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.
Frost does not mean you need to wrap the whole garden. Tender vegetables, young seedlings and fresh new growth are the main priorities, while established winter crops such as kale, leeks and Brussels sprouts usually cope perfectly well without protection. The important part is knowing
You can grow a useful supply of salad leaves through winter in the UK, but the trick is getting the right crops established before the darkest part of the year. Some will give genuine winter pickings, while others slow almost to a stop before getting
Introduction – What to Harvest in May (UK) If you’re wondering what to harvest in May, this guide covers the vegetables, fruit, and herbs that may be ready to pick in late spring. May is a turning point in the UK growing season. The garden
Winter is quieter in the vegetable garden, but there is still useful work to do. December is mainly about harvesting and protecting established crops, January brings a few carefully chosen early sowings, and February is when the new growing season begins to gather pace. This
Autumn is still a productive planting season in the UK. From September to November, you can sow fast-growing salad crops, plant hardy vegetables such as garlic and onion sets, and establish crops that will overwinter for an earlier harvest next year. What you can plant
Summer planting on these grand isles is special, and even beginners will notice the shift straight away. By June, most beds are producing an abundance of courgettes, peas, beans and tomatoes. Then, by July or August, it almost feels like its time to pause and
This article is to help you when you wake up a bit fuzzy on a Sunday, get to the Allotment, and realise you have no idea what to do! (We’ve all been there) Most gardeners on these little islands don’t need more theory or long
Nature does not follow a perfect timetable, and neither does your garden. The weather changes quickly, soil can warm more slowly than expected, and advice that worked one year may need adjusting the next. That is why this monthly UK planting guide is best used
Spring is the busiest season for UK growers—and for good reason. After months of short days and soggy weather, the soil finally warms, the light levels increase, and the vegetable planting calendar suddenly feels wide open. Whether you’re tending a full allotment or a few
If you’re wondering what you can grow in autumn and winter in the UK, there are more options than you might expect. Hardy greens, root crops, winter salads and overwintering vegetables can all keep your plot productive as temperatures fall. Crops such as kale, spinach,