Kitchen Garden - August 2017
YOU YOUR PLOT
6 ON THE VEG PATCH
Feed peppers, pick runner beans, lettuce and
apples, watch for blight, sow spring cabbage,
plant kale and baby leeks
10 IN THE GREENHOUSE
Plant potatoes in sacks, control red spider
mites, harvest aubergines and tomatoes
12 WHAT’S NEW?
The latest news, comment and advice from
the world of kitchen gardening
14 YOUR LETTERS AND TIPS
Learn what other KG readers have
been up to and pick up some great
first-hand advice
20 QUESTION TIME
Our panel of leading experts from the
gardening industry answer your gardening
queries and conundrums
50 BRITAIN’S MOST
PASSIONATE PLOTTERS
Enter our 2017 competition and
you could grab a share of our great
package of prizes
83 NEXT MONTH
Some of the highlights to be found in your
September issue plus news of great free gifts
90 DIARY DATES
Plus giveaway entry coupon and details of
seed and young plant suppliers
98 LAST WORD
Deputy editor Emma Rawlings detects
something sinister underlying the village show
GET GROWING
16 ON THE PLOT WITH THE
THREE MUDKETEERS
Excitement as the KG team anticipate crops
to come from some interesting new varieties
22 GROWING ONLINE
The latest news from the world of online
gardening
26 FLOURISHING AT FLOORS
Garden writer Gaby Bartai travels to the
Victorian walled garden at Floors Castle on
the Scottish Borders to see how it is being
reinvented for the 21st century
32 GROWING GLORIOUS GRAINS
Grains are very much ‘on trend’ these days
for their health benefits and you can grow
them too, as Sally Cunningham explains
36 CABBAGES WITH CLASS
KGregular Rob Smith explains why we
should all grow more of this staple veg and
brings you his list of favourite varieties for
year-round harvests
39 EAT YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Nutrition expert Susie Kearley reveals why
you must eat your greens and offers a simple
recipe for doing just that
40 QUENCH WITHOUT THE DRENCH
Ben Vanheems explores some simple ways to
conserve water on the veg patch this summer
44 WAR ON WEEDS
Weeds are probably responsible for many new
plot holders giving up but, as Julie Moore
explains, they can be seen as an opportunity...
48 AT A GLANCE – CARAWAY
KG editor Steve Ott explains how to get the
best from your free herb seeds this month
56 TAKE THE WORK OUT OF WATERING
Staff writer Tony Flanagan takes a look at
some of the options that can ease the burden
61 IT’S SHOW TIME!
Top tips and advice to help you win that
coveted red card!
64 MAKE A FRUIT CAGE
Practical gardener Martin Fish has a plan to
help you protect your soft fruit this season
68 ORGANIC PEST CONTROL –
STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD
Organic gardening expert Mike Hedges offers
advice on non-chemical pest controls
72 LOVE FOR THE SOIL
Composting expert Andrew Davenport takes
us on a tour of his productive plot
76 MAKE A BED FOR ACID-LOVING PLANTS
Joyce Russell offers advice to help you grow
blueberries and other lime haters
WHAT TO BUY
24 SUBSCRIBE TO KG
...and make savings of up to 40%!
79 GARDEN STORE
More great new products on the market for
kitchen gardeners
80 TRIED AND TESTED
– POCKET KNIVES
The KG team put some gardening knives to
the test
84 READER OFFERS
Claim your free* rhubarb ‘Poulton’s Pride’
plants (*just pay p&p), plus save on brassica
collections, lingonberries, gooseberries
and blueberries
86 GREAT GIVEAWAYS
WORTH OVER £1665
This month you could win a lawnmower,
planters, plant supports, pressure washers,
gardening clothing and delightful
garden-themed crockery
88 INSTANT SAVERS
This month you can save at least 10%, and
in one instance more than 30%, on leading
gardening goodies including composters,
plant protection and tools