Its time for the December magazines and whilst I was thinking these would be thinner pickings they’re actually the most inspiring they’ve been for a couple of months.
And as an added bonus there’s not a piece of tinsel or glittery bauble in sight. Some seasonal ideas about making seed balls for birds but that’s as near to Christmas overkill as it gets.
So what caught my eye?
As if to demonstrate there’s no let up for the home grower even in December this issue includes 19 pages of practical advice on what to put on your to-do- this-month-list. Including greenhouse repairs to stem heat loss; accompanied by pictures of how to use and maintain paraffin heaters.
For anyone hoping Father Christmas will bring an allotment but forgot to specify dug over and weed free, there’s an encouraging, how-to-article on clearing an overgrown patch.
Philosophical, historical and practical all in one – an article on the Dig v No Dig. There is something of the romance of the dig I like – all pink earthworms and robins – but I suspect the charm of all that spadework might not last.
Seasonal and timely as the temperature drops and I relearn how many layers of fleece I can wear in one go and still bend at the joints, are tips on winter protection for the garden. Think fleece, cloches, cold frames and rubber tyres. But also windbreaks which don’t often get a mention as part of the protection process.
I haven’t looked out of the window tonight to check on the moon. But according to an article on the effects of the moon on plant development, if I’m going to plant by the lunar cycle I’ll need to know if it’s waxing, waning, rising , falling, at what distance from the earth and which constellation it’s in.
Whether it’s made out of cheese or can be asked for on a stick don’t seem relevant.
An article on sprouts but not a cracker or bronzed turkey in shot. If you want them for the big day, sow in March.
A short but good piece on Crop Rotation. Pots and Growbags don’t require this but understanding the principles provides a good insight into the cycle of nutrition/disease for different crops.
Growbags feature as an aside in an article on waterway gardening ( there was also an article on this back in August). The view expressed: big consumers of time and water; bigger containers are a better option.
Growbags seem to divide people into ‘wouldn’t use anything else’ or ‘wouldn’t touch with a barge pole’ (!)
They worked for me this year. I used the jumbo ones or cut the smaller ones in half and upended them. I’ll use again interspersed with big pots. Pots are aesthetically more pleasing and can be positioned in a greater variety of places.
A good ideas page, a mix of unusual ‘giving’ gifts and ideas which would make good New Year resolutions.
If you’ve been popping by here for the past 3 Saturdays you probably feel you’ve heard enough about greenhouses but if you are toying/tempted GYO has a good article on how to make the right choice regarding size and structure.
You’d hate to find the wrong one, garlanded in red ribbon, when you open the curtains on Christmas morning.
No seasonal cheer to kick things off here – straight into the war on blight. Potatoes rather than tomatoes but as allotments consider whether to ban the open growing of tomatoes, research and innovation is very much needed.
I’m always looking for places to add to my list for next year. If it has a kitchen garden with a mighty fine wall then count me in. Which means a long trip down to Cornwall to see the Walled Melon Yard and the ¾ span greenhouse at Heligan. Lovely article including confirmation that manure was used as a source of greenhouse heat.
I didn’t this year but I’m sure every tomato grower should adopt a chilli plant; so many good tomato recipes call for them. Looking at the photos illustrating an article on them, I’m struck that what appeals about tomatoes – different colours, shapes, sizes and quirky names, is common to chillies.
And then just when you thought points of difference were limited to growbag or no bag, dig or no dig there’s an article on biodynamics (which includes the influence of the moon and constellations) which refutes it has any influence on plants.
And then finally leaving the best to last an interview with Charles Maisey who is to tomatoes….well let me divert for a moment ……
In another life ( BT – that’s Before Tomatoes in case you’re thinking phones) I hosted a book signing with David Attenborough . The first (very early) person in the queue was a lady who proudly fished out her purse to show me a picture of the man himself, dressed all safari. In the opposite half of her purse sat her husband’s photo.
Mr Maisey should probably be in the purse of all tomato lovers. He’s grown, indulged and exhibited tomatoes for 40 years and I am guessing what he doesn’t know isn’t worth knowing.
A couple of points of resonance. He has a feed brew, the exact mix of which sounds as closely guarded as Coke or Lea and Perrins but amongst other things it does contain sheep droppings as recommended here earlier in the year .
The other was not spraying tomatoes against blight but instead cutting away leaves as soon as they showed signs of it. This is the approach I took and was really relieved that it seemed to work.
( …and looking at the pictures of his greenhouses….growbags with pots partially inserted into the top of the growbag.)
Last thought
On mad economics. The combined cost of the three magazines from WHS was £10.25. Each contains about 100 pages so around 300 pages in total ( % of which are ads) .
Also in my basket : Alan Titchmarsh ‘ The Kitchen Gardener ‘ . Hardback, illustrated book £ 6. It’s on offer in WHS at 70% off . I love books and magazines, it just strikes me as odd that page for page of actual information, books are so much cheaper.
