The Gooden Life

It's time to dig down and shout,"Potatoes! " as we uncover our main crop for 2025!

It's been a hot and dry summer in England and that's not always conducive to getting a good crop of spuds... But we never give up!

Will we get mighty Maris Piper or Diminutive Desree? 

Listen along as Freya & Keith fork around on the plot this week!

Keith & Freya are making sure the Brussel Sprout plants are securely anchored in the ground to ensure a brill crop for Christmas 2025. It really makes a difference if they are!

The battle with Cabbage White caterpillars continues and now a new enemy is with us, Brassica whitefly! These dusty little varmints will ruin the hearts of your greens this Autumn/Fall.

Also, time to divide your rhubarb plants to get a bigger crop of stalks with your custard next year! 

Keith & Freya are on the plot and picking this week as we start the harvest for 2025.

The great English summer we have had has been dry but productive, suiting some crops more than others. But today we discuss what has fed us and what has struggled a little in these warm and sunny conditions over the growing season.

We've got edible grapes, all grown outside and ripening now as the farmers bring in the combine harvesters in the Cotswolds.

Keith & Freya are collecting seeds and planning next year's garlic and shallot crop.

You can save money and get the best seed crops available if you think ahead to next year, now.

Some tips on how to help the pollinators and we have had to identify a rogue poo on the plot...... We logged onn to Poo-Gle to find out what's been feasting and defecating by the allotment shed........ 

Keith & Freya are on the plot today with watering cans in hand as this year's fab English summer continues. 

But it's not all been success in the sunshine.

This week we hear about the successes and failures as the very dry season continues. Some crops have been abundant with others needing a bit more TLC.

Keith & Freya are sitting back on a sunny day and spotting the butterflies they see on the plot for the Great Butterfly Watch 2025.... It's a way for us growers to help the scientists record the species visiting us this year. But hurry! Time is running out to participate.

They're also potting on their spring greens for 2026 and thinking about spring and summer bedding as well, to attract next year's generations of pollinators!

It's peak summer time in Marshfield and Keith & Freya are starting to crop after a hot and sunny season!

But it's not all pulling or picking, as autumn (fall) carrots need planting and a plan need to be formulated to offload some of the courgette (zuchini) the sunshine is producing on the plot!

Keith & Freya are elbows deep in spud bags as they crop first early potatoes today.

You think this growing your own is easy? Listen to this and learn a lesson in patience and potato practicality....

Keith & Freya are planting next spring's greens today and have two varieties to recommend to you.

After a few hot days across the summer, fruit is ripening fast and it's time to harvest some of the bounty!

Plus... Your apple trees will be well in to the "July drop" when the smaller apples will be falling to make room for the main crop. With the heatwaves in the UK, it may be time to water and feed the orchard!

Keith & Freya are back from Greece and the weather in England is scorchio!

So when do you water? How often? Do I feed in a heatwave?

Keith & Freya tackle those questions and pass on what they do to maintain healthy growing when the sun is scorching the Earth!