Flowers from late March to early May.

The plants can spread rapidly.

Daffodil

Perennial.

Propagate by planting bulbs in September, or plant potted bulbs in March, April or May before they flower. Plant bulbs in clumps for best results. 

They can self-seed, and can also produce bulblets, which can be separated from the main bulb. 

Grows up to 8 to 20 inches tall, depending on variety. 

Grows best in full sun, but can grow in light shade.

Flowers from February to May.

If you are going to cut down the leaves, wait until they turn yellow first (around 6 weeks after flowering). If you do it too early, the bulb won't store as much energy and the flowers the following year will be worse.

Daffodil flowers

Grape Hyacinth

Perennial.

Propagate by planting bulbs between September and November.

Grows 6 -9 inches tall and spreads 3 - 6 inches.

Grows best in full sun, but can grow in light shade.

Usually flowers between March and May. 

Grape hyacinth flowers

Wood Anemone 

Perennial.

Propagate by division after the leaves have died down and the plant is dormant between late May and late September.

Grows up to 1 1/2 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows well in partial shade. 

Flowers from March to May.

Spring &  Summer Flowering

Bugle

Perennial.

Propagate by division or planting seeds in late March, early April, or between late September and mid December.

Grows up to 1 1/2 ft tall and can spread up to 3 ft.

Partial shade is preferred, but it can grow in full sun. 

Flowers from late April to late August.

Acts as a good ground cover if you keep it under control. Can become invasive if not controlled.

Deadhead (cut off flowers when fading or dead) if you don't want it to seed.

You can cut down to the ground between late December and late March.

My 'ground cover' bugle flowering

Common Columbine

Perennial.

Propagate by sowing seeds between late March and late June, or between late August and late October.

Grows up to 3 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows best in full sun or partial shade.

Flowers in May and June. 

Columbine flowers

Dog Rose

Perennial.

Propagate by softwood cuttings between late March and mid May. Or with hardwood cuttings between late August to late December.

Grows up to between 8 and 13 ft tall, and spreads up to between 5 and 8 ft.

Grows best in full sun or partial shade.

Flowers in May and June. 

Forget-me-not

Perennial.

Propagate by sowing seeds in May or June. Plants will self-seed easily.

Grows up to 1 1/2 ft tall and can spread up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows best in partial shade.

Can flower from March to September, but usually from April to June.

Remove or cut back old flowers if you don't want them to seed.

Summer Flowering

Campion

Biennial or short-lived Perennial.

Propagate by seeds. For red, yellow or white campion, do so in October or between late March and late June.

Grows up to 3 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Plant in full sun or light shade.

Flowers from May to September. 

You can deadhead to prolong flowering. 

Foxglove

Biennial or short-lived Perennial.

Propagate by seeds in May, June, September or October. Or plant bought plants between late March and late June, or between late September and late December.

Grow up to between 1 ft and 8 ft tall, depending on variety.  

Grow best in light shade.

Flowers (usually the year after planting) from June to September.

Deadhead if you don't want them to seed, or if you want to try to make them live for an extra year. It's a good idea to leave at least a few flower stems so that you have a yearly supply of new flowers.

Foxglove flowers

Loosestrife

Perennial. 

Propagate by division between late March and late June.

Grows up to 5 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows best in full sun. 

Flowers from June to August.

Deadhead after flowering if you want to prevent self-seeding. 

Musk Mallow

Perennial.

Propagate by softwood cuttings from the stems or basal roots between late June and late July. Or plant seeds between late September and late October, or between late March and late June.

Grows up to 3 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers in July and August. 

White musk mallow

Oxeye Daisy

Perennial.

Propagate by seed outside in April, May, August or September. Or propagate by division between late March and late April, or between late September and late October.

Grows up to 3 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grow in full sun to partial shade.

Flowers from June to August.

Can become invasive if not controlled. 

Deadhead (cut off flowers when fading or dead) if you don't want it to seed.

Cut down to the ground between late December and late March.

Viper's Bugloss

Biennial.

Propagate by planting seeds between late March and late June, or between late September and late October.

Grows up to 3 ft tall and spreads up to 1 1/2 ft.

Grow in full sun. 

Flowers from May to September.

You can deadhead to encourage more flowers and a longer flowering period.   

Summer & Autumn Flowering

 Geranium

Annual, biennial or perennial.

Propagate by taking softwood cuttings from late March to late December. Plant seedlings out after your last frost.

Grows up to 2 - 4 ft tall, and can spread up to 1/2 - 3 ft.

Grows best in full sun.

Flowers from June to October. 

Geranium flowers

Winter & Spring Flowering

Primrose

Perennial.

Propagate by division or planting seeds between late March and late April, or between late September and late December. 

Grows up to 1 1/2 ft tall and can spread up to 1 1/2 ft.

Can grow in full sun or partial shade.

Flowers from December to May.

Deadheading flowers can promote more flowers.

Red and white primrose flowers

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ

Beginner Plants: Berries

Read time: 5 minutes

For this category, I am referring to the culinary use of the word 'berry', and not the botanical term. The botanical definition is a fleshy fruit that grows from a single ovary, and includes fruits like bananas, cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines, and grapes.

Strawberries

When to plant

If you are getting young plants, you can usually get these from late spring onwards.

If you are planting from runners, you can usually get these in late summer, early autumn, or early spring. Runners look like roots, and will have a few leaves on them. 

Plant strawberries to their final position in mid spring or in late summer, by the end of September. 

Where to plant

You can grow strawberries in dedicated rows, plant as a border for your crop beds or flower beds, or grow in containers, pots, hanging baskets, or window boxes. 

You want to avoid growing them near nightshades, including tomatoes and potatoes, due to the possibility of disease spread. They also do not do well planted too close to brassicas.

Because they are a perennial plant and they don't want to be planted too close to nightshades or brassicas, it's probably a good idea to avoid planting them in one of the main plots in a crop rotation plan. You can plant them with alliums, salad leaves, legumes, marigolds and mint if you want to.

Growing

Plants will usually last 4 years, but you can replace the plants more often, planting from runners.

Water plants frequently while they are establishing, and afterwards water during dry periods. 

Make sure to protect fruits from pigeons and squirrels. You can use a cage or netting for this.

Mulching around strawberry plants can be a good idea, as they are small plants that grow low to the ground, so weeds or other plants can cause problems.

Harvesting

Strawberries may start to ripen from early summer until early autumn. Wait until they are red all over before harvesting.

After you have harvested your strawberries, you can remove the netting or cage to allow birds to eat pests, like slugs. 

A strawberry still on the plant

Raspberries

When to plant

You can get plants either in containers or with bare roots. Bare rooted plants are usually a lot cheaper. If you are getting bare root plants, they will be available during the dormant season, which is autumn to early spring. They can be planted at any time during this dormant period, providing the ground is not frozen. If you are getting container plants, they will be available for a slightly longer time.

You can also dig up suckers (shoots from the roots of raspberry plants) that are 12 inches or more away from the main plant. Dig it up, being careful to not damage the roots of the main plant. You can do this at any time of year, but between spring and autumn is going to be best.

You can also divide large clumps. This is best done in autumn or early spring, when the plants are dormant.

Where to plant

Raspberries are best planted in the ground, but they can be planted in containers if you want. Full sun will provide you with the best crop, but they can still produce in light shade. A sheltered location will also be preferred. 18 - 24 inches between plants, and don't plant very deep.

They grow well near alliums. But try to avoid growing them near to nightshades and currants.

Growing

Water during dry spells.

It's a good idea to support raspberry canes so that they don't break in the wind. You can tie them to any sort of support, including posts or fencing.

Prune summer-fruiting varieties after you finish harvesting the fruit. Cut old woody (or dead) stems down to ground level.

Prune autumn-fruiting varieties in February. Cut back all of the old fruited stems to ground level, as new ones will start growing in spring.

Harvesting

Summer-fruiting varieties will be ready to harvest between June and September, depending on variety.

Autumn-fruiting varieties will be ready to harvest from mid-August, possibly until the first frosts. 

Blackcurrants

When to plant

Blackcurrants are usually sold as 2-year old plants. Either bare-rooted or in pots. The best time to plant either is between October and March, during the dormant season. Avoid planting if the soil is very wet or frozen. Potted plants can be planted year-round.

Plant in a hole twice as big as the root ball, 2 inches deeper than previously planted. 

Where to plant

They do best in full sun, but can be planted in light shade. 5 - 6 ft between plants is ideal.

Garlic, nasturtiums, marigolds can all help blackcurrants if grown near them.

Growing

Water plants during their first summer. After this they will only need watering during dry spells.

Cover with fleece at night if frost is forecast while the plants are still flowering. 

Prune established bushes (4 years or older) in winter. Blackcurrants fruit best on plants a few years old or less, so prune older branches (darker in colour and thicker). 

If the plant is newly bought and you've planted it between autumn and early spring, while dormant, then prune straight after planting. You can cut all of the stems down to about an inch or two from the ground, which should give you a better plant long-term. But if you aren't comfortable doing this, then you can leave it or just do a light pruning.

If the plant is up to 3 years old, then in autumn or winter you can lightly prune them by removing any weak or low-lying shoots. If it isn't growing well, you can prune it harder, cutting half of the shoots down to the base in order to stimulate new stem growth.

Harvesting

Blackcurrants can ripen from July onwards, but exactly when will depend on the variety.

Gooseberries

When to plant

Gooseberries can be bought as bare-root plants or in containers between late autumn and early spring, when the plants are dormant. You can plant bare-root plants when dormant, and container plants at any time, just avoid doing so if the ground is frozen or very wet. 

Try to plant them in late autumn if you can, as this will give them the most time to settle in before spring, when the growing season starts.

Where to plant

They prefer full sun, but will grow in light shade. Choose somewhere sheltered so that the stems don't snap in the wind.

If they are bush plants, then space them 4 - 5 ft apart. If you are growing them vertically up a permanent support, then space them 12 - 15 inches apart. If you are growing them up against a permanent support in a fan shape, then space them 3 - 5 ft apart.

Growing

Protect from birds with a cage or netting. They will eat the buds and also the berries.

Bush plants won't need any growing support, but other varieties will. 

Water plants during their first summer. Afterwards, they will only need watering occasionally during dry spells. 

Gooseberries grow well with garlic, legumes, nasturtiums, marigolds and oregano. 

Avoid growing them too near to blackberries and nightshades. 

Harvesting

You can harvest all of the gooseberries when they are fully ripe, around July to August.

Or you can harvest half of them in June (when they are still green), trying to pick alternate berries, or close to, and then harvest the remaining in July or August, when they are fully ripe. The plant will be able to put more effort into those remaining berries, allowing them to grow larger than they otherwise would.

You can use unripe gooseberries for jams, sauces or pies. And you can use ripe gooseberries for the same things, as well as eating them fresh. 

Gooseberries after harvesting

Raspberries, blackcurrants and strawberries after harvesting

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ

Beginner Plants: Perennial Herbs

Read time: 6 minutes

Perennial plants are plants that live for more than 2 years. So they will be a permanent or semi-permanent plant in your garden.

Lemon Balm

When to plant

Sow seeds inside or outside from March to May.

Transplant seedlings outside after all danger of frost has passed.

Where to plant

Lemon balm can grow in sun or light shade and doesn't need to go anywhere specific in a rotation plan. It can be quite aggressive and take over in the garden if not controlled, so be careful with it.

Lemon balm can grow alongside most plants, but you'll probably want to avoid plants that prefer drier conditions than lemon balm, like rosemary or thyme. 

Growing

If you cut it back after flowering, you can encourage leaf growth. Water during dry spells for better results.

Harvesting  

Pick fresh leaves as and when you want them. You can also dry the leaves for later use.

Mint

It can be grown from seed, but it isn't recommended to do this due to its long germination time and low germination rate. It is also easy to grow from root cuttings or by dividing clumps of established plants.

When to plant

Take softwood cuttings from young shoots in spring, and stand them in water until they get roots, then plant them out.

If you are taking root cuttings, then do so in autumn or winter. Dig down a little to expose the roots at the edge of the plant, and cut off long pieces for cuttings. Cut that into pieces 2 - 3 inches long and plant them just below the surface in compost.

If you are dividing clumps, then do so in autumn. Dig up the mint plant and split the roots however you are able to. Pull them apart if you can, and if you can't you can use a spade to split the root ball.

Where to plant

It's a good idea that wherever you choose to grow mint, you contain it in some way. Either plant it in pots or in a contained space in the garden where you can limit its spread, otherwise it may overtake other plants.

Mint can help deter pests for tomatoes, beans, onions, carrots, and brassicas. So they can be planted in any or all sections of your garden with a crop rotation plan. It's also said to repel slugs.

Growing

Water regularly if grown in pots. If not, water during hot weather, especially if you are picking leaves.

When mint has finished flowering in late summer you can cut the plant down to a few inches off of the ground to encourage production of leaves.

Harvesting 

You can start harvesting the leaves from late spring (around May) until autumn, before the plant dies back in winter.

Regular leaf picking can help keep the plants compact, and will encourage leaf growth. 

Oregano

When to plant

If you are growing from seed, then sow them inside from February to May, or outside in April or May. Sow them on top of compost and water them, but don't cover the seeds.

Transplant seedlings outside after all danger of frost has passed.

You can also buy oregano plants or propagate by dividing clumps in spring or autumn, or by taking softwood cuttings in summer.

Where to plant

This plant doesn't need to go anywhere specific in a crop rotation plan. Try to plant in a sunny spot and give the plant around 12 inches of space as they form a clump. 

Oregano can be planted near garlic, squash, brassicas, beans, and tomatoes, meaning they can be grown in any or all plots in your crop rotation plan. 

Growing

Water in the first year, but after that, once the plant is established, it won't need watering unless grown in a pot. 

Harvesting 

Harvest leaves as required in late spring and throughout summer, even into early autumn. Strip off shoots and strip the leaves from them.

You can use the leaves fresh, dried, or frozen.

An oregano plant flowering in the summer

Rosemary

While rosemary can be grown from seed, it's not recommended as germination is slow and it can take years to grow large enough to start harvesting.

When to plant

You can grow rosemary from bought plants or by taking cuttings.

If you are taking a heel cutting, where you take a cutting with some of the stem from the base, then do so in spring. 

If you are taking semi-ripe cuttings, then do so in late summer.  

Where to plant

Rosemary does not need to go anywhere specific in a crop rotation plan. Space plants 18 inches apart.

Rosemary grows well with sage, thyme, lavender, beans, carrots, and can also be planted with brassicas and tomatoes, although not too close to tomatoes. This covers all 4 plots in the garden, meaning rosemary can be planted in any or all plots in a crop rotation plan. 

Avoid growing rosemary with mint, basil, and squashes. 

Growing

Rosemary is fairly drought tolerant, and established plants will only need watering after a long spell of hot dry weather. But if you are growing them in a container they will want more regular watering.

If you want to keep rosemary compact and encourage fresh growth each year, trim it back lightly once the flowers have faded. Make sure not to cut into old wood. If left unpruned for a long time it can get leggy, woody and bare. 

Harvesting 

You can harvest leaves throughout the year, however the soft new growth in summer has the best flavour. 

You can use the leaves fresh or dry them. 

A rosemary plant in autumn

Sage

You can buy sage plants, or grow them from seeds or cuttings.

When to plant

If you are sowing seeds, then sow them February to May inside, or April to May outside.

If you are growing them from cuttings, take these softwood cuttings in early summer.

Plant seedlings outside after all danger of frost has passed.

Where to plant

Space plants 1 ft apart.

Sage can deter pests and help brassicas, carrots, tomatoes, and beans. This covers all 4 plots in the garden, so it can be planted in any or all plots in a crop rotation plan. It also grows well with thyme, rosemary, lavender, and lemonbalm.

You should avoid growing sage with alliums (the onion family) and cucumbers. 

Growing

Sage plants can get woody and straggly after 4 - 5 years. Taking regular cuttings to propagate new plants can allow you to prevent this by swapping out plants every few years.

Harvesting 

You can pick sage leaves throughout the year, but fresh growth in spring and early summer is said to have the best flavour.

You can use the leaves fresh or you can dry or freeze them for later use. 

A sage plant in autumn

Thyme

You can buy thyme as a young or established plant, or you can sow seeds or take cuttings.

When to plant

If you are sowing seeds inside, then sow them in March or April, or outside between April and September. If you are growing it from seed, you probably won't be harvesting any thyme in the first year.

If you are growing from cuttings, then take them in late spring or summer.

Where to plant 

Space plants 8 - 12 inches apart.

Growing

Water in hot spells. Trim it back after flowering if you want to keep the plant compact. It can get woody after a few years, so you can regularly take cuttings to replace the plants every year or two.

Thyme likes dry conditions, so avoid growing alongside plants that don't like it dry. Including plants like basil, coriander, parsley, and cucumber.

It has similar growing conditions to lavender, sage, rosemary, so grows well with them. They are also a good companion to tomatoes.

Harvesting 

Thyme leaves can be harvested throughout the year, but fresh growth in spring and summer is said to have the best flavour.

Snip off young shoots. Regular harvesting helps to keep it compact and bushy, and will encourage new growth. 

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ 

Beginner Plants: Annual Herbs

Read Time: 4 minutes

Annual plants are plants that complete their life cycle within one growing season before dying, going from seed to plant to flower to seed. Some of these plants can be kept alive through winter using certain methods, but they are generally considered annuals where you will let them die at the end of the season.

Basil

If you want to skip the sowing seeds stage, you can buy plants in a supermarket. You can multiply these plants by cutting stems around halfway up, taking off the leaves, and putting them in water or soil. I personally prefer water as the hydration is managed and you can see the roots.

When to Plant

You can sow seeds inside from late February until July.

If you are sowing seeds outside, then do so when the temperature has warmed up to 15°C, probably around June. 

Where to Plant

Basil seeds are best sown inside. They don't need to go anywhere specific, but they want to be planted in full sun. 8 - 12 inches between plants.

They grow well alongside many plants, including tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, marigold, and borage.

You want to avoid growing them with sage, thyme, and cucumber.

Growing

Water regularly when it's hot.

If you want to prolong the production of leaves, pinch out any flower stems that come up in mid summer. Letting them flower will stop leaf production, but will act as a good nectar source for pollinating insects like bees.

Harvesting

You can harvest the leaves throughout summer, picking up to a few leaves from each plant, leaving at least 2/3 still on it. If you are going to be cooking with them, you can pick the leaves and immediately freeze them. I place them in a single layer on a baking tray to prevent them sticking together, and then when frozen (usually 30 mins or less) transfer them to a bag. Use as required.  They will defrost in minutes, if not seconds.

Basil flowers are edible, and are said to have a milder flavour than the leaves.

You can also eat basil seeds, and they are a source of Omega-3. 

Coriander

If you want to skip the sowing seeds stage, you can buy plants in a supermarket.

When to Plant

Sow seeds straight outside into their final growing position any time from Spring to Autumn.

Sow seeds inside in February or March. 

If you are growing coriander for the leaves, then sowing every few weeks is likely to be best. Whereas if you want seeds, getting them off to an early start will help ensure they fully ripen.

Where to Plant

They don't need to be grown anywhere specific in crop rotation. 2 - 4 inches between plants.

They grow well alongside basil, lettuce, marigolds, and beans.

You want to avoid growing them with dill and carrots (cross-pollination, so only if allowing to flower), as well as thyme, rosemary, and garlic.

Growing

Water during spells without rain, as dry conditions can cause coriander to bolt.

If you aren't growing them for seeds, then you can remove the flower stems if you want so that it puts energy into seeds. You can do this before or after it flowers, depending on preference. 

Harvesting

You can harvest the leaves, taking only a few every couple of weeks per plant. You can start once the plants are around 6 inches tall. Eat fresh or freeze for later use.

Flowers will form, and when they do you can either leave them for pollinators (and allow them to go to seed) or pick them and eat them. 

Harvest seeds by cutting the stem and placing the whole thing over a container so that you don't lose them. They are often used in cooking.

A flowering coriander plant

Dill

When to Plant

If you are sowing the seeds outside, which is recommended, then you can sow after the last frost, up until July.

If you are sowing the seeds inside, then it can be sown year-round.

Where to Plant

If you are sowing the seeds outside, do so directly into their final growing position. They don't need to go anywhere specific in a crop rotation plan. 6 inches between plants.

If you are sowing the seeds inside, do so into individual modules, transplanting them after the last frost. 

Growing

Dill is prone to bolting (going to seed), so water frequently in hot weather if you want to delay it.

Dill grows well alongside basil, lettuce, cucumbers, onion and brassicas.

Avoid growing dill with lavender, potatoes, and coriander.

Harvesting 

You can start harvesting the leaves from 8 weeks after sowing. The more you pick the more likely you are to delay flowering. You should be able to harvest up until October if you have made repeat sowings. You can eat them fresh, dry them, or freeze them.

You can eat the flowers or wait for them to go to seed and use the seeds. 

A dill plant

Parsley

When to Plant

Parsley seeds can be planted from around March to June, either inside or outside.

Where to Plant

They don't need to go anywhere specific in a crop rotation plan. 6 inches between plants if in the garden bed. They do grow well in containers, where they will ideally have a pot around 10 inches wide.

Growing

Water regularly in hot weather. 

Parsley grows well with tomatoes, beans and brassicas.

Avoid growing parsley with mint, dill, and coriander, alliums, carrots and lettuce. 

Harvesting

You can harvest parsley leaves throughout summer, making sure to leave at least 2/3 of the leaves on the plant.

You can eat parsley flowers or let them go to seed and eat the seeds.

A young parsley plant

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ

Leafmould

Read Time: 2 minutes

What is Leafmould? 

Leafmould is the compost that is produced by the breakdown of leaves over time. While it doesn't contain a huge amount of nutrients, it will still add some nutrients to your soil, and is a great soil conditioner.

How do you make Leafmould?

Rake up fallen leaves.

Then you can either put them into bin bags, make holes in the bag to allow airflow, tie the top and leave them for up to a couple of years. You could use any bag for this, they don't have to be bin bags.

Or you can put them in a pile somewhere, surrounding them with wire or fence or something to stop them blowing away, and leave them for up to a couple of years. This is what I personally do, and I have some wire fencing and some old tyres surrounding my pile.

How long does it take to produce?

Assuming you collect the leaves in autumn when they fall, by the time spring comes around it may have broken down enough to add to the top of your soil (as a thin mulch layer) or to dig in, as it will further break down once there.

If you want good quality leafmould to use it as a seed or potting mix, then it will want to be fully rotted down, and it will probably take 2 years. I personally just add my leafmould to the soil either mixing in or just sprinkling on top, and I use the compost I make (or bought compost) for seeds and potting.

Turning the pile regularly can speed up the decomposition process.

You can collect the leaves with a rotary mower to speed up the process as it will shred the leaves. The added grass clippings may also speed up the process, and will provide nitrogen to the compost.

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ

Beginner Plants: Squashes

Read Time: 5 minutes

Squashes, or curcubits, are flowering plants that produce edible fruits. The squashes that I've chosen for this series are cucumbers, courgettes, and winter squashes. These don't need to go into a specific location in a crop rotation plan.

Cucumber

When to Plant

If you are sowing seeds inside, which is usually recommended, then sow seeds mid-February to mid-March if your cucumbers will be growing in a heated greenhouse. Sow seeds in April if they will be growing in a polytunnel or unheated greenhouse. Sow seeds in late April if the plant will be growing outside.

If you are sowing seeds outside, which you can do with outdoor varieties, then sow them late May to early June.

Where to Plant

Plant seeds inside, one per small pot or in modular trays, potting them on when necessary. 

If you will be growing cucumbers up a trellis, then they want to be spaced 1 ft apart somewhere where they can grow up a support, such as bamboo canes, fence, trellis, or anything else that the tendrils can wrap around. Otherwise space them 3 - 4 ft apart, where there is space for them to trail along the ground.

You want to transplant cucumbers when the temperature won't drop below 12°C. If you are growing them in a heated greenhouse then this can be as early as late March. If you are growing them in a polytunnel or unheated greenhouse, then this will probably be around late May. If you are growing them outside then it will probably be from early June onwards.

If planting outside, sow the seeds into their final growing position, 1/2 inch deep. Protect with fleece or a cloche. 

Cucumbers don't grow well next to other squashes. They also won't do well with brassicas and nightshades. 

They grow well with peas, onions, lettuce, marigolds and borage, among other plants. 

Growing 

Fruits will be more susceptible to pests, like slugs and snails, if they are trailing on the ground.

When watering, avoid getting the leaves wet, and don't water too frequently. 

Check the chosen variety for details, but many greenhouse varieties produce only female flowers (they have a tiny fruit behind the flower). These do not want pollinating otherwise the fruit will be bitter. Remove any male flowers (no fruit behind them) that form. Outdoor varieties will have both male and female flowers. The female flowers, with the fruit behind them, want pollinating, and the male flowers want removing. 

Harvesting

You can eat the flowers either raw or cooked. 

Cucumbers will be ready to pick from around July, and possibly harvested until as late as October. If you are growing small varieties, then they will be ready when around 4 inches long, whereas if you are growing full-sized varieties, they will be ready at about 6 - 8 inches. They should be uniformly green and firm.

To harvest cucumbers, cut the stem attached to the fruit with a sharp knife or secateurs. They are fast growing, and regular picking encourages more fruit. 

Courgette

There are a lot of varieties of courgettes. Courgettes are summer squashes that you can pick very frequently. The most common variety is green and long, but you can also get yellow ones, round ones, patty pan which I really like, and many more.

When to Plant

If you are sowing seeds inside, which is usually recommended, then sow seeds in April or early May.

If you are sowing seeds outside, do so around late May to early June. 

Where to Plant

Plant seeds inside, 1/2 inch deep, on their side, one per small pot or in modular trays. Pot them on when necessary. Plant seedlings outside after danger of frost has passed.

There are two types of courgette plants, bush and trailing. Check which variety you are growing.

Both bush and trailing varieties want planting roughly 3 ft apart. Plant trailing varieties where there is space for them to trail along the ground, or space for them to trail up something. 

Growing 

Fruits will be more susceptible to pests, like slugs and snails, if they are trailing on the ground. 

When watering, avoid getting the leaves wet. Frequent watering may be needed.

Treat courgette flowers differently to cucumbers. Courgettes are usually pollinated by insects, and they collect pollen from the male flowers and take it to the female flowers.

Harvesting

Courgettes should be ready to start harvesting 6 - 8 weeks after planting. 

It's best to harvest courgettes when young and tender, usually when they are around 4 - 5 inches long if a long variety. Regular picking will encourage more fruit to grow. 

You can also eat courgette flowers, but make sure you leave some male flowers to pollinate the fruits. 

Courgettes (green) and Patty Pan (white)

Young courgettes on a plant

Winter Squash

There are a lot of varieties to choose from here, and most of them are grown the same way and just as easy as each other. Butternut varieties are the most common, and you're probably familiar with them. Turks Turban are a variety that I personally really like. Blue Hubbard squashes are supposedly good to use as a trap crop.

When to Plant

It's recommended to sow seeds inside. Sow seeds from mid-April onwards.

Where to Plant

Plant seeds inside, 1/2 inch deep on their side, one per small pot or in modular trays, potting them on when necessary. Plant seedlings outside after danger of frost has passed.

Both bush and trailing varieties want planting roughly 3 ft apart. Plant trailing varieties where there is space for them to trail along the ground, or space for them to trail up something. 

Growing

Fruits will be more susceptible to pests, like slugs and snails, if they are trailing on the ground. 

When watering, avoid getting the leaves wet. Frequent watering may be needed, especially when fruiting.

It can be a good idea to place something below larger winter squash fruit, such as a brick, slab, or wooden board, Fruits being exposed to full sun can aid ripening. 

You can trail plants up supports, but make sure they are sturdy enough to support the plants and the fruit. 

These are pollinated the same way that courgettes are. 

Harvesting

You can harvest winter squashes as soon as they are ripe. But if you want to store them, then they can be left to ripen further, keeping them on the plant as long as possible, but picking them before the first frost. This allows you to store them for months.

You can also eat winter squash flowers, but make sure you leave some male flowers to pollinate the fruits.  

Young Turks Turban's growing on the plant

Ripened Turks Turban ready to be stored

I am proud to be affiliated with JustSeed, a company that I have bought seeds from for a few years now. I believe in what they are doing over there, and if you are going to buy seeds, garden tools, or seedlings, then please consider checking them out and using my link below to do so. Thank you for supporting me.

https://justseed.com/?ref=ANGJ