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 Leeks are one of those crops that do not look like much early on, but they properly earn their space later in the year. They sit quietly through spring and summer, bulk up slowly, and then become one of the most useful vegetables in
Introduction Most garden projects do not go wrong because the original idea was bad. More often, it is the practical details that catch people out. In real UK gardens, that usually means something simple has been missed: That is where garden landscaping materials really matter.
Introduction Parsnips are not difficult once they get going, but they can be awkward at the start. If you have ever sown a row, waited patiently, and ended up staring at bare soil for weeks, you are not alone. The main challenge with growing parsnips
Introduction Learning how to store potatoes properly sounds simple enough, until you have a sack of muddy spuds, a damp shed, and no clear plan for what needs eating first. For UK gardeners and allotment growers, potato storage is rarely about having the perfect root
Introduction Spring onions should be one of the easy wins in a veg patch. Sow a few seeds, wait a while, then pull them fresh for salads, stir-fries, omelettes and whatever else needs a bit of sharp green crunch. In good conditions, they really can
Introduction Growing lettuce in the UK sounds almost too easy: scatter some seed, add water, pick salad. And sometimes, it really is that simple. However, lettuce can also catch you out. It can: The best way to grow lettuce is to think in small, steady
July is where the UK harvest calendar changes gear. Earlier in the year, you are often waiting for the first proper pickings. By July, the job is usually keeping up before crops get too big, too tough, too ripe, or pinched by something else. For
Introduction Winter squash is one of those crops that makes a garden or allotment feel properly productive. The plants sprawl, the flowers are hard to miss, and if the season goes your way, you end up with solid, colourful squash that can sit in storage
Introduction This week the allotment started to feel less like a clearing job and more like an actual growing space. I managed to get up there twice, with two decent sessions, and the difference already feels huge. There is still plenty to do, but the
Introduction — What to Harvest in June UK If you are wondering what to harvest in June in the UK, this is the month when the garden starts to feel properly useful again. You may be picking lettuce, rocket, radishes, spring onions, spinach, chard, broad
Introduction Learning how to grow pumpkins in the UK is mostly about getting the timing, warmth and space right. Pumpkins are not hard in the fussy, delicate sense. However, they are hungry, sprawling plants, and they do not really forgive cold soil, cramped beds or
Introduction Summer can be one of the most productive times in a UK vegetable garden, but it is also when small problems show themselves quickly. One dry spell, one forgotten seed tray, or a few days of harsh sun can be enough to turn steady