Gardening Tools, Equipment & BBQ's

Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants without soil. The roots grow either in air, which is kept very humid; in water, which is well aerated; or in some solid, non-soil medium, which is kept moist. The water around the roots contains a carefully balanced mixture of nutrients that provides food for the plant.

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Serves: 3
Prep: 20 Mins
BBQ: 120 mins
Roasting Method/Gas Medium

Ingredients
3 tortillas
1 duck (giblets removed)
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp chinese five spice powder
1 garlic clove
1/2 cucumber
small piece of ginger
1 bunch of spring onions
Runny honey
1 cup of plum or hoisin sauce

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Heating your greenhouse is a necessary but often money-consuming task. However, for smaller areas requiring frost protection, paraffin could be the solution you’ve been looking for. As an alternative to both electric and gas, paraffin is a more traditional option. The Bio Green Warmax range of paraffin greenhouse heaters will protect your plants and help your seeds to grow. Ideal for smaller greenhouses and one of the simplest of greenhouse heaters, the Warmax is inexpensive to buy can be used for small spaces or as a backup for a main heater.

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During winter, the harsh weather can have adverse effects on your lawn, but with some simple maintenance, this will be easy to overcome and you will soon be enjoying a beautiful lawn when spring comes around.

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Burrowing activity is at a peak in the spring while the parents find food for the new litter of baby moles. And of course, spring is an important season when it comes to lawn care, so the tell-tale sight of mole hills across your lawn can be the bane of our lives. Now is a good time to consider preventative measures or to take stock of a solution in preparation for an infestation.

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Making your own compost is very simple and has many benefits, it’s good for the environment, good for your garden and it will save you money! Compost is essential for any keengardener it increases the nutrients in the ground and it improves the texture and strength of the soil as well as helping with the soils water retention. Making your own compost is very easy to do and once you’ve got the hang of the basics you won’t look back!

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Rabbits can cause serious damage to the vegetables in your garden and ideally you want to keep them as far away from your plants as possible. There are a couple of options for the keengardener to keep rabbits away. One method is to spread something that rabbits dislike on or around your plants is a simple and safe way to protect your vegetable garden. Rabbits will dislike various things and 3 that work well are lavender, blood meal and chili powder all you do is spread them round or on your plants and this should keep the rabbits away. However you must reapply them every time it rains.

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To mark National Science and Engineering week’s ‘What on Earth’ campaign which is raising awareness of UK plants and animals facing habitat destruction and homelessness, free wildflower seeds are on offer on www.whatonearth.org.uk (subject to availability).

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When gardening like anything else having the right tools will make jobs more fun and means less work. You don’t need many tools to create a great garden a few basics will be enough to get you going and here are a few of any gardeners must have.
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Buying a greenhouse heater is an essential step in ensuring that your plants are protected from the frost in the winter. This use of heating is also instrumental in the development of seedlings and propagating plants. To help you pick the right greenhouse heater for your greenhouse, here are some tips on the different types of heaters.

Paraffin Heater

This type of heater is actually the most basic one available in the market and is the old fashioned way of heating. Paraffin is burnt in the heater which as well as producing heat also gives off carbon dioxide which is needed by plants for photosynthesis.

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Barbecue grilling is fun, rewarding and, most of all, tasty! Getting it wrong is very easy to do, but if you’re a novice, it may surprise you to hear that getting it right is also very simple. Follow these tips and you won’t go wrong. And neither will your dinner!

• Direct, indirect, or a little of both? Read the recipe and look for the instructions for setting up your grill. There are two methods of cooking in a Weber® grill—direct and indirect. See the Direct vs. Indirect Method of grilling on a BBQ blog post for specific instructions.

• Don’t try to save time by placing food on a grill that’s not quite ready. Let charcoal burn until it has a light grey ash coating (keep the vents open so the fire does not go out).

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If, like me, you like to indulge in a dessert after a great barbecue, why not try this recipe for chocolate brownie cake (from Weber’s Real Grilling™ by Jamie Purviance), with a twist. The twist? Cook it in your barbecue, impressing your guests with your imagination and versatility! The following recipe makes 8 to 10 servings:

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A greenhouse creates a more stable growing environment so that tender seedlings and plants can thrive. A cold frame is basically an extension of your average unheated greenhouse.

Cold frames provide plants and seedlings with protection from the wind, rain and frost. Because frost and snow in particular can wither and kill plants a cold frame is important in acting as a barrier that protects the cold air temperature outside.

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Almost Spring!

There was a time when one’s wealth could be judged by the size of their compost heap. Fertile ground was the safety net that allowed the common and the rich to sustain life by tillage and the nurturing of land.

Now is the time to add rotted manures and compost to the garden.
Fertility requirements differ between long and short growing seasons and among soil types. If you haven’t had a soil test for the last 2 or 3 years, it’s a good idea to get on with it. Inorganic fertilizers are otherwise like ‘a shot in the dark’, and possibly won’t be absorbed correctly if the soil pH is not suitable.

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A smoked turkey is pure delight and possesses a far better flavor than oven roasted. The secret is in the slow cooking. This turkey will be more tender and juicy than you thought possible. What you will need is a good turkey, a trustworthy thermometer, a smoker and a bit of patience. Actually a lot of patience. Even a small turkey, say 12-14 pounds can take 6 to 8 hours. But don’t be discouraged because the result will be well work the wait.

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