This archive brings together practical, experience-led articles from The Backyard Farmer, covering gardening, DIY, indoor growing, foraging, reviews, and sustainable living. Each post is written with real-world use in mind — focusing on working with nature, building practical skills, and making sustainable choices more accessible.
Most pumpkins in the UK are ready to harvest during September and October, but timing should never be based on the calendar alone. The key is ripeness: a mature pumpkin will have a hard rind, a firm, woody stalk, and a fully developed colour for
July has felt much more like proper allotment growing. The big clearing jobs are mostly behind me now, crops are filling the beds, and I have started bringing home some proper harvests. There have still been a few problems. Flea beetles arrived in numbers, the
I took on my own allotment on the Wirral in May 2026, so I know that finding the right site and application route is not always as straightforward as it sounds. Some plots are let directly by councils, while others are managed by town or
Chard, perpetual spinach, kale, lettuce, beetroot and radishes are among the most reliable vegetables for partial shade in the UK. Rhubarb, currants, gooseberries and raspberries can also cope well with beds that lose the sun for part of the day. Broad beans, leeks, peas and
Save seed from healthy, open-pollinated French bean plants and leave selected pods in place until they turn brown, dry and brittle. If wet weather threatens, bring mature pods under cover to finish drying. Once fully dry, shell the beans, spread them out indoors until they
Sweetcorn freezes well when it is prepared soon after picking. For the best flavour, colour and texture, use fresh, ripe cobs and see our guide to [when to harvest sweetcorn in the UK]. Blanching is recommended, with loose kernels offering the best all-round option, although
The calendar gives you a useful starting point, but sweetcorn does not always ripen evenly. Timing can vary between plants—and even between cobs on the same plant—depending on the cultivar, weather and growing conditions. Before picking, check each cob for brown, drying silks, a firm
Most outdoor French beans in the UK are harvested from July to September. Early greenhouse or polytunnel plants may crop in June, while healthy climbing beans can sometimes continue into October in mild conditions. Pick each pod once it has reached the expected size for
Most UK runner beans are harvested from July to September, although early crops may begin in late June and plants in mild, sheltered locations can continue into October. Pick the pods while they are firm and tender, usually at around 20–25cm long, and check the
Cucumbers are usually sown from February to May in the UK. Start them in February or March only for a heated greenhouse, sow in April for an unheated greenhouse, or wait until late April to mid-May for outdoor growing. Plant outside from late May or
Most UK cucumbers are harvested from July to September, although greenhouse plants may crop from June into October. Pick them once they reach the expected size for the variety, feel firm and show their normal colour. Cucumbers are best harvested before they become yellow, swollen
An allotment is a separate plot of land rented mainly for growing fruit, vegetables, flowers and other plants. Most are managed by councils, allotment associations or private landowners. As a UK allotment holder, a member of the Cheshire Smallholders Association and someone whose work has