Tag: vegetable garden

How to Choose Which Chilli Plants to Grow

Chilli plants add a vibrant pop of colour to your garden while delivering a fiery kick to your recipes. The best part? There’s a variety for every gardener, from mild and sweet to tongue-tingling hot.

Understanding Growing Conditions for Chillies

Chilli plants thrive in warm climates, making them a fantastic choice for greenhouses, warm windowsills or sunny patios. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

  • Temperature: Chillies prefer a warm environment, ideally between 18-30°C (64-86°F).
  • Sunlight: Chilli plants need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. A sunny windowsill, greenhouse or polytunnel is perfect.
  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but well-drained. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot.
  • Fertiliser: Use a potassium-rich fertiliser during the flowering stage to encourage fruit development.

Popular Chilli Varieties to Grow

1. Scotch Bonnet

  • Heat level: Very hot (100,000–350,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Fruity, tropical
  • Best for: Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken or spicy salsas
  • Growing note: This heat-loving variety flourishes in greenhouses or containers. Ensure consistent warmth and watch it thrive.

2. Habanero

  • Heat level: Extremely hot (100,000–350,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Sweet, citrusy
  • Best for: Homemade hot sauces, marinades or chutneys
  • Growing note: Similar to Scotch Bonnets, Habaneros prefer warm, sheltered growing spots. Ideal for greenhouse cultivation.

3. Cayenne

  • Heat level: Medium-hot (30,000–50,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Tangy, earthy
  • Best for: Drying into spices or adding to soups and stews
  • Growing note: A versatile chilli that’s easy to grow in pots or directly in the garden. Perfect for beginners.

4. Jalapeño

  • Heat level: Mild to medium (2,500–8,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Crisp, slightly sweet
  • Best for: Pizzas, nachos or pickles
  • Growing note: Jalapeños are highly adaptable.

5. Hungarian Hot Wax

  • Heat level: Mild to medium-hot (5,000–10,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Sweet, tangy
  • Best for: Stuffing, roasting, or grilling
  • Growing note: A fantastic option for cooler climates. It’s quick to mature and perfect for outdoor or container growing.

6. Cherry Bomb

  • Heat level: Mild to medium (2,500–5,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Sweet, juicy
  • Best for: Pickling or adding to salads
  • Growing note: Compact and productive, these are great for small spaces.

7. Fire Basket

  • Heat level: Medium (15,000–30,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Spicy, smoky
  • Best for: Garnishing dishes or creating spicy oils
  • Growing note: A decorative chilli perfect for hanging baskets and small pots.

8. Prairie Fire

  • Heat level: Medium-hot (70,000–80,000 SHU)
  • Flavor: Sharp, fiery
  • Best for: Adding serious spice to stir-fries and curries
  • Growing note: Compact and ornamental, this variety thrives in small containers. Perfect for brightening up a windowsill.

Tips for Choosing the Right Chilli Variety

  • Taste preferences: Do you love fiery dishes, or prefer milder flavors? Choose your variety based on your tolerance for spice.
  • Space available: If you have limited space, opt for compact varieties like Fire Basket or Prairie Fire.
  • Cooking uses: Match the variety to how you’ll use them in the kitchen—mild Jalapeños for nachos or hot Scotch Bonnets for sauces.
  • Growing experience: Beginners should start with easier-to-grow options like Cayenne or Hungarian Hot Wax before trying more demanding varieties like Habanero.

Bring the Heat to Your Garden

Chillies are an exciting to grow, whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned green thumb. With so many varieties to choose from, you can select the perfect plants to match your space, taste and culinary aspirations.

Once you harvest your chillies, experiment with pickling, freezing, or drying them to enjoy the fruits of your labor year-round. Happy growing!

Further Reading: The Fiery World of Chillies What Gives Them Their Kick, Chilli Plant Care from Sowing Seeds to Overwintering , How to Preserve Chillies and Extend their Shelf Life

How to Direct Sow Seeds for a Thriving Garden

Direct sowing is a low-cost and rewarding technique for planting seeds directly into the soil, skipping the indoor growing stage. If you’re a gardening enthusiast or looking for sustainable, natural ways to cultivate your own greens, this method is perfect for you. It’s simple, eco-friendly, and brings you closer to nature—no fancy equipment necessary.

Here’s everything you need to know about direct sowing, from prepping your soil to thinning out seedlings for a healthier, bountiful garden.

What is Direct Sowing?

Direct sowing is the practice of planting seeds straight into your garden or outdoor soil, right where you want them to grow. It’s ideal for plants with hardy seeds or those that don’t like being disturbed, such as carrots, beans, radishes and sunflowers. This method relies on nurturing seeds naturally in their environment, which means no transplant shock and often quicker establishment.

Not only does direct sowing make gardening accessible to beginners, but it’s also a budget-friendly, sustainable choice since it avoids plastic trays, pots or excessive supplies.

How to Direct Sow Successfully

Gardening with direct sowing does require some planning and proper techniques to achieve the best results. Follow these steps to set yourself up for success:

1. Soil Preparation

Healthy soil is the foundation of any growing process—but it’s particularly crucial for direct sowing. Follow these steps to prepare your soil:

  • Clear the Area: Remove weeds, debris and large rocks from the chosen planting area. Weeds can compete with your seedlings for water and nutrients.
  • Loosen the Soil: Use a hoe, rake or gardening fork to cultivate the soil to a depth of 6-12 inches. Loosening improves aeration and makes it easier for young roots to establish.
  • Amend the Soil: Mix in compost or organic matter to enrich the soil with nutrients. Many seeds thrive in well-drained, nutrient-rich substrates.

Tip: Avoid compacted soil—seeds germinate poorly in dense, hard soil.

2. Seed Spacing

Proper seed spacing is vital to avoid overcrowded plants, as spacing ensures healthy growth and allows airflow. Always check the seed packet or label for specific spacing recommendations as different plants have unique requirements.

  • Make Furrows or Holes: Use a stick or your finger to create planting furrows or small holes at the recommended depth.
  • Plant Sparingly: Don’t scatter seeds randomly; place seeds deliberately based on the spacing suggested. It often helps to use a ruler or a string as a guide.

If you’re after neat rows, draw straight planting lines across your soil bed before sowing.

3. Watering & Caring for Seeds

Once your seeds are planted, water them gently to ensure they’re in good contact with the soil. Use a watering can with a soft spray attachment to prevent displacing the seeds. Keep the soil consistently moist—but not waterlogged—through the germination period.

A layer of mulch or straw can be added to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, but ensure it doesn’t smother the seeds.

4. Thinning Seeds

After germination, you may notice clumps of tiny seedlings popping up in your soil. Thinning is the process of removing overcrowded seedlings so the healthiest ones have room to thrive. Overcrowding leads to weak, spindly plants that don’t flourish.

  • Use small scissors to snip off extra seedlings at their base. Avoid pulling them out—you risk disturbing your remaining plants’ roots.
  • Maintain the strongest seedlings based on the recommended spacing guidelines. Give them room to stretch and spread out.

Common Challenges to Address

While direct sowing is incredibly rewarding, you may encounter a few common issues:

  • Pests: Birds and insects love feasting on seeds. Use fine netting or plant covers to protect them during early stages.
  • Weather: Sudden frost or excessive rainfall can be tough on seeds. Plan your sowing around optimal weather conditions for the plant variety.

Why Choose Direct Sowing?

Direct sowing is more than just a gardening method—it’s a step towards sustainability. By growing food and plants directly in your garden, you save on waste, avoid unnecessary packaging, and support the natural lifecycle of your local ecosystem. You also learn to work in harmony with your environment, fostering a deeper connection to the earth.

Even if you’re new to gardening, direct sowing is a rewarding way to get started without feeling overwhelmed. With time, you’ll develop a knack for knowing your soil, weather, and plant needs.

Final Thoughts

Direct sowing is a straightforward, hands-on gardening method that lets you cultivate vibrant, healthy gardens with minimal tools. From soil prep to thinning, following these steps will give your seeds the best chance to thrive.

Take a deep breath, dig in and enjoy the process of nurturing life from seed to harvest. Nothing tastes better than food grown by your own hands!

Further Reading: Why Choose Sow It Grow It and Feast, How to create a Foragers’ Garden

Skirret – The Forgotten Vegetable – Herbaceous Perennial

Sium sisarum   – Skirret  Other common names: crummock, jellico

Skirret, a starchy root vegetable that belongs to the carrot family, was once a popular crop in Europe during Roman times. The Emperor Tiberius was particularly fond of it, and even demanded it as a tribute from the Germans.  It was the main root crop eaten in Europe before the potato was introduced. Skirret has a unique taste between a carrot and parsnip and can be found in sweet and savoury dishes. The name “skirret” is derived from a Germanic origin meaning “sugar root”.   However, despite its popularity in the past, skirret has faded from gardens and tables over time.

Skirret is a vegetable that is quite easy to grow once you know how. Unlike most of its relatives, it is a perennial plant that produces a bunch of roots, making it easy to lift and replant. Skirret can be grown from seed and produces a single “crown” consisting of several shoot buds around the base of a stem, with a cluster of roots attached. To form a clump made from several crowns, a crown can be divided easily. However, some of the roots in a cluster are not worth picking, so it’s best to dig up the clump, snip off the roots that are worth having, and replant.

Skirret roots can sometimes have a woody core that can’t be softened even after prolonged cooking. This issue is more common in young plants but may disappear as they grow older. It can also be caused by insufficient water during the growing period. Alternatively, it may be due to genetic factors that vary from plant to plant.

Another yield from skirret is the immature flower stems, which have a nice carroty taste when boiled or steamed. They are fairly substantial and produced in reasonable volume, but they are fast-growing and soon harden off, so if you want more than a brief harvest you will have to freeze some.

Skirret can be grown from crowns, but it’s not easy to obtain them. You either have to spend a lot of money or start from seed. Skirret is not easy to grow from seed because it needs a period of winter cold to germinate. If you’re planning to grow Skirret from seed, make sure you source current-year seed in the autumn and stratify it right away. The seed loses viability quickly, like many plants in the Apiaceae family.