These Reading chefs from L'Ortolan are making us seriously hungry with their tweets

Head chef Tom Clarke and development chef Mark Apsey are making us drool with their amazing posts

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/reading-chefs-lortolan-making-seriously-11950350

When is Halloween 2016? Your guide to when the ghosts come out to play

All you need to know about this year's event and how it all began

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/when-is-halloween-2016-ghosts-10062137

New German bar and restaurant to open in Reading

Bierhaus will be opening in Reading town centre next to the Broad street Mall

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/new-german-bar-restaurant-reading-11953934

Foreign investment creates thousands of jobs in Thames Valley

More than 1,700 jobs have been created as a result of investment from abroad

from getreading - Business http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/business/foreign-investment-creates-thousands-jobs-11922701

Reading traffic: Crash in Forbury Road and congestion building

All your traffic and travel information on Wednesday, September 28

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-traffic-crash-forbury-road-11952438

13 of the best coffee shops in Reading to fulfil your caffeine fix

Attention latte lovers, espresso enthusiasts and just plain coffee addicts - get your cup of joe at one of these great places

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/12-best-coffee-shops-reading-11324332

Berkshire cancer patients with urgent referrals wait more than nine weeks for treatment

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has not hit its cancer referral target since 2014

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshire-cancer-patients-urgent-referrals-11940877

Reading councillors outraged by 'ridiculous' Government ultimatum

The Government says the cash-strapped council must provide a four-year financial plan by Friday, October 14 to avoid being hit by further budget cuts

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-councillors-outraged-ridiculous-government-11942702

Rivermead Ale and Cider Festival in Reading makes its debut

Take a look at some of the highlights from the first festival at the weekend

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/rivermead-ale-cider-festival-reading-11944692

Reading Wetherspoons axe traditional Christmas dinner for festive burgers

Traditional Christmas dinner is no more as the food chain announces it has axed its roast turkey

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/berkshire-wetherspoons-axe-traditional-christmas-11942959

Nine amazing family events happening at Henley Literary Festival this weekend

Take a look at what you could be getting up to with the little ones with our family and kids round up

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/nine-amazing-family-events-happening-11929433

Cheese and wine tasting class in Reading and more things to do this weekend

Take a look at what you could be getting up to this weekend with our round up

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/cheese-wine-tasting-class-reading-11929424

Wokingham family fights carbon monoxide poisoning with new video showing symptoms

The Katie Haines Foundation, launched by the family of a Wokingham woman who died from gas poisoning in 2010, has released an animated video

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-symptoms-alarm-11927175

Wokingham special school pupils miss out on a month of education during unplanned closure

Southfield School will not be open until "a phased return of students" begins in October

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-special-school-southfields-closed-11923452

Fireworks and Bonfire Night displays in Berkshire 2016

Find out where you can attend a bonfire night and fireworks display in Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham in 2016

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/fireworks-bonfire-night-displays-berkshire-7826160

What you really need to know about evergreen hedges for privacy

There are many good reasons for choosing hedges for privacy.

Evergreen hedges provide food and shelter for wildlife all year round. Like trees, they’re good for the environment generally, because they improve air quality.

And if you want privacy, there are often different regulations covering fences and hedges. Hedges can usually be higher.

How to avoid mistakes when choosing a hedge for privacy

I asked Daniel Bentham of Best4Hedging hedge specialists about the mistakes people make when choosing hedges for privacy.

‘People forget to check the rate of growth of a hedge before they buy,’ he said. ‘So they choose something very slow-growing like yew when they want privacy fast. Or they choose something fast-growing like a Leylandii when they only want to clip once a year.’

The next biggest mistake, he says, is to forget that a new hedge needs extra nutrition while it’s establishing itself.

‘While the majority of people understand that a new hedge needs regular watering, many don’t realise that they’ll benefit enormously from being fed. We recommend a mix of three feeds: Rootgrow (affiliate link), bonemeal and Afterplant.’ Rootgrow has beneficial mycrorrhizal fungus to help roots get established, bonemeal feeds the young hedge and Afterplant is a top dressing with responsibly sourced seaweed.’

1) Privet is coming back into fashion

Privet (ligustrum) has a somewhat suburban reputation, but I am beginning to hear people talking about it in a design context. It’s certainly one of the best hedges for privacy as it’s evergreen and grows fast, but never gets too high.

Garden consultant Posy Gentles considers it a top hedging choice because it clips into neat shapes like box. It doesn’t have the problems with box blight and box moth that box currently has and it grows faster. It’s a good choice if you want a hedge up to 8ft (around 2.5m).

However, Daniel Bentham warns that privet can suffer in harsh winters.

2) Portuguese Laurel

Daniel’s top recommendation for a hedge for privacy is Portuguese Laurel, which has glossy dark green leaves and red stems.

Portuguese laurel from Best4Hedging

We had a Portuguese Laurel hedge all round my childhood home in Surrey. It withstood droughts, bad winters and torrential rain. It grew quickly and easily. My mother simply planted sticks of it in the ground.

The trunk of a Portuguese Laurel at Great Dixter with euphorbia around the base. Like my parents’ hedging, it has got a little out of control.

However, it did get really big. My father had a strange aversion to pruning, so we eventually had a forest around us. You could easily avoid this by pruning regularly.

Griselinia

Daniel also recommends Griselinia (known as New Zealand privet), because it is particularly well-behaved. ‘It’s a lush green evergreen, which is completely non-toxic. Its roots are very unlikely to cause any problems with walls or paving.’

Griselinia leaves from Best4Hedging.

Griselinia is a paler green than privet, which not everybody likes.

Here’s a griselinia hedge at The Salutation garden in Kent. There is lush planting on the other side of it.

Viburnum tinus.

Daniel’s third recommendation is Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’, which has pink buds in winter and lovely white flowers in spring.

Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’ from Best4Hedging.

I’ve found viburnums are generally a good height for privacy or to cover an eyesore. Not all are evergreen, however.

This Viburnum opulus grows over a wall in Faversham, Kent to make a garden less over-looked by its neighbours.

Bamboo

Bamboo can create an excellent evergreen hedge for privacy. However, you have to be careful about your choice of bamboo. I asked Bruce Jordan of The Big Plant Nursery for his advice on using bamboo for garden privacy.

Fargesia robusta from The Big Plant Nursery.

‘Bamboo can be really good as a hedge, but some bamboos can be invasive. They need a root barrier.’ Other bamboos, however, he says, do not have invasive roots. He recommends Fargesia robusta as a bamboo type which won’t need a root barrier and is suitable for town gardens. It usually grows to between 3m-4m, depending on which variety you choose.

If you live in England, bamboo is not covered by the High Hedges Act so there’s no legal restriction on how high it can be when used as a hedge.

Hornbeam

A friend of mine used to work as a Parks Superintendent for a local council. He says that high hedges cause more trouble between neighbours than almost any other issue. He used to get calls complaining about hedges every day.

He recommends espaliered or pleached hornbeam if you want privacy in your garden. It isn’t evergreen and is therefore exempt from the High Hedges Act. But it does hold some leaves in the winter, so it’s a good compromise.

Hornbeam also has good resistance to disease. For example, we have honey fungus in our garden, so that could be important.

This pleached hornbeam is awaiting a trim. It makes a space-saving option for privacy.

How high can your hedges for privacy be?

This post covers the law on English hedges, but it will give you ideas on what issues you need to look up locally. And, wherever you live, individual houses or areas may have covenants or local regulations that over-ride national laws. Check your Deeds and local rules.

Since the High Hedges Act 2008, a ‘high hedge’ is a hedge more than two metres high. That’s 6ft 5″.

A hedge, legally, is three trees or more in a row. The High Hedges Act only applies to evergreen hedges, so if the leaves of your hedge fall off in winter, then your neighbour can’t complain.

Your hedge can be higher than two metres provided it doesn’t block too much light from your neighbour’s garden or home. There are no restrictions on deciduous hedges, ivy or bamboo.

This shows that an ivy hedge can be clipped to look smart. You can grow an ivy hedge higher than this.

In 2008 The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister released a very finely-tuned calculation on how high a hedge should be. Find it here.

Even if you don’t live in England, it has useful calculations if you’re trying to decide what is fair and reasonable.

Essentially, the calculation divides the square footage of your neighbour’s garden by the length of your hedge.

Then there’s an additional step to take into account which way the hedge faces. A hedge on your southern boundary affects your light more than one on your northern boundary, for example. There’s also an extra calculation if the hedge affects any windows.

You could be allowed three or four metres of hedge before a council would consider it too high.

In England, you need planning permission for a fence higher than two metres in your back garden. So a hedge may be a better option because it can often be higher. Here’s a post with more about fences for privacy.

You’re also allowed individual trees of any height. Sometimes that’s all you need to create an area of privacy in your garden. There’s more about the best perfect-for-privacy trees here.

I spotted this planting in a French village. A low evergreen hedge is topped with a line of pleached limes, which are deciduous.

Let me know what hedges you recommend, and do share this using the buttons below – thank you!

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The post What you really need to know about evergreen hedges for privacy appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/what-you-really-need-to-know-about-hedges-for-privacy/

Middle lane hoggers: what you have been saying about the ignorant offenders

getreading readers have been offering their opinions on the offence and the offenders

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/middle-lane-hoggers-what-you-11935390

Are bee-killing giant hornets on their way to Berkshire?

An Asian hornet has been discovered in Britain for the first time

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/giant-bee-killing-hornet-berkshire-11931621

Berkshire food festival and Reading farmers' market to be held for British Food Fortnight

Take a look at the two events Reading will be hosting as part of the two week foodie celebration

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/farmers-market-food-festival-reading-11928709

Take a look inside Kings Meadow swimming baths as it undergoes a stunning revamp

See behind the scenes of the work to bring the historic swimming baths back to life

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/kings-meadow-swimming-baths-redevelopment-11931517

Women's Sport Week returns to Berkshire to get ladies active with free dancing, running, lifting and more

Take a look at some of the events taking place in Berkshire throughout the week in October

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/womens-sport-week-returns-berkshire-11924195

‘Yellow Ruffled’ tomato

‘Yellow Ruffled’ is a thick-fleshed yellow heritage tomato perfect for roasting.

I’m so pleased with my tomato crop this year. Especially these ‘Yellow Ruffled’ heritage tomatoes, which are so thick-fleshed and dry that they are perfect for roasting.

These plants have cropped well: I’ve had about ten tomatoes from one bush, which is very good given their size. And they are sweet to taste as well, just a little too dry to be worth including in salads when they are so much better as cookers.

I love slow-roasted tomatoes enough to make it worth using all of these for that purpose, but I do quite fancy the idea of a yellow tomato soup or pasta dish, too, just to impress guests.

But I will roast most of them – don’t forget to follow my slow-roasted tomato recipe.

If you want to learn how to grow tomatoes, read the Good Growing Guide: simple, easy growing advice on a postcard.

from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/09/24/yellow-ruffled-tomato/

Could you help find a new home for cuddly Lurcher Flash?

The one-year-old dog was found injured wandering on the streets

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/could-you-help-find-new-11914596

Berkshire schools missing out on thousands as parents fail to apply for pupil premium

Primary schools receive £1,320 per child if parents make sure they register for the government funding

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshire-schools-missing-out-thousands-11921184

National Trust sites within an hour drive of Reading

Take a look at our list of National Trust sites that are within an hour's drive of Reading

from getreading - What's On http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/national-trust-sites-within-hours-9436339

Watch: Thames Valley Police out to educate middle lane hoggers

According to research conducted by Confused.com nearly 40 per cent of drivers do not know middle lane hogging is an offence

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/watch-thames-valley-police-out-11922495

Tried and tested: Greggs Reading introduces healthy pasties

Take a look at what we made of the new healthy menu additions

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/greggs-reading-healthy-pasties-range-11919852

Reading ambulance service first trust in country to be rated 'good'

South Central Ambulance Service was praised in some areas although others required improvement

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/readings-ambulance-service-first-trust-11920087

When do the clocks go back in autumn 2016? All you need to know about the clocks changing

All you need to know about the all important dates - don't forget!

from getreading - What's On News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/clocks-go-back-autumn-2016-11914241

Beyond the garden shed – winter garden storage options

With winter rapidly approaching you might be looking for storage solutions to keep your belongings safe throughout the chilly months. While companies such as readysteadystore.com offer secure units ideal for large, bulky items, you can also get hold of garden storage that’s perfect for household goods and equipment.

The trusty garden shed (as good as it is), isn’t your only option anymore, so check out these quirky alternatives:

A garden bench box

Why buy a regular garden bench when you can buy one with storage underneath? These garden essentials are not only stylish but handy for keeping anything from cushions and throws, to spades and trowels safe in the chilly weather. If you’ve got kids you could even pop some of their favourite toys in there and whip them out on a cold yet sunny day, spent playing out in the garden.

Outside storage boxes

There are some things you just don’t want in the house like soggy waterproofs and grubby wellies. The good news is, thanks to durable, weatherproof storage boxes you no longer have to have water and mud trailed through your hallway, as any outside gear can be kept safely in the garden. Many of the boxes can be locked and are designed to survive the most formidable conditions, so are great if you have low fencing or live in an area susceptible to flooding or heavy snow in the winter months.

Garden cupboards

There are many ways to spruce up your garden before winter hits; however, investing in a few swanky cupboards will ensure everything stays neat and tidy. From compact plastic cupboards – ideal for watering cans, wellies, paint brushes and shovels – to larger items suitable for rakes, lawnmowers and other bigger objects, you’re sure to find something to suit your needs and there are many styles available too to complement any space.

Home log store

When the mercury drops it’s essential to stay warm and cosy without running up large bills. Therefore, if you have a log fire or wood burner, make the most of it and keep all your kindle in a modern garden log store. Storage of this kind will stop your wood from getting damp making it easier to light when you need it the most. It’ll also prevent animals from nesting in your log pile and keep your outside space free from rodents and other critters searching for a good place to hibernate.

With a wide variety of winter garden storage options readily available you’ll be able to keep all your valuables and essentials safe and out of the way, whilst still having easy access to your essential garden tools throughout the cooler months.

from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/09/22/beyond-the-garden-shed-winter-garden-storage-options-2/

Essential Gardening Tools You Need To Own

We all want to help our gardens look their very best all year round. To do this, we need the right equipment to help us. But if you’re new to the world of gardening, knowing which tools to buy can be overwhelming. While you could buy every item available in your local gardening store, this can be a huge waste of money. You may buy items that you don’t require or ones that you don’t know how to use correctly. So rather than buying everything, why not buy top quality essentials instead. Here are three gardening tools that every gardener should have to use in their outdoor space.

Lawn Mower

Whether your lawn is small or covers acres, a lawn mower is a crucial gardening tool all homeowners need. Having a well-manicured lawn can make your garden look more spacious and appealing to spend time in. It also shows that you take pride in your garden and keep it week maintained. You can find a lawn mower for sale online, in newspapers and garden centres. But just remember that the types of lawn mower vary significantly from manual to ride on. Think about the size of your lawn and seek advice from the experts at your garden centre. You should also consider the additional cost of tuning and maintaining your lawn mower as some will require more than others.

 

Garden Spade

Gardens spades are another tool that all gardeners need to own due to their multiple uses. They can be used to dig holes and loosen the soil to plant flowers and trees in your garden. Another use is to remove weeds and dead plants from your flower beds. Spades are also useful for removing snow from your driveways and paths during the winter. You can find them at most garden centres in an array of different sizes. Test out a few options before you buy to make sure the height is perfect for you to use. If it’s too short, it may cause you back pain as you garden. The handle should also be comfortable to use and ideally have a hand grip included.

Hose

To keep your garden looking as fresh and beautiful as possible, a garden hose is crucial. This tool makes it easier to keep your garden hydrated and also encourages your plant life to flourish. Hose pipes are also ideal for watering hanging baskets which may be difficult to reach with ease. You can find hose pipes for sale online and again in garden centres. Before buying, consider what the most appropriate length would be to reach your entire garden. If buying a second-hand hose, always check for holes and test before you buy. You might also want to see if there are any attachments which can be added to the hose to enhance its capabilities further.

When buying these items, always buy the best quality you can comfortably afford. These items will last longer, break less and help you garden better. Once you’ve mastered using these tools, you can then slowly start adding to your collection one piece at a time.

from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/09/22/essential-gardening-tools-you-need-to-own/

Look at the incredible cakes generous Reading bakers are making for less fortunate families

The Free Cakes For Kids team in Reading bake for families who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for their child

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/look-incredible-cakes-generous-reading-11916937

Michelin star restaurants in Berkshire: where do you think deserves one?

We want to know which restaurants you think should be awarded a star

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/berkshire-restaurants-you-think-should-11896684

Lightning storm in Wokingham and Bracknell damages listed Victorian mansion

A bolt of lightning broke off a chunk of brickwork at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/lightning-storm-wokingham-bracknell-damages-11910474

Cally Gardens

Cally Gardens is secret walled garden in Scotland packed with rare plants from around the world.

This is such a wonderful secret garden, full of treasure and beauty. It’s remote and hard to find – in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, but the drive there is worth it if you want to be utterly absorbed by a secret plantsman’s paradise for several hours.

The walled kitchen garden was built in the 1770s for Cally House, which is near Gatehouse of Fleet. Originally it had heated walls, glasshouses and a team of gardeners growing exotic fruit and vegetables to supply the house.

But, as with so many walled kitchen gardens in the UK, after the First World War, the garden fell out of use, becoming a tree nursery for the Forestry Commission and then a floristry garden.

In 1987 Michael Wickenden bought the gardens, and restored them to become a home for his plant finds from across the world. And my goodness, those plants!

It is rare that I visit a garden and find many plants that I simply do not recognise. But Cally is choc-full of these flowers, and Michael patiently goes through my photographs of this rare flower and that rare climber, telling me where he found them and how to grow them.

There are over 4,000 perennials growing in the garden now, including a collection of hellebores, species peonies, meconopsis, geranium, crocosmia, agapanthus and kniphofia. If you are a plantsman, you will love this plot.

But it is so pretty and peaceful and intriguing that my non-gardening pal who I dragged along loved it too. And you won’t leave without buying something.

More information on the Cally Gardens website.

from Fennel and Fern http://www.fennelandfern.co.uk/blog/2016/09/21/cally-gardens/

Reading school catchment areas mean some pupils must live within a two minute walk to get in

At one school in Reading pupils lived within a 0.11 mile radius of the school

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-school-catchment-areas-mean-11909673

Sky Sports pundit unimpressed by Reading FC, Calcot Lidl plans and Woodley hit and run: Tuesday's top stories

The most read stories on getreading for September 20

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/sky-sports-pundit-unimpressed-reading-11914726

Berkshire Show 2016 was a hit despite the downpour

Thousands of people watched sheep herding and cow parades - take a look at our gallery of photos and see some of the weekend's highlights

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/berkshire-show-2016-photos-pictures-11907599

Watch: Mothers of Legoland sex assault victims reveal their ordeal on Crimewatch

A national appeal has been launched after a man sexually assaulted two six-year-old girls at the theme park in August

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/crimewatch-legoland-sex-assault-appeal-11910055

Berkshire hospitals miss A&E targets due to 'extreme pressures'

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is telling people to stay away from A&E departments unless they have life threatening emergencies or very serious conditions

from getreading - Health http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/health/berkshire-hospitals-miss-ae-targets-11884473

Reading police launch manhunt for fugitive recalled to prison

Owen Lewis has been ordered to return to prison after breaching his licence

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-police-launch-manhunt-fugitive-11906279

Tattoo Fixers' Jay comes to town, Reading's new beer festival makes its debut plus more things to do this weekend

Take a look at what you could be getting up to this weekend with our round up

from getreading - Arts & Culture http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/tattoo-fixers-jay-reading-beer-11897556

Argos closing in Reading, thunderstorms and more news from the last week

There's been lots going on in Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell this week, take a look at the stories you've been reading

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/argos-closing-reading-thunderstorms-more-11903099

The seven best places in Reading to buy cupcakes

Need some cupcakes for a birthday or a party? We take a look at some of the best bakers in Reading ahead of National Cupcake Week

from getreading - Local News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/seven-best-places-buy-cupcakes-11895173

Wind in the Willows themed walk, brain games and more family fun this weekend

Take a look at what you could be getting up to with the little ones with our family and kids round up

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/family-and-kids-round-up-11897560

The seven best places in Reading to buy cupcakes

Need some cupcakes for a birthday or a party? We take a look at some of the best bakers in Reading ahead of National Cupcake Week

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/x-best-places-reading-buy-11895173

Growing courgettes – my ‘aha!’ moment…

I watered my growing courgettes, along with the rest of the garden, before going to Spain for four days. I was really surprised by the courgettes when I got back.

This beach side restaurant at Tossa del Mar, Spain, had an organic veg garden on the beach. You could see the waitresses picking herbs and chillies when the chef needed them. But back to growing courgettes…

While we were away, England had an unexpected heatwave. I hadn’t asked anyone to water the garden.

When I came back, one courgette was mildewed but growing extra leaves. It had two fat courgettes.

I shall nick-name this Fatty Courgette. It has had four days of hot sun without water.

The other had dwindled to just a few stalks.

Next to Fatty Courgette is Stalky Courgette. It also had four hot days in the sun.

They were side-by-side and had the same amount of water. They grew in exactly the same conditions. So what was different about Fatty Courgette? Why did it flourish while Stalky Courgette died?

The answer goes back to sponsored posts I did earlier in the year for Baby Bio. They asked me to write about feeding plants with fertilisers. I looked up various research findings and it seemed clear that feeding ‘hungry’ plants, such as vegetables, does mean more produce.

It also seemed that feeding plants helps them withstand drought and disease. There was plenty of back-up to confirm that the claims were true, but I was slightly doubtful.

Pin to your Pinterest board.

I had always thought that you should ‘feed the soil not feed the plant.’ That, too, is absolutely true. Everything I have come across online or talking to gardening experts is clear. The number one favour you can do your garden is to look after your soil. Add a good layer of compost and/or manure at least once a year. It is the starting point for a good garden.

However, I’ve always done that. I spread the entire annual contents of my home-made compost over my four raised beds every year. I also add manure. Yet my vegetable harvests were often disappointing.

My home-made compost before rotting down. Good compost is essential to a healthy garden.

One reason was that I wasn’t planning and harvesting the veg properly. See more on planning your veg garden here and harvesting veg for maximum yields here.

But both Stalky Courgette and Fatty Courgette have had the same treatment, except for one difference.

Baby Bio also asked me to do their Big Boost Challenge. I grew two identical plants, then fed one with Baby Bio Outdoor liquid feed. I didn’t feed the other. I’ve been comparing their progress over the summer. Included in the trial were courgettes, chillies, beans, mangetout, tomatoes and potted patio roses. I chose container plants and vegetables, because these are the plants most likely to need extra nutrients.

Fatty Courgette and Stalky Courgette were part of the trial. Here they are when they were planted.

Two almost identical courgettes (‘Romanesco’) planted out in May. One was to be fed with Baby Bio and the other would not be fed.

The courgette fed with Baby Bio soon turned into Fatty Courgette. It has given me a total of 39 courgettes over the summer. The other ultimately became Stalky Courgette. Initially, it was healthy, but smaller. Stalky Courgette had a yield of 24 courgettes.

The first courgette of the season came from Fatty Courgette. Stalky Courgette was two weeks behind.

As the summer got hotter, I could also see that Stalky Courgette was suffering more from mildewed leaves. Fatty Courgette had mildew too, but remained more vigorous.

It was the four-day heatwave that really showed the difference between feeding ‘hungry’ vegetables and not feeding them. I was astonished to see how two courgette plants, growing side-by-side, had fared in such a short time.

How much does fertilising your home-grown veg cost?

Although Baby Bio sent me Baby Bio Outdoor Fruit & Vegetable liquid feed, it would have cost around £5 a bottle, depending on where you buy it. That’s enough concentrate for 75 litres of liquid feed. I used about two bottles over the summer on two courgette plants, two tomato plants, four runner bean plants, a potted chili, some mangeout and some other miscellaneous plants that weren’t part of the trial.

The rest of the trial had similar results – around a 30% increase in yields.

I am now convinced. I will be feeding my veggies as well as my soil from now on.

My favourite courgette salad. It’s quick and easy, and it works with overgrown courgettes.

PS: The last two courgettes were too big to cook, so I did my favourite salad. It’s perfect for overgrown courgettes. Slice your courgette with a potato peeler, stopping just before you reach the seeds. Dress the ribbons with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and one of good quality vinegar. Add salt and pepper. Then sprinkle with fresh or dried chillies. Delicious!

The post Growing courgettes – my ‘aha!’ moment… appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/growing-courgettes-my-aha-moment/

Thames Hospice secures land in Berkshire for new palliative unit

Thames Hospice hopes to build a new centre because demand for end of life care in Berkshire has increased year on year

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/thames-hospice-berkshire-palliative-care-11900008

Reading gardeners could be hit with green bin collection charges

Reading Borough Council's policy committee will decided whether to impose charges at a meeting on Monday, September 26

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-gardeners-face-green-bin-11899275

Revealed: Top 10 restaurants in Reading as ranked by you

Take a look at which restaurants in Reading have stolen the top spots by diners in the town

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/top-10-restaurants-reading-ranked-11892314

Six castles you can get to from Reading in just 90 minutes

Take a look at some of the amazing castles you can explore - all within a 90 minute drive from Reading

from getreading - Arts & Culture http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/six-castles-you-can-reading-9638582

Berkshire weather: Passenger reveals frightening moment tree crushed car in storm

Leonnie Treadwell, 18, told getreading what happened when the tree fell onto the car on Thursday, September 15

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-road-lightning-tree-car-11895723

The child car seats law is about to change and this is what you need to know

There are new laws coming into place this year regarding the use of booster seats, take a look at the changes

from getreading - Local News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/child-car-seats-law-change-11897293

Royal Elm Park could create 1,000 full time jobs in Reading

Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership says the project is likely to attract investors

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/royal-elm-park-could-create-11878469

Berkshire weather: Don't drive through flood water warn firefighters

The fire service has issued a warning after attending 47 flood related incidents on Thursday, September 15

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshire-weather-residents-urged-not-11894844

Reading Road fallen tree: Friends' narrow escape after car crushed

The storm brought down the tree which fell on to a car in Reading Road, Wokingham

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-road-fallen-tree-friends-11894501

Reading weather: Lightning strike smashes hole in Caversham home

The lightning made a hole in the roof and took out the electrics

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/caversham-home-struck-by-lightning-11894106

Wokingham's Taj Mahal restaurant fined for breaching fire regulations

Director Rabeya Bhuyain was fined more than £7,000 for the breaches

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokinghams-taj-mahal-restaurant-fined-11891911

Motorcyclist injured in Oxford Road collision: Thursday's traffic and travel

A 19-year-old motorcyclist has been taken to hospital with leg injuries

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/motorcyclist-injured-oxford-road-crash--11892684

Motorcyclist injured in Oxford Road collision: Thursday's traffic and travel

A 19-year-old motorcyclist has been taken to hospital with leg injuries

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/collision-oxford-road-causing-problems-11892684

Military leaders, ginger beer and old breweries: How Berkshire's Wetherspoons got their names

We had a look at the history of the popular watering holes

from getreading - Berkshire History http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/berkshire-history/military-leaders-ginger-beer-old-11888626

11 pub gardens to visit in Bracknell when the sun is shining

It's officially spring so surely it's time to take part in the Great British tradition of sitting in a pub garden with a pint

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/11-pub-gardens-visit-bracknell-11107412

Reading traffic: accident near Virginia Water causing problems, but all good in town

Traffic and travel update for Tuesday, September 13

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-traffic-accident-near-virginia-11881973

Henley Literary Festival tickets still available for talks with Nadiya Hussain, Sara Pascoe and more stars

Tickets are still available for the 10th annual literary festival - see who's on the line up

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/henley-literary-festival-tickets-still-11618479

Wokingham is one of the best places for girls to live, study finds

After conducting research with the University of Hull, Plan International UK found the quality of life for girls varies significantly across the country

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/wokingham-one-best-places-girls-11875327

Are these Berkshire's biggest house spiders?

People from Reading and Bracknell have been sending us photos of some seriously big spiders

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshires-biggest-house-spiders-11876025

Berkshire groups looking to tackle loneliness can bid for slice of £75,000 funding

Groups are being invited to pitch projects which help people suffering from loneliness to Berkshire Community Foundation

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/berkshire-groups-looking-tackle-loneliness-11859847

Have a stein at Reading Oktoberfest and more things to do this weekend

Take a look at what you could be getting up to this weekend with our round up

from getreading - Arts & Culture http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/stein-reading-oktoberfest-more-things-11862306

Meet farm animals in Berkshire and more things to do with the kids this weekend

Take a look at what you could be getting up to with the little ones with our family and kids round up

from getreading - Family & Kids http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/meet-farm-animals-berkshire-more-11862309

Make your garden last longer with the new dahlia trends

New dahlia trends have been creeping in over the last few years.

A typical dahlia border used to look like a fruit salad. There were usually random mixes of brightly coloured dahlias in white, yellow, red and pink, without any under-planting.

Context is everything in gardens. Dahlias are being used differently. There are new, interesting directions in foliage. Dahlias are now partnered with a wide range of other flowers to create dramatic effects.

‘Few plants can rival dahlias if you want a long season in your garden,’ says Steven Edney, head gardener at The Salutation garden in Sandwich. ‘They flower from two to five months at a time, depending on your climate.’

Steven has dahlias in his blood. His family bred dahlias. He has been part of the RHS dahlia trials at Wisley, and he has now created a beautiful dahlia garden at The Salutation.

Dahlia ‘Weddington Farm’ was bred by Steven’s father. It has survived for 30 years over winter and summer at Steven’s family home. Here it borders the Salutation’s vegetable garden.

The Salutation was designed by Lutyens. Steven joined eleven years ago to restore the Grade 2 Listed garden. At that point, the current vegetable patch was a mound of rubbish and rubble. It is now a delightful mix of dahlias and vegetables.

The Salutation, appropriately, has Lutyens benches. Surrounded here by the pink ‘Gracie M’ dahlia and red ‘Mountain Fire.’

Colour themed dahlia trends

Dahlias used to be planted alone in beds, in a riot of contrasting colours. Now you’re more likely to see them incorporated into a mixed border, themed by colour rather than by type of plant. There is a traditional dahlia bed at The Salutation, but most of the dahlias are planted with other plants.

The dahlia bed itself is a trial bed, where Steven subjects his dahlia types to the kind of treatment they would get in an ordinary middle-sized garden.

‘I don’t water them, and I only feed them with a manure mulch and some blood, fish and bone,’ he says. ‘I think that’s what most domestic gardeners would do, and it’s important to see how they survive in non-professional gardens before we sell them to the public.’ Even so, the dahlia bed is colour-themed, with dark reds, pinks, peaches, yellows and moving harmoniously through the colour spectrum.

There are conventional beds planted only with dahlias at the Salutation. These are arranged by colour – reds and pinks going into peaches and yellows, and so on.

Think about the foliage as well as the flowers

I love the use of foliage and colour in The Salutation’s dahlias.

A peach dahlia is married with a bronze background foliage. Bring the dahlia colour alive by thinking about the foliage colour of the plant next to it.

This foliage combination also marries veg and dahlia – this is an Australis hybrid dahlia with kale in one of the ornamental borders.

New dahlias

Steven is always growing and trialling new dahlia seedlings and crosses. He sees how the public responds to the new varieties, and tests for a couple of years to make sure they come back true and are reasonably hardy.

Three different orange dahlia seedlings developed at The Salutation in an orange grouping with marigolds, nasturtiums and ricinus.

There are three kinds of orange dahlia being trialled here. The bees like them all.

Dahlias in exotic gardens

Dahlias were originally imported from Mexico, so they can be considered ‘exotics’. The bright colours and sharp sculptural shapes of dahlia flowers make them an ideal choice for exotic gardens. The Salutation has an Exotic garden just by the entrance. Steven and his team are planning to expand it next year.

Dahlia ‘Mel’s Orange Marmalade’ with banana palms and tree ferns in the Salutation’s Exotic garden

‘I’m very influenced by Gertrude Jekyll,’ says Steven. ‘She combined exotic plants like ricinus with dahlias in her own garden.’

Another vivid orange dahlia (‘Babylon Gevland’) gives jungle colour to the exotic garden.

Dahlias with vegetables

As well as extending the flowering season in the garden, dahlias last a long time in the vase. They are cut-and-come-again flowers, which means that the more you cut them, the more flowers you’ll get.

Dahlias in the vegetable garden at The Salutation.

Dahlias were, in fact, originally imported as food. Dahlias tubers are like potatoes, apparently. Personally, I can’t quite bring myself to try them. If, however, you dig your dahlias up at the end of the season, you could roast them.

Dahlia with chard leaves in the vegetable garden.

At the Salutation, there are dahlias in the vegetable beds, as well as partnered with kale, chard, pernilla for leaf contrast.

Dahlias with espaliered fruit trees. This is Dahlia ‘Happy Single Party’. I wonder how it came by the name?

Perilla is a very popular salad leaf in Japan. Here it’s partnered with a dahlia seedling.

New dahlia trends in pots

Combine a dahlia with a grass. Here Dahlia ‘Double Tally Ho’ is planted with Panicum ‘Frosted Sensation.’

Dahlias with sculpture

The Salutation has many sculptures by Emily Stone. Here a bronze iris is flanked by red Dahlia ‘Tally Ho and yellow Dahlia ‘Mystic Illusion.’

A simple recipe for an eight-month border

This is a simple border plan which can be in flower from February to October, depending your climate. There are bulbs in the border at the beginning of the year, with bergenias in the front. Then irises and peonies take over, followed by dahlias. This orange dahlia is City of Alkaar.

This border repeats one kind of dahlia (‘City of Alkaar’). in between, there are peonies and irises.

Easy ways to deal with dahlia problems

I’ve found dahlias very easy to grow, but they do have a few problems. They get eaten by slugs. The flowers can be nibbled by earwigs. There’s also the thought of digging them up and storing them over winter. All three of these problems are relatively easy to deal with.

A dahlia nibbled by earwigs. You can see the jagged edges of the petals.

Steven recommends using Growing Success, an organic-approved slug remedy and also a wool-based mulch which slugs don’t like crawling over. Use these from February onwards. Once the plants are big enough in June and July, slugs and snails won’t matter so much.

Steven gardens in a wildlife-friendly way. To deter earwigs, he puts a mixture of molasses and boric acid in a flowerpot and puts it upside down on a stick. The earwigs crawl in and die, but they’re not poisonous to any other wildlife that eats them.

Dahlia ‘Merckii’ is a species dahlia, which means it’s very close to the wild form. The closer a plant is to its wild form, the hardier and more resilient it tends to be.

As for digging your dahlia tubers up in winter, Steven suggests you leave them. He has dahlias that have over-wintered in the ground for thirty years. He covers them with mulch to protect them from frost. Not all will survive, but a surprising number will. ‘Christopher Lloyd threw all his dahlias out at the end of every season,’ he says.

If your dahlias don’t survive the winter, buy new ones.

If I haven’t convinced you to try dahlias, do visit The Salutation. It’s changed dramatically since it was flooded in the surge tide of December 2013. Parts of the garden were completely washed away.

No dahlias – but a striking sculpture by Paul Cummins at the Salutation.

‘We didn’t have much of a budget to replace the garden, so I had to learn alot,’ says Steven. ‘I had such support from the gardening community. The head gardener at Sissinghurst rang up and brought his whole team down for a day just to help. And lots of other people contributed plants or help, too. The experience made me a better gardener and it’s made the Salutation a better garden.’

Dahlia ‘Fascination’ is a very popular dahlia.

There is a dahlia festival at The Salutation on the 19th and 20th of September.

The post Make your garden last longer with the new dahlia trends appeared first on The Middle-Sized Garden.

from The Middle-Sized Garden http://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/make-garden-last-longer-new-dahlia-trends/

Shiplake chef starring in new BBC One show

Chef Ryan Simpson of Orwells in Shiplake is showcasing his skills on Yes Chef - a new daytime TV show on BBC One

from getreading - TV http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/tv/shiplake-chef-starring-new-bbc-11853568

Berkshire chef starring in new BBC One show

Chef Ryan Simpson of Orwells in Shiplake is showcasing his skills on Yes Chef - a new daytime TV show on BBC One

from getreading - TV http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/tv/berkshire-chef-starring-new-bbc-11853568

Berkshire beer is one of the most expensive pints in the country

See which other areas in the UK made the rankings for cheap and 'rip off' prices alongside Berkshire

from getreading - Food & Drink http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/berkshire-beer-one-most-expensive-11851204

Devastating Coley Park house fire was an accident, investigators conclude

Three children were taken to hospital after the house caught fire on Wednesday, August 10

from getreading - Reading & Berkshire News http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/devastating-coley-park-house-fire-11858453

See inside Reading Crown Court and learn more about the town with Heritage Open Day events

We've picked out some of our favourite events happening during the Heritage Open Day weekend - take a look

from getreading - Arts & Culture http://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/see-inside-reading-crown-court-11850156