Giving The Garden a Boost

Grow fruit and veggies, grow!!!

Because of the cool spring (and only slightly warmer summer) everything in the garden is growing really slowly - apart from when it rains when things that you don't want to grow quickly (such as the grass and the bamboo) suddenly grow about 6 inches overnight!

I'm starting to get impatient and have come across a few tips which may help things along a little, using natural, eco-friendly resources to give nature a helping hand:-

• Marigolds (all types) can be used as insect repellents when it comes to protecting more vulnerable plants from attack
• Onion plants will repel aphids and carrot flies (but consider where you place them as some plants don't like them)
• Garlic is good planted around raspberries and will repel aphids so good next to roses too
• Most herbs will attract bees and wasps, which will help pollination of fruits and tomatoes
• Basil grown next to tomatoes will improve their flavour
• Tea or tea leaves can help maintain soil acidity
• Use the water from rinsing out milk containers as a liquid feed for outside plants
• Coffee grounds add nitrogen and acidity to the soil and can act as a deterrent to slugs and snails
• Rusty nails in the watering can will add iron to the soil
• Crushed egg shells added to the soil will add calcium and make slugs think twice about crossing over them
• Banana skins dug in around roses add potassium