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.
Introduction Learning how to grow borage is fairly straightforward, which is why it turns up in so many UK veg patches, allotments and wildlife gardens. It grows quickly from seed, produces beautiful star-shaped blue flowers, and bees absolutely love it. That said, borage is not
Introduction Yes — you can grow blueberries in the UK, and they can crop really well. But there’s one thing that catches most people out early on: the soil. Blueberries need acidic conditions, and most UK gardens simply don’t have that naturally. That’s why a
Introduction Blackberries are one of those crops that just fit the UK. They handle our weather, don’t ask for much once they’re in, and if you get them set up properly, they’ll give you a reliable harvest year after year. That said, they catch a
Introduction Black beans aren’t a typical UK crop, so a lot of people assume they won’t work here. In reality, you can grow black beans in the UK — but whether you get a proper dried harvest comes down to timing, warmth, and a bit
Introduction Can you grow bitter melon in the UK? Yes — but only if you give it enough heat and a bit more attention than most crops. That’s the honest answer. Bitter melon (bitter gourd) is a tropical climber, so it doesn’t naturally fit UK
Introduction Growing beetroot in the UK is about as reliable as it gets — but a few small mistakes can quietly ruin the harvest. Most people don’t struggle to grow beetroot… they struggle to grow good beetroot. You’ll often see plenty of leafy tops but
Introduction Growing basil in the UK can be surprisingly frustrating. It’s often sold as an easy herb, but if you’ve ever brought a supermarket plant home only to watch it collapse within a week, you’ll know that’s not the full story. The reality is simple:
Introduction Growing aubergines in the UK sounds simple enough? You just have to sow, plant and harvest them right? In reality, the aubergine is one of those crops that can be tricky to get right here in Britain. You usually end up with healthy plants,
Introduction Growing asparagus in the UK looks straightforward — until you actually try it. This is where a lot of gardeners slip up early on. It’s a perennial vegetable, so once it’s established, it can crop for 10–20 years. However, that also means early mistakes
Introduction Growing ash gourd in the UK isn’t something you see on most allotments — and there’s a reason for that. It’s a tropical vine that thrives on heat, long seasons, and steady warmth… three things we don’t always get here. So the obvious question
Introduction If you’ve looked into crop rotation on an allotment before, you’ve probably seen the diagrams, charts, and strict 3–4 year plans. On paper, they look great. In reality, on a damp UK plot in mid-season, they can feel a bit… optimistic. Most guides overcomplicate
Introduction Growing apple trees in the UK sounds simple — and to be fair, it can be — but most issues don’t come from the tree itself. They come from how it’s set up in the first place. Choosing the wrong rootstock, planting it in