Chooksandroots

LATEST ARTICLES ( 235 )

• Give Peas a Chance

  

  A couple of weeks ago I planted some broad beans to grow through the winter. While I was at it, a couple of rows of first early peas (Douce Provence) went in,... Read more

  Posted on 06 November 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Leek and Potato Soup

  

  I’ve never made this before, so thought I’d give it a go. Just had a taste, and it was blooming delish – so definitely worth a blog…You’ll need:Knob of butter1... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2012 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES

• Winter Bean Trench

  

  A couple of weeks ago I started to prepare for next year’s crop of beans. Deciding against my usual ‘wigwam in a circle’ arrangement, I’m going to try out... Read more

  Posted on 26 October 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Courgette Lemon Cake

  

  Looking for a way of using up the glut of courgettes that are still being produced down the garden, I thought I’d try baking a courgette cake. Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2012 FOOD & DRINK, RECIPES

• Autumn Onion Sets

  

  An exciting moment in my gardening calendar happened in the week. My onion sets were delivered.Now, this news may not be on the top of everyone’s ‘exciting... Read more

  Posted on 17 October 2012 GARDENING

• The Greenhouse Casualty

  

  There’s no easy way to break this sad news, so I will just come out and say it like it is. We’ve had a death in the greenhouse. Read more

  Posted on 04 October 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• The Cabbage Cull

  

  It will soon be that time of the year when onion sets and garlic need to be planted. The onion sets are on order, and I’ll be splitting up a couple of the garli... Read more

  Posted on 24 September 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Tomato Splits

  

  You may recall we had ‘tomato-gate’ earlier in the year, where the other half took it upon himself to whip out the stems in the ‘v’. Since then, he’s become a... Read more

  Posted on 11 September 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Comfrey

  

  Leafing through my gardening book earlier in the year, I came across a plant that would seem to be every gardener’s dream come true. Read more

  Posted on 02 September 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Tarty Blackberrying

  There’s a quaint little lane that leads to a field near where I live that’s like a megastore for blackberries… if you beat the crowd. Read more

  Posted on 31 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Cabbage Soup

  It’s well documented on this blog that the only things that scoff our cabbages with gusto are the pigeons, the slugs and the caterpillars. In that order. The... Read more

  Posted on 29 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Cauliflower

  

  For me, there’s not much that can rival a good cauliflower cheese. A healthy vegetable, dripping with a sauce so calorific it could power your street lights:... Read more

  Posted on 28 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Heritage

  So, imagine the scene. There I am, minding my own business, having a wander around our local garden centre, when the sign slapped me around the face like a wet... Read more

  Posted on 22 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Holiday

  

  After a lovely couple of weeks swanning around in southern Italy, I was itching to see how the veg plot had progressed in my absence. I meandered off down the... Read more

  Posted on 17 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• The Dreaded Cabbage White

  During my day job, there are lots of opportunities to fraternise with learned Doctor types. One such chap was a keen gardener, and I recall having an in depth... Read more

  Posted on 13 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Holiday Proofing the Garden

  You know the feeling. You’ve had a wonderful couple of weeks on holiday, and are well and truly relaxed and recharged. You saunter out into the garden to squeez... Read more

  Posted on 12 August 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Slug Pub

  

  Opening the blinds at the weekend I was greeted with a rare sight indeedy. Not only did the sun well and truly have his hat on, but rumour had it he’d be wearin... Read more

  Posted on 26 July 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• How Does Your Garden Grow?

  

  I was talking to someone the other day about different gardening styles. I’m very much of the ‘chuck it in, hope for the best’ school of thought, and as a resul... Read more

  Posted on 24 July 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Our First Complete Meal

  

  Being on clay, our garden is having a slight issue with drainage. It’s actually reached saturation point now, and the vegetable plot is struggling slightly. Read more

  Posted on 22 July 2012 GARDENING, HOME

• Bird Proofing the Strawberry Patch

  

  As I was swanning around in London when the mother of all storms bashed Hinckley and surrounding areas to bits, I was rather sceptical of the ‘hailstones the... Read more

  Posted on 09 July 2012 GARDENING, HOME