ON THE PLOT WITH THE 3 Mudketeers

WELCOME

Hands up if you always grow perfect veg. Me neither!

JOBS FOR THE MONTH

TASKS FOR YOUR VEGETABLE PATCH IN MAY BY MARTIN FISH

ON THE VEG PATCH

Sweetcorn plants grown from seed a month ago can be

IN THE GREENHOUSE

■ Plant cucumbers, sweetcorn and basil when nights

WHAT’S NEW?

ALL THE LATEST NEWS, PRODUCTS & FACTS FROM THE WORLD OF KITCHEN GARDENING

HAVE YOUR SAY

I read with interest the article on red ‘Kuri’ squash

KG PROBLEM SOLVER

You often read that ground should “not have been recently

GARDENING FOR WELLBEING

This month we feature the container category winners and another excellent entrant in our Passionate Plotter competition

Wacky produce competition

It’s time to have a chuckle at your fruit and veg growing efforts. We are launching two competitions, one for adults and one for children. So why not take part? You could win a super hamper of gardening goodies – and for children some growing kits, Town & Country boots and gloves!

DIARY DATES

VISIT A SHOW, TAKE A TOUR, ENROL ON A COURSE

DON’T EVEN GOJI THERE!

Some things really impress you and some things just don’t, as Sally Cunningham found with goji berries

NEXT MONTH

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE

The Kitchen Garden team make regular YouTube videos on growing techniques plus product reviews and fun ‘What’s in the Box’ features. Do log on to the Kitchen Garden magazine YouTube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/kitchengardenmagazine

GROWING ONLINE

WE DIG INTO THE WORLD WIDE WEB TO HARVEST GREAT WEBSITES

SUBSCRIBE TO Kitchen Garden

Delivered to your door before it goes on sale in the

ALLOTMENT ON THE HILL

After many years abroad, Jane Chitty and her husband came to settle in Somerset where they transformed an overgrown allotment into a harvester’s heaven

SALSIFY & SCORZONERA

Some vegetables may not be your first choice when it comes to prioritising what you grow but you could be missing out, says Tony Flanagan

INSTANT SAVERS

The new Aztec Gold 100% natural feeds promise you more

MAKE YOUR RUNNERS STUNNERS!

Visually stunning, heavy cropping and easy to maintain, the runner bean is one of those must-grow plants, says Rob Smith. Here he offers top tips for success and shares some of his favourite varieti

AMAZING ARONIAS

If you want an easy to grow, resilient and attractive berry that comes with a flavoursome kick, then grow aronias, says Sally Cunningham

PLUGGING THE GAP

Sowing seeds can be great fun, but there is an alternative that can produce super tasty crops with much less fuss. KG editor Steve Ott sings the praises of plug plants

PRESERVE YOUR VEG THROUGH FERMENTATION

There are various ways of preserving vegetables, but when Wendy Pillar stumbled on lactofermentation she was soon won over

BEST BLUEBERRIES

Professional nurseryman and fruit expert David Patch explains why you should grow this acid-loving soft fruit and how to get the most out of it

TOMATO VARIETIES – DO WE NEED SO MANY?

Simon Crawford, plant breeder and managing director of Burpee Europe, argues the case for new varieties of tomato and surveys the current tomato breeding landscape

PLOTTING WITH SHADY CHARACTERS

Most gardening advice recommends growing fruit and veg in a sunny position but many crops will tolerate some shade, as Benedict Vanheems explains

SPINACH

If you’re looking for a crop that has all-year-round availability, is rich in vitamin A and C and is relatively problem-free, you won’t go too far wrong with spinach, says Tony Flanagan

GROWING SMALL, EATING BIG

How do you get your fix of healthy, fresh veg when

FLOWERS FROM YOUR PATCH MARIGOLDS

In this series we look at flowers that complement the veg garden as edible blooms, cut flowers or by attracting pollinators

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS

If you don’t have a lot of space to grow vegetables there are various ways to increase your growing area and produce. Deputy editor Emma Rawlings offers a few suggestions

MAKING A HANGING BASKET

Your fruit and veg might be tasty but how about making it look good too? Joyce Russell shows you how with this simple-to-make rustic hanging basket

GARDEN STORE

OUR ROUNDUP OF THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR KITCHEN GARDENERS

PRODUCT REVIEWS NETTING

Leaving crops unprotected is a risky business. Fortunately, netting is an effective way of keeping predators out, but what kind of netting do you need? This month the KG team explored some different options

READER OFFERS

EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS TO HELP MAKE YOUR MONEY GO FURTHER

GIVEAWAYS

TO ENTER OUR GIVEAWAYS SEE PAGE 105 OR VISIT THE KG WEBSITE

MAY IS FOR MOUTHWATERING

More marvellous dishes this month with green beans, spring onions and watercress Anna Pettigrew’s featured vegetables