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.
The Awkward Truth About Growing Avocados in the UK (That Blogs Rarely Mention) You’ve probably seen them — those cheerful guides on growing avocado in the UK promising guaranteed success. Many, like RHS and Urban Veg Patch, boldly guarantee results. Technically, they’re not wrong. But
Introduction: Best LED Grow Lights for a 4×4 Grow Tent UK (2026 Guide) The best LED grow lights for a 4×4 grow tent start with understanding that a 4×4 tent is the ideal size for many indoor gardeners — spacious enough for a strong yield,
Introduction: Do Mars Hydro Grow Lights Actually Work? Yes, Mars Hydro LED grow lights work. They are a top pick for beginner to mid-level indoor growers. These lights offer strong light output, full-spectrum coverage, and dependable results — all without breaking the bank. While they
Bosch AXT 25 TC Best Overall In-depth Review Forest Master FM6DD Best Petrol In-depth Review Hyundai HYCH6560 Heavy Duty Introduction: Best Garden Shredders UK 2026 If you’ve ever spent a weekend wrestling with piles of garden waste, you’ll know why a garden shredder review comes
Worm Casting Tea: How to Brew, Use & Boost Your Garden Organically If you’re into organic gardening, chances are you’ve heard the buzz about worm casting tea—and no, it’s not something you sip with a biscuit. This microbe-rich liquid fertiliser, made from worm castings (aka
Worm Castings vs Compost: What’s the Difference? If you’re looking to boost your soil health naturally, two tried-and-true options often come up: worm castings and compost. Both are organic soil amendments, packed with nutrients, and loved by gardeners—but they work in slightly different ways. Understanding
Introduction Worm castings might not look like much, but don’t be fooled—they’re one of nature’s most powerful organic fertilizers. Also known as vermicast or worm compost, these nutrient-rich droppings are produced by earthworms as they break down compost and organic matter. Packed with essential nutrients,
Introduction: Is It a Fruit or a Vegetable? 🍅 Your salad might just be a fruit bowl in disguise From the juicy tomato to the crunchy cucumber, plenty of what we toss into savoury meals are, technically speaking, fruits – at least if you’re asking
Introduction: Why Grow Lights Matter for Tomatoes Indoors Growing tomatoes indoors can be incredibly rewarding—especially when you get it right. But without proper lighting, even the healthiest plants will struggle to produce fruit. Whether you’re sowing your first seeds or pushing mature plants into flower,
Introduction Does nylon trimmer line biodegrade? It’s a question more gardeners are starting to ask — and with good reason. When you’re tidying up borders or knocking back weeds, you probably don’t think twice about what your trimmer line is made from. But as a
Introduction Every time you fire up your strimmer to tidy up the lawn or neaten the edges, you’re likely leaving behind more than just trimmed grass. Traditional strimmer cord, especially non-biodegradable types, is made from nylon — a tough, synthetic plastic that sticks around far
Introduction to Our Review of the Spider Farmer SE5000 Searching for a powerful, efficient, and professional-grade grow light for your indoor garden? The Spider Farmer SE5000 delivers exactly that. Built for growers who demand results, it continues to earn praise across the community. What You’ll