Kitchen Garden

Kitchen Garden Magazine - UK's No.1 for growing your own fruit and vegetables. KG also offers great monthly give-aways, special gardening offers, recipes, growing tips and much more.

Welcome

TOP JOBS FOR MAY • Stephanie Hafferty says things are really getting busy on the plot and offers tips on hoeing, blackfly, and frosts

UNDER COVER

WHAT'S NEW? • ALL THE LATEST NEWS, PRODUCTS & FACTS FROM THE WORLD OF KITCHEN GARDENING

HAVE YOUR SAY • SEND US YOUR LETTERS AND TIPS: KG.ED@KELSEY.CO.UK

Kitchen Garden

QUESTION TIME • GOT A FRUIT OR VEG PROBLEM? ASK KG FOR HELP

FAST FOOD! • Let's get back to basics with the most obliging (and occasionally ridiculous) plants in the veg patch: courgettes and summer squash. Benedict Vanheems offers easy growing tips

OUR TOP PLOTTERS • Last summer we launched a competition to find our Top Plotters, with the top three winning some great prizes and all being featured in Kitchen Garden magazine this year. Here we meet one of our runners-up…

RUNNER BEANS GO BEYOND RED & GREEN • Rob Smith introduces two lesser-know varieties that offer colour, character and a different take on a traditional favourite

CELERY & CELERIAC – WORTH A SECOND LOOK • Martin Fish shows how to grow celery and celeriac with simple, reliable methods from seed to harvest

PLANTS FOR PREDATORS • Dr Anton Rosenfeld of Garden Organic explains why predators matter and the plants needed to help bring them to your garden

Leggy seedlings • Warmth, low light and a bit too much kindness can all lead to leggy seedlings at this time of year. They stretch, weaken and topple just when you want them to be building strength. The good news is they're rarely a lost cause - and a few simple adjustments will get them back on track

How everything can have a use • This month Stephanie Hafferty is exploring permaculture principle five - putting what we've already got to hand to use on the plot

SOIL BLOCKS: POT-FREE SOWING FOR STRONGER SEEDLINGS • Helen Babbs looks at how to make potting compost sit up by itself, and why this is great for your seedlings

THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY GUIDE TO SHOWING CHOOSING THE BEST VARIETIES FOR THE SHOW BENCH • Chris Spree FNVS, an NVS judge and exhibitor, explains how choosing the right varieties can give you an edge on the show bench

TRAINING SOFT FRUIT • David Patch explains how to prune gooseberries and train berry canes for healthier plants, better airflow and easier harvesting

STRAWBERRIES WITH FLAVOUR • Enjoy sweet, flavour-packed crops with these high-quality, cold-stored strawberry plants from Pomona Fruits, selected for taste, yield and reliability

ON THE PLOT THAT PROVED THEM WRONG • Two decades on from a sceptical start, Carolyn Goodliff has transformed a neglected plot into a productive, beautiful space – and built a community around it

GIVE AWAYS • TO ENTER OUR GIVEAWAYS SEE PAGE 67 OR VISIT THE KG WEBSITE

GARDEN STORE PLUS SUBSCRIBER SAVERS • Are you a subscriber to Kitchen Garden magazine? Then visit mudketeers.co.uk for details of how you can take advantage of the exclusive subscriber-only deals on these pages!

THE RIGHT STUFF • Becky Searle explains how choosing the right mulch for your soil type can transform structure, moisture retention and long-term fertility, helping you get better results for much less effort

HELPFUL HAND CREAMS • Which hand creams really work best for the gardener?

READER OFFERS • EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS TO HELP MAKE YOUR MONEY GO FURTHER

PICK, TEAR, EAT • Anna Cairns Pettigrew cuts what's ready, using leaves, herbs and new potatoes to create quick, generous and tasty plates

MAY DAYS DELIGHT • As April gives way...