#497 Why do some seeds fail?
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Welcome to our latest gardening update, where we share the latest news and insights from our garden and allotment. In this episode, we'll cover a range of topics, from tidying up after strong winds to sowing a variety of vegetables and maintaining our allotments. We'll also explore some common reasons why seeds fail and what we can do to improve our success rate. Plus, we'll wrap up with a delicious recipe using fresh rhubarb. So, let's get started!
Garden Update:
After a bout of strong winds earlier this week, we had quite a mess to clean up in our gardens. Fallen branches, twigs, and debris were scattered all over the place, and it took us a good few hours to clear them all up. We also had to straighten some of our plants that had been blown over and tie them up for support. It's important to keep an eye on the weather and take action to protect our plants from damage whenever possible.
We also set up a vertical garden wall on our balcony, using some wooden pallets, lining them with landscaping fabric, and filling them with soil and a variety of plants, including herbs, lettuces, and flowers. It's a great way to add some greenery to our urban environment and enjoy fresh produce right at our doorstep.
We harvested some rhubarb from our forced rhubarb plants, which have been growing under cover for the past few months. The forced rhubarb is much sweeter and more tender than the open-grown rhubarb, and makes for delicious desserts and jams. We've also tried using it in savory dishes, like stir-fries and stews, and it adds a nice tangy flavor. If you haven't tried forced rhubarb yet, we highly recommend it.
Why Seeds Fail:
Sowing seeds can be a hit or miss affair, and it's not uncommon to experience failures along the way. Some common reasons why seeds fail include poor soil quality, incorrect planting depth, insufficient watering, pest and disease problems, and unfavorable weather conditions. To improve your success rate, it's important to choose the right seeds for your location and growing conditions, prepare your soil properly, plant at the right time and depth, water consistently and adequately, monitor for pests and diseases, and protect your seedlings from harsh weather.
Allotment Update:
We've been busy sowing a variety of vegetables in our allotments, including radishes, parsnips, cabbages, turnips, courgettes, French and runner beans, and a variety of herbs. To maintain our allotments, we've been cutting grass to use as mulch, which helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. We've also been weeding regularly, using a hoe to cultivate the soil and remove any weed seedlings. These simple tasks can make a big difference in the health and productivity of our plants, and are well worth the effort.
Outro and Recipe:
We hope you enjoyed this gardening update and found some useful tips and insights to apply to your own gardening adventures. As promised, we also have a delicious recipe to share with you, using the rhubarb we harvested earlier. Here's how to make stewed rhubarb:
Ingredients:
- 500g rhubarb, trimmed and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 100g sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions:
- In a large saucepan, combine the rhubarb, sugar, and cinnamon stick (if using).
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb starts to break down and release its juices, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract (if using).
- Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use.
This stewed rhubarb is a versatile topping for desserts, breakfast dishes, or even as a sweet and tangy condiment for savoury dishes. Enjoy!
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