The parent plant, elder, or ‘Sambucus nigra’ is common everywhere except the far north of Scotland, frequenting hedgerows, waste ground and woodland fringes.
Pete has looked after Jamie’s garden in Essex for the last six years, growing organic fruit and vegetables for both the Oliver family and Fifteen Restaurant. A traineeship at Cambridge University Botanic Garden was followed by a stint in the organic kitchen garden at Audley End House before he landed the post at Jamie’s.
The parent plant, elder, or ‘Sambucus nigra’ is common everywhere except the far north of Scotland, frequenting hedgerows, waste ground and woodland fringes.
I’m writing this on 29 February, that strange extra day that’s shoehorned into every fourth year to make the calendar year and the earth’s celestial year align with one another.
February often gets a bad rap, but unfairly so, in my opinion. Yes, it’s still winter and yes, it can sometimes be dreary, but prolonged periods of cold are so rare these days that the season is seldom actually as bad as we expect.
There’s always a lot to do in December, but not much time in which to do it before the Christmas holidays begin. Short days and grotty weather don’t help matters.
Every month has much to recommend it, even November, although I can’t imagine many people would declare it their favourite.
October is a month of unstoppable transition. There’ll even be a few summer crops still doggedly carrying on but ripening ever more slowly.
In September, the trees and hedgerows are bursting with seasonal sweet and savoury treasures, from native fruits to big, beautiful autumnal squash.
The arrival of August is always welcome to a gardener. Plant growth begins to slow, and it is finally possible to stand back and admire the garden.
Rhubarb is easy to grow, and deserves a place on any gardener’s plot. A look at these rhubarb recipes will also illustrate that it is super versatile.
Italian tomatoes are integral to the country’s cuisine, and different types have different culinary uses. Here is a guide to the most popular ones.