Latest news with #autumnharvest
The Sun
5 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Gardening expert reveals the 5 vegetables to plant NOW for bumper early autumn harvest before it's too late
SUMMER may be coming to an end but that doesn't mean you have to hang up your gardening gloves. In fact, now is the perfect time to prep for a bountiful early autumn harvest. 5 5 The end of summer shouldn't mean the end of fresh vegetable produce in your garden. A wide variety of delicious salad crops are actually best grown in August. The green-fingered pros at Ideal Home broke down which plants to sow in August. These picks are great if you're looking for quick wins, with many ready to harvest after just four weeks. So get your trowel ready, itt could be your most productive September in the garden yet. Lettuce Homegrown lettuce often tastes a lot better than supermarket varieties so why not add an extra crunch to your salad with fresh produce. According to Nicky, who works as the head gardener at Polhawn Fort, butterhead lettuce grows very well at this time of year. "Sprinkle your salad seeds over the surface of moist, firm compost and cover with a thin layer of compost or vermiculite," he suggested. "They're best suited to a bright, warm area, as long as it isn't too hot." Swiss chard As one of the best drought-tolerant vegetables, Swiss chard is perfect for adding to your garden at the end of summer. Grow your groceries - how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes! Regardless of any late bouts of hot weather, you'll still be left with flourishing flower beds. This vibrant and versatile veg will grow quickly and continue producing for months, according to Abbie Betts, gardening buyer at Cherry Lane Garden Centres. She recommended starting to harvest the baby leaves after four to six weeks. However, if you're hoping for larger leaves and stems, you'll need to wait at least eight to 10 weeks. To keep the plant producing new leaves, make sure to pick the outer leaves first. Seed-sowing planting guide for 2025 The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine has shared the fruits and vegetables you can sow and grow every month. January - Herbs, spring garlic, broad beans, onions, raspberry canes February - Chit first early potatoes, cucumber and tomato seeds, early peas, salad, bare root strawberry plants March - Aubergine, broccoli, cauliflower seeds, chilli plants, apple and pear trees. April - Beetroot and courgette seeds, maincrop potatoes, melon seeds. May - Leeks, pumpkins, butternut squash, sweetcorn, parsnips, blackberry canes. June - Kale, cabbage, chilli peppers, french beans, strawberries. July - Turnips, winter radishes, carrots, french beans. August - Spinach, rocket, spring onions, chard. September - Pak choi, mustard, lamb's lettuce. October - Garlic, onion, blueberries. November - Broad beans, peas, shallots, bare root gooseberry. December - Salad leaves, broad beans, onions, chilli plants. Radishes 5 Radishes are one of the easiest vegetables you can sow in summer, leading to a plentiful autumn harvest. However, it's worth investing in some butterfly netting to protect this plant from hungry hungry caterpillars. Make sure it's pulled taut and securely fastened around your veg bed or pots so other wildlife doesn't get caught. Oriental salad leaves 5 According to Grantley Hall 's head gardener, David Powell, Oriental salad leaves are the best August addition to your flower beds. He revealed to Ideal Home that he plants the crop "weekly throughout August and then twice weekly in September". According to the pro, sowing successionally over the next month or so will ensure a steady supply of fresh leaves well into the autumn. Spring onions 5 Another salad staple, spring onions are best planted during the month of August. "Begin sowing from now until mid-September," advised Abbie from Cherry Lane Garden Centre. "These little onions are ready to pull in as little as eight to 10 weeks." She recommended harvesting the veg when stems are "about pencil thickness for the best crunch and flavour".
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
11 great hotel mooncake deals in Hong Kong ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival 2025
Rich pastries filled with sweet or savoury fillings, mooncakes are the culinary star of the Mid-Autumn Festival , the Chinese festival held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month to mark the end of the autumn harvest. Advertisement This year, the festival, which dates back more than 3,000 years, will fall on October 6. Mooncakes – named for their shape, reminiscent of a full moon – symbolise prosperity and gratitude and are best sliced and shared among family members and friends. As usual, this year Hong Kong hotels are offering a delicious variety of mooncakes , with early-bird discounts and special gift sets available. Here is a look at what is on offer. 1. Shang Palace at Kowloon Shangri-La Shang Palace's Halal Moonlight Treasures gift box (HK$478) features mooncakes made with halal ingredients. Advertisement There is a vegetarian mooncake set too, including four mini red date paste and pine nut mooncakes and four mini assorted nuts and dried fig mooncakes (HK$438).
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
The best fruits and vegetables to plant in June – according to an expert
As spring blooms fade, June offers the perfect opportunity to sow the seeds for a bountiful autumn harvest. Whether you have a small urban balcony or a large country plot, there are a variety of fast-growing crops and summer staples that can be planted now for enjoyment later in the year. Leafy greens and late-season courgettes are among the many options to consider. By June, the soil is warm and the risk of frost has passed, making it an excellent window to plant tender crops outdoors. 'June is a good time to plant out the last of the tender crops, such as courgettes and squashes, with successional sowing of beetroot, lettuce and radish,' says Joe Lotfhouse, the edibles and nursery team leader at RHS Garden Harlow Carr. 'These are very good to fill any gaps you may have in your vegetable bed.' Quick-turnaround vegetables like radishes and lettuce can mature in as little as four to six weeks. Successional sowing of fast growers like beetroot means you can maintain a steady supply throughout the summer. 'I always do a second sowing of beans in June, planting them directly into the beds and there are a number of other vegetables that can be planted this month, such as celeriac and celery,' says Mr Lofthouse. Longer-term harvests like celery and celeriac benefit from this warmer planting window, although they will need consistent watering to thrive. And don't forget climbers like runner or French beans, which can still be sown directly into beds or large containers and will yield abundantly by late summer. Good options for beginner gardeners If you're new to gardening, the key is to keep it manageable. Stick to crops that grow quickly and don't require much fuss. 'I would suggest starting small and only growing what you like to eat,' says Mr Lofthouse. 'Buying vegetable plants from a garden centre is a good option to start with as they will have a root system ready to be transferred into your vegetable garden. Root veg such as beetroots, turnips and radish are very easy to grow.' As well as these, herbs are a great low-maintenance option for smaller spaces, as they can often be grown in pots or window boxes. 'Sowing brassicas – cruciferous vegetables – such as broccoli direct into a bed in rows is also a good option,' explains Mr Lofthouse. 'Once they are large enough to handle, dig up and plant into their final position.' Brassicas like broccoli, kale and cauliflower can be started from seed this month too – just keep an eye out for slugs, which love nibbling on young plants. You can also companion plant with marigolds to deter pests organically. The gardening techniques you should be changing Heat and water stress are two major pitfalls for summer planting. 'Avoid planting at the hottest part of the day,' advises Mr Lotfhouse. 'I prefer to plant early morning or in the evening when it is a bit cooler. 'If sowing directly, I would always water the drills before seed sowing, or water the planting holes before planting, especially for crops like courgettes, squash and cucumbers, which require a lot of water.' Watering the plants and soil thoroughly before and after sowing helps keep the plant nourished, and mulching around young plants can help retain moisture. 'I would also recommend growing bolt-resistant varieties, as crops tend to bolt [prematurely go to seed] if under stress by warm, dry conditions,' explains Mr Lofthouse. 'It is best to avoid planting fruit in June as they would require a lot of water.' For leafy greens like spinach or coriander, look for bolt-resistant varieties, which are bred to withstand hot weather without prematurely flowering. And while fruits like strawberries are best planted earlier in the year or in autumn, focus now on crops that will mature before the first frost. The best plants for small spaces If you don't have much space to try out gardening, don't be discouraged. Many crops thrive in pots or window boxes, as long as they receive enough sunlight and consistent watering. 'Most veg and fruit can be grown in containers, although in June onwards they will require a lot of watering,' explains Mr Lofthouse. 'Herbs are good to grow in containers as they require less water. I also like to grow carrots and salad leaves in containers.' Salad leaves, spring onions, dwarf carrots and patio tomatoes are ideal for containers and can be harvested in stages. Herbs like thyme, parsley and chives are particularly suited to pot life and can be snipped as needed, offering fresh flavour at your fingertips. It's best to use multipurpose compost and opt for terracotta or glazed ceramic pots, which help retain moisture better than plastic. Overwintering plants to consider at this stage Mr Lofthouse says it is best to think long-term by planting overwintering crops now. Winter brassicas such as sprouts, winter cabbage and kale need a head start during the warmer months to establish strong roots before temperatures drop. 'June is a good time of the year to plant out winter brassicas,' says Mr Lofthouse. 'I like to sow leeks into a seedbed outdoors and harvest baby leeks throughout the winter.' Sow your brassicas in a seedbed or small nursery area, then transplant once the seedlings are sturdy. Leeks sown now can be harvested young or left to mature until early spring. Try and keep their rows weed-free and mound soil around their bases to encourage long white stems. Mistakes to avoid when planting later in the season There are a couple of common mistakes you should try and avoid when planting later in the season. 'The biggest mistakes are planting and then not watering, or growing a large amount of one vegetable and not being able to eat it all,' says Mr Lofthouse. 'The plants will bolt.' It's easy to get carried away with sowing, but think practically – how much of one vegetable will you really eat? Avoid food waste and plant in small, manageable batches with succession sowing in mind to keep your harvest spread out.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
These are the fruit and vegetables you should plant in the garden next month
Hopefully, you're enjoying the fruits of your spring gardening by now. But what about the future? June offers a prime opportunity to prepare for a bountiful autumn harvest. From leafy greens to late-season courgettes, now is the perfect time to sow a mix of fast-growing crops and summer staples. Whether your garden is a compact urban balcony or a sprawling country plot, there's something you can plant now to enjoy later. The best fruits and vegetables to start planting from June onwards By June, the soil is warm and the risk of frost has passed, making it an excellent window to plant tender crops outdoors. 'June is a good time to plant out the last of the tender crops, such as courgettes and squashes, with successional sowing of beetroot, lettuce and radish,' says edibles and nursery team leader at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Joe Lofthouse. 'These are very good to fill any gaps you may have in your vegetable bed.' Quick-turnaround vegetables like radishes and lettuce can mature in as little as four to six weeks. Successional sowing of fast growers like beetroot means you can maintain a steady supply throughout the summer. 'I always do a second sowing of beans in June, planting them directly into the beds and there are a number of other vegetables that can be planted this month, such as celeriac and celery,' says Lofthouse. Longer-term harvests like celery and celeriac benefit from this warmer planting window, although they'll need consistent watering to thrive. And don't forget climbers like runner or French beans, which can still be sown directly into beds or large containers and will yield abundantly by late summer. Good options for beginner gardeners If you're new to gardening, the key is to keep it manageable. Stick to crops that grow quickly and don't require much fuss. 'I would suggest starting small and only growing what you like to eat,' says Lofthouse. 'Buying vegetable plants from a garden centre is a good option to start with as they will have a root system ready to be transferred into your vegetable garden. Root veg such as beetroots, turnips and radish are very easy to grow.' As well as these, herbs are a great low-maintenance option for smaller spaces, as they can often be grown in pots or window boxes. 'Sowing brassicas – cruciferous vegetables – such as broccoli direct into a bed in rows is also a good option,' explains Lofthouse. 'Once they are large enough to handle, dig up and plant into their final position.' Brassicas like broccoli, kale and cauliflower can be started from seed this month too – just keep an eye out for slugs, which love nibbling on young plants. You can also companion plant with marigolds to deter pests organically. The gardening techniques you should be changing Heat and water stress are two major pitfalls for summer planting. 'Avoid planting at the hottest part of the day,' advises Lotfhouse, 'I prefer to plant early morning or in the evening when it is a bit cooler. 'If sowing directly, I would always water the drills before seed sowing, or water the planting holes before planting, especially for crops like courgettes, squash and cucumbers, which require a lot of water.' Watering the plants and soil thoroughly before and after sowing helps keep the plant nourished, and mulching around young plants can help retain moisture. 'I would also recommend growing bolt-resistant varieties, as crops tend to bolt [prematurely go to seed] if under stress by warm, dry conditions,' explains Lofthouse. 'It is best to avoid planting fruit in June as they would require a lot of water.' For leafy greens like spinach or coriander, look for bolt-resistant varieties, which are bred to withstand hot weather without prematurely flowering. And while fruits like strawberries are best planted earlier in the year or in autumn, focus now on crops that will mature before the first frost. The best plants for small spaces If you don't have much space to try out gardening – don't be discouraged. Many crops thrive in pots or window boxes, as long as they receive enough sunlight and consistent watering. 'Most veg and fruit can be grown in containers, although in June onwards they will require a lot of watering,' explains Lofthouse. 'Herbs are good to grow in containers as they require less water. I also like to grow carrots and salad leaves in containers.' Salad leaves, spring onions, dwarf carrots and patio tomatoes are ideal for containers and can be harvested in stages. Herbs like thyme, parsley and chives are particularly suited to pot life and can be snipped as needed, offering fresh flavour at your fingertips. It's best to use multipurpose compost and opt for terracotta or glazed ceramic pots, which help retain moisture better than plastic. Overwintering plants to consider at this stage Lofthouse says it's best to think long-term by planting overwintering crops now. Winter brassicas such as sprouts, winter cabbage and kale need a head start during the warmer months to establish strong roots before temperatures drop. 'June is a good time of the year to plant out winter brassicas,' says Lofthouse. 'I like to sow leeks into a seedbed outdoors and harvest baby leeks throughout the winter.' Sow your brassicas in a seedbed or small nursery area, then transplant once the seedlings are sturdy. Leeks sown now can be harvested young or left to mature until early spring. Try and keep their rows weed-free and mound soil around their bases to encourage long white stems. Mistakes to avoid when planting later in the season There are a couple of common mistakes you should try and avoid when planting later in the season. 'The biggest mistakes are planting and then not watering, or growing a large amount of one vegetable and not being able to eat it all,' says Lofthouse, 'the plants will bolt.' It's easy to get carried away with sowing, but think practically – how much of one vegetable will you really eat? Avoid food waste and plant in small, manageable batches with succession sowing in mind to keep your harvest spread out.
