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 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
Introduction 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
Introduction June was a quieter month on the allotment, but that is not a bad thing. After the big clear-out in May, this month was more about keeping the plot moving, adding a few more crops, protecting what was already in the ground, and slowly
Choosing a hedge trimmer is not just about picking a brand or model. In many cases, the more important question comes first: should you go cordless, corded, or petrol? That choice affects how easy the tool is to live with, how much cutting power you
Introduction Spinach is one of those crops that looks dead easy on paper until it suddenly is not. One week it looks great, and the next it is bolting, sulking in dry soil, or giving you far less than the space felt worth. The big
Introduction Brussels sprouts can be a brilliant winter crop, but they are not one of those veg you can half-get-right and still expect much from later. They take a while, they get bigger than plenty of people expect, and by autumn they have a habit
Introduction Growing cauliflower in the UK can be really satisfying, but it is also one of those crops that quickly shows you where things are going wrong. If the plants get checked by cold, drought, weak seedlings, poor spacing, or pest damage, the heads usually
Introduction Growing cabbage in the UK is fairly straightforward once you understand what tends to go wrong. That is the part that catches people out. You can do a nice neat sowing, raise decent seedlings, and still end up with a patch that gets hammered
Introduction UK frost dates confuse a lot of gardeners because, although the UK is small, it does not behave like one neat growing zone. A sowing date that works in Cornwall, coastal Devon, or a sheltered London garden can still be too early for Scotland,