Page 9 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2022

Pouches on fence
Strawberries on tiered shelves
Raised troughs
Pots on shelving
Container growing
vegetables over a longer period. Even in July it is not too late to sow a range of crops to harvest from late September through
to next April a time when there is less available and at a higher price. Food prices are likely to stay high for a while now so getting more people to grow their own is good for them, the environment, and the climate; it should also help to reduce the amount of food we import.
should be able to grow some of your food. If you have greenhouses, polytunnels,
conservatories, cold frames or other protected environments make use of these over winter to keep crops growing, some will be harvestable during the winter, but most will be ready early in the spring. It is also worth making use of windowsills to grow micro-greens, sprouting seeds etc. which are very healthy foods. As the crops are used, they can be resown to keep up the supply.
In this magazine apart from my rants Gerry Edwards anticipated that I was thinking of writing an article on summer fruit pruning and very kindly wrote it for me, this topic can appear complicated, but Gerry has given an easy-to-follow guide. Emily Plumb continues her series on Its Sow Simple giving an update on what they are growing this year. As usual they have been busy in Jersey this time with their Fun Carrot competition, is this something more D. A’s could try to involve both children and parents? Graeme also updates us on his early Jersey Royal potatoes for Easter. Ron Nuttall gives an outline of his summer
Both as individuals and as a country
we need to become more self-sufficient
in producing our fruit and vegetables
and your aim if you have an allotment
or large garden should be 100% home grown. Professor Tim Lang from one of the London Universities was on Radio 4 recently and said we import 46% of our food; this is not very good, and we need to be growing up to 60% which will make us less dependent on other countries. The crisis in Ukraine shows how reliant we are on importing and the affect it can have on our food supplies. This also means we are not at the mercy of dictators, energy crisis, food shortages (which will get worse as climate change progresses)
or other emergency’s that
can occur whatever the
cause. Climate change is
likely to have a bigger effect
on food production in the
future as its effects get
worse.
As a quick reference
guide for vegetables that
can be sown from July onwards, see the table of vegetables suitable for late sowing on page 43 of July 2021 Simply Vegetables.
If you are short of space look at vertical growing which is becoming much more widely used commercially, using lights some vegetables can be produced underground, in large warehouses, or any other available building. Consider whether you can make use of wall or fence space, the patio area, along your drive etc.
Container growing is trendy these days and a surprising number of vegetables can be grown in various sized containers which can be placed anywhere on your property. The bigger the container the larger the types of vegetables can be grown and although you may not be self-sufficient you
and getting ready for the showing season. Derek Brooks sets out the work
to do during the summer months to keep your garden and allotment productive into the autumn and winter.
Fiona Shenfield has done an article on progress in the trials being carried out
by members on behalf of our partners Marshalls seeds, so far things seem to
be going well. Hopefully, we will have an update in the October magazine on how the crops produced. We should also have one on the seeds supplied by D.T. Brown. Fiona has also produced another What’s On which I hope members find useful and use to attend talks and shows. Another trustee who is keeping very busy is Norman Dickinson who has produced a spot the difference competition.
Tony Brunckett’s has sent in article on the trials he carried out last year on peat and peat free growing media. I have to say I try various brands and have yet to find a good consistent peat free compost, hopefully one will come out soon.
If you are short of space look at vertical growing
Michael Gordon has written an interesting article on Wood Carving
which is well worth a read and could be
a class that could attract a different type
of exhibitor and visitor to shows, worth a thought! Finally, Roger Clements has been busy writing letters and fills the letters page on his own covering various topics. I would be very pleased to receive letters from other members on any topic of interest
to vegetable growers or have a rant on something that irritates you; it will make
a change from my rants! That completes my comments for this issue, I hope the growing season goes well for you and
you win many prizes in the summer and autumn shows. Please keep the articles coming in, the deadline for the next issue is the 5th August 2022.
Simply Vegetables 9