Abylene Chalmers

One of the most common questions I get when people are starting (or reworking) their gardens is “Should I do raised beds, or plant straight into the ground?” And my answer is almost always… both . There’s no single “right” way to garden. There is  a right way for the space you’re working with, the stage of life you’re in, and how you actually want to use your garden day to day. And when it comes to this question, over the years, and across very different properties, I’ve learned that raised...

My early potatoes - which I planted in August - have been growing beautifully throughout spring, and now they are well and truly ready for harvesting just in time for Christmas. However once these beauties are pulled I will be left with an empty garden, which is something I don't like to have, as soil is at its healthiest when it is covered with life. Luckily the potatoes will leave the ground loose and friable, which is an absolute blessing for the beans I will plant straight after the spuds...

OK, so this might be a point of contention with many gardeners I talk to, but I don’t like, use, or agree with fancy irrigation systems. In my mind, they’re one of the main reasons so many gardens fail, and why so many gardeners become disconnected from what they’re actually trying to grow. I know, I know - some of you are probably wondering in disbelief how on earth it’s possible to maintain a thriving garden without drip feeders, built-in timers, or soak hoses. Aren’t those things...