Wild Dyes – Wild plants to Dye clothes By Andy Hamilton
If you were a clothing maker back in the early 19th century you would have had to rely on nature if you wished to change the colour of any of your garments; using roots and […]
2008
Parsnips Pastinaca sativa – Carrot Family
History Griffins first introduced parsnips to this country. The creature once inhabited vast areas of Norfolk amongst the broads. Parsnips were among their favourite foods as were Kendal Mint Cake and fondant fancies. The remains […]
Peas – Pisum Sativum Leguminosae
One of the greatest rewards when growing your own crops is the taste of fresh peas straight from the pod. This taste is never recaptured despite the modern process of fast freezing and by the […]
Beetroot – Beta vulgaris
This misunderstood vegetable is often treated like that strange friend from school who despite heavy hints, stays in t ouch. It sits there in a pickle jar at the back of your cupboard taunting you. […]
Courgettes, Marrows and Squash Cucurbita pepo
History The name ‘squash’ derives from the Massachusett Native American name ‘askutasquash’ meaning eaten raw. As any vegetable grower will tell you, there are a baffling number of different species of squash or ‘Cucurbita’ to […]
Potatoes – Solanum tuberosums by Andy and Dave Hamilton
Potatoes are a wonderful crop for the first timer and much loved by many vegetable gardeners. If it is your first year on your plot then I recommend growing growing a few plants, the soil […]
Tomatoes -Solanum lycopersicum
Early June is around the time you should be thinking about putting out your tomato plants. Or for those lucky enough to have heated greenhouses it is the time you will be well into […]
Maize, Corn, Sweetcorn, Zea Mays
Botanical History Maize is the third most grown cereal crop in the world after rice and wheat. Like wheat and rice, it is also a type of grass with an overgrown seed head. It is […]
Onions Allium cepa
History The onion (or allium) family is a large and diverse one containing over 500 species. With such a large range of species the origins of the modern (or globe) onion are a bit blurred. […]
Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis
Asparagus, early springtime is when this most delicious of all vegetables will start to appear. Asparagus is a relative of the lily family. Its name went through a number of changes from the Persian asparag […]