Kitchen Garden

One minute there’s a run of hard frosts, the next it’s an unseasonably balmy 15°C – no wonder the plants are confused. In our heated propagator test this month (see page 56), the added warmth sent the seeds racing ahead. Outside, the same conditions would tempt seedlings into growth, only for them to be checked again as temperatures fall. I’ll be eating the test batches as microgreens, so nothing goes to waste, and it has certainly left me looking forward to spring. The Christmas break is the only real stretch of time I take off, and I always drift straight back into baking. I have a soft spot for Scandinavian sweet yeast buns, especially saffron ones. They’re usually filled with vanilla, but I borrow the filling from my other favourite…

DOUGH 250ml whole milk 1g saffron threads 75g butter 75g caster sugar ½ tsp fine salt 1 egg 7g fast-action yeast 400-450g strong white flour CARDAMOM FILLING 100g very soft butter 80g caster sugar 2-3tsp freshly ground cardamom METHOD Warm the milk, add saffron and leave for 10 minutes. Add the butter to melt, then whisk in the sugar, egg and yeast. Mix with the flour and salt to make a soft dough and knead until smooth. Rise for 1 hour. Mix the filling to a smooth paste. Roll the dough into a 35-40cm × 45-50cm rectangle, spread with filling, fold into thirds, roll lightly and cut into strips. Wrap each strip around two fingers, bring the end over, turn it 90°, and tuck underneath. Place on lined trays, prove…

SOW ONIONS Sow in trays undercover and prick out into modules for planting as single plants, or sow five seeds into modules for planting out later as multi-sown onions HARVEST LEEKS Harvest by gently loosening soil with a fork and pulling them out of the ground, or cutting them off at ground level. Leave leaf and root trimmings on the ground ORDER SEED POTATOES Order your seed potatoes now to make sure you receive your favourite varieties. Why not choose a new variety this year, such as colourful blue tubers? CHECK OUTDOOR TAPS Check outdoor taps to make sure they are turned off at the mains (if possible) and are well insulated, to help prevent pipes from splitting The weather outside might be frightful, but even in the depths of…

Grapevines benefit from regular pruning to keep them healthy, in shape and for abundant harvests. If you haven’t already pruned your undercover grapevines, get it done in January before the sap starts to flow. Leaving it too late can cause the cuts to bleed sap, which weakens the plant. When winter pruning, the plan is to cut back last year’s growth to the permanent, older branches. Prune these younger branches using sharp, clean secateurs back to a couple of buds (approx 8-10cm). In the spring, this is where new growth will grow from. Use loppers to prune back high-up, hard-to-reach branches. Remove any damaged or diseased branches, and trim any mature branches that are not part of the framework that you want for the grapevine. Check that all ties supporting…

STYLISH RAISED BEDS THAT ARE ROT AND RUST-PROOF British-made aluminium raised beds from Elite Greenhouses are completely rust and rot-proof, lightweight for easy relocation, and suitable for gardens, patios, or greenhouses. “Conventional raised beds are typically made from wood, which requires regular treatment to prevent rot, and due to their weight, they tend to remain in one place,” says Phil Hannant, managing director of Elite Greenhouses. “In contrast, our aluminium raised beds are lightweight, easy to move around the garden or greenhouse, and built to last a lifetime.” Available in four sizes (2ftx2ft, 2ft×4ft, 2ft×6ft, 2ft×8ft) at 1ft 5in tall, they provide ideal working height and excellent drainage. Choose natural aluminium or powder coat in 10 colour options to match Elite greenhouses. Guide prices from £95. elite-greenhouses.co.uk The RHS Malvern…

CONTACT US: PUMPKINS HELPING A GOOD CAUSE STAR LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER Last year, my daughter Rebecca took a small selection of pumpkins I grew to decorate her office windowsill. They were so admired that after our bumper harvest this year, she considered taking a few to see if there was interest in collecting donations for the Guide Dogs charity. The bumper crop of over 120 pumpkins caused a sensational response, with requests for the ones that could not be packed into her car on the first day. Rebecca said all the staff have been so generous. A final total of £260 has been raised for Guide Dogs. I have a few pumpkins left to collect seeds from, ready for planting next year. Steve Watkin, Co Durham DOUBLE BONUS FROM…