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Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary

Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - Monthly updates from Harrod Horticultural's very own Victorian-style Kitchen Garden
Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary
 is our monthly gardening record of what's happening in Stephanie’s Kitchen Garden, a one third of an acre plot laid out in classic Victorian style and home to all manner of fruit and vegetables. Designed by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner Tom Hoblyn for Harrod Horticultural MD Stephanie Harrod back in 2005, Stephanie's Kitchen Garden not only provides all of Stephanie's fresh vegetables but is an invaluable testing ground for both potential and established Harrod Horticultural products.

Stephanie's Kitchen Garden provides all her home-grown fresh fruit and vegetables and is the ideal trialling ground for Harrod Horticultural garden supplies and products

  

Echoing the Harrod Horticultural growing ethos, Stephanie's Kitchen Garden is cultivated completely organically by trainee horticulturist Courtney Snowling, under the watchful eye of Stephanie herself. Between them, they set a yearly crop plan and use seed and gardening supplies from our range to bring it to fruition. You can read - and no doubt empathise with - their monthly experiences in the diary entries below.  

As well as being the perfect in-the-field location for testing gardening products, Stephanie's Kitchen Garden provides our friendly sales staff with enviable, second-to-none product knowledge to help serve customers like you better than ever. And to provide even greater expertise, we've teamed up with Julian Ives, our very own Pest Control Expert, who is on hand to guide you through the minefield of natural garden pest control. Under our Natural Choice banner, we've introduced a whole new range of organic pest control products and Julian is available - either by e-mail or letter - to answer any garden pest control queries you may have.     

 

We've even produced our own free Pest Guide entitled the Little Book of Pests which features all the common garden pests we've been plagued with in Stephanie's Kitchen Garden, available to download (Pest Guide - PDF format, 2.65MB) or as a booklet which we'll gladly send to you in the post free of charge (see link below to request your copy).  

 

Stephanie's Kitchen Garden has also been in demand by the gardening media. The kitchen garden has played host to a film crew and some highbrow gardening monthly magazines. You can download PDF versions of the fascinating gardening features in both The English Garden (6.94MB) and The Kitchen Garden (1MB) magazines.

 

We hope you enjoy the monthly diary updates from Stephanie's Kitchen Garden and can relate your experiences to what's going on in your own garden or on the allotment - and happy gardening!  

 

 

        Download a copy of Harrod Horticultural's very own FREE Pest Guide, the Little Book of Pests - an invaluable, 24-page 'keep handy' guide packed full of garden pest information and organic solutions


Let Julian Ives, Harrod Horticultural's very own garden pest expert, solve all your pest control queries

 

 

Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - June/July 2010 29/07/2010
A bi-monthly update this time around as I'm out and about, hunting down new products - but that hasn't stopped me developing a solution to mice, raising my vegetable cage and creating a support frame for my Stephanie's Kitchen Garden tomatoes ......read more
Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - May 2010 31/05/2010
This month, I've got the feedback from Chelsea and another RHS show date for your diary; aphids are proving a pest and I'll tell you why my runner beans are sure to be a success this year - all in Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary ......read more
Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - April 2010 30/04/2010
At last things are warming up in Stephanie's Kitchen Garden - but the improved weather brings new problems to solve. Meet my new assistant and discover my plans for the Chelsea Flower Show......read more
Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - March 2010 31/03/2010
Spring is here - no it's not! What is happening with our weather? Unperturbed, March sees potatoes planted, strawberries given a trim and some new additions to Stephanie's Kitchen Garden......read more
Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - February 2010 26/02/2010
Finally, the worst winter for 30 years draws to a close. We celebrate with news from the greenhouse, our plans for peas this year and how to chit your potatoes......read more
Stephanie's Kitchen Garden Diary - January 2010 29/01/2010
Just because it's snowing doesn't mean the garden stops! We've got horse manure to spread and a greenhouse to clean - and how's that rhubarb coming on...?...read more
Leeks, Leaves and Pruning Raspberries! 30/12/2009
Christmas hullaballo doesn't mean the garden grinds to a halt. There's leeks to harvest, bushes to prune and leaves to collect - all before the weather turns really nasty......read more
Terrific Tomatoes and High Class Carrots! 30/09/2009
The arrival of a film crew, a lowdown on our glut of tomatoes and how to grow carrots of the highest quality - as usual, it's been an eventful month in Stephanie's Kitchen Garden......read more
The Garden's ready for its close-up! 27/08/2009
Where does the time go? Already it's August and the scales have tipped and we have now passed the midpoint of this year's summer......read more
August's Army! 28/07/2009
July is a month of plenty; green tomatoes turn a welcome rosy red (or yellow, or stripy, or green, or even purple if you choose), soft fruits drip from canes or hang like jewel clusters from bushes......read more
Flaming June! 29/06/2009
It is already June in the Kitchen Garden, and now we can really see, smell and taste the fruits of our labours. The garden is vibrant with bright colours of Calendula and Nasturtium. Heady scents of sweet peas waft from obelisks......read more
May Madness! 09/06/2009
Lady May arrives in the garden, whirling her skirts in mischievous east coast winds. Contrary she blows hot and cold, catching unfortunate gardeners unawares. This is the time to be on your guard; armed with fleece, cloche and hoe we try to tame her. With plant food, string and supports we struggle to keep up with her....read more
April Antics! 21/04/2009
Mid April and finally the sun has cut through the misty grey East Anglian sea haze which can hang so close it feels like I am wearing a cold and damp blanket across my shoulders....read more
Spring is sprung! 02/04/2009
Pricking out Tomatoes is one job that seems to take such a long time, I try to save such jobs for more the more inclement days, those frosty mornings just keep coming. Notice how after this cold spell of late the phrase global warming seems to be wiped from the medias phrase book only to be replaced by climate change....read more
Cold and Very Cold... 03/03/2009
With fingers burning from icy damp and numb toes I grapple with the monthly chores in the Kitchen Garden. All sense of decorum is lost in the scrabble to stay warm, gaudy ski-trousers and layer upon layer of decidedly unstylish attire, flinging muck to and fro over the beds in yet another sleety downpour....read more
Another year begins... 02/02/2009
After the season’s festivities I was itching to get back in the garden, breathing fresh air and away from the television and sofa, alas I was thwarted by the unrelenting cold spell we endured....read more
Leaves and Trees... 01/12/2008
November in the Kitchen Garden and there is that familiar sound again, the soft rustle of a million leaves just waiting to fall, I must admit I often stand slightly mesmerised in the mist of the myriad different coloured leaves all gently making their way to the ground....read more
Shorter, Darker, Cooler... 04/11/2008
A breath of that crisp autumn air and the sight of low sunlight illuminating the golden leaves, inspires me to roll up my fleece sleeves and get stuck in to all those essential tasks....read more
Wet, Wet, Wet... 02/10/2008
September here at the Kitchen Garden has been a bumper month for many crops and a disappointment for others as that wet, wet August took its toll....read more
In the Shade! 29/08/2008
Precipitation frustration! The rain just won't leave us alone this month but Sharon's still got plenty of news on squashes, sweetcorn and seed saving - and signs!...read more
Spikes Aid for the Garden 16/07/2008
June sees the garden looking it's finest, and we've got hedgehog tales; a broad bean update; Sharon's new carrot growing idea and some Teepees give a Wild West flavour......read more
Hedgehog Haven 12/06/2008
Finally, some sun on our backs! Another busy month in the garden - find out about our new lodgers, how the potatoes are getting on, our slug-busting ideas and much more!...read more
March Winds 08/04/2008
March in the kitchen garden has been a meterelogical puzzle; find out how we coped with inclement weather, started planting potatoes, took care of our early crops - and lots, lots more!...read more
Frustrating February! 05/03/2008
A review of February's garden activities including a visit from a tree pruning expert, a look in the greenhouse, some early strawberry planting - and much more!...read more
Planning for 2008 01/02/2008
A look back at the early days of the Kitchen Garden, a welcome delivery of manure and what's likely to be growing in 2008......read more
A Break from Tradition! 04/12/2007
Hark back, if you will, to my last update from the Kitchen Garden when I was sidelined with my ankle injury...read more
Some things are destined not to go together! 04/10/2007
A bit like Romeo and Juliet, or perhaps oil and water. Fire and ice even. And to that list you can add gardening and a broken ankle!...read more
Welcome August Sunshine! 06/08/2007
You’ve got to take your hat off to Mother Nature. She laid on the perfect conditions for slugs and snails to procreate during the wet months of June and July and now she’s sent some welcome August sunshine which the plants are lapping up. The result? Lots of slugs, lots of snails and lots of juicy plants to eat!...read more
The wettest June for 93 years 04/07/2007
The Harrod Horticultural Kitchen Garden is usually a hectic place to be, but this last month has really taken the frantic biscuit! We’ve been building – and planting up – new raised beds; the slugs and snails have enjoyed a population boom; Kate’s headed off to pastures new; I’ve successfully completed the Master Composter course – and then, of course, there’s the weather...read more
There is a new arrival at the Kitchen Garden 12/06/2007
As usual, May has been a very busy time in the garden. I’ve been at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we have new raised beds to build, Kate’s got hedges to trim and there’s the usual raft of sowing, transplanting and weeding to continue with....read more
Kate and I have been really up against it this month for various reasons 04/04/2007
Climatic experts have long been insisting that global warming is inevitable, and in the next few years we are likely to see changes in our weather – but I didn’t think they meant immediately!...read more
I always thought that it was hares that went mad in March! 05/03/2007
I always thought that it was hares that went mad in March, but this year it seems to be the weather! March is always a busy month in the Kitchen Garden anyway, but we’ve also had to cope with 3 seasons in 4 weeks....read more
Spring is sprung! 05/02/2007
Pricking out Tomatoes is one job that seems to take such a long time, I try to save such jobs for more the more inclement days, those frosty mornings just keep coming. Notice how after this cold spell of late the phrase global warming seems to be wiped from the medias phrase book only to be replaced by climate change....read more
The deep mid-winter 04/01/2007
This must be the worst time of year, with slate grey skies day after day and the garden practically devoid of colour. It really seems like nature has packed up and gone away for a couple of weeks just after Christmas!...read more
Welcome Kate! 01/12/2006
With even more products appearing in the burgeoning horticultural marketplace, it’s been decided to boost the staff numbers in the Kitchen Garden so we can continue to bring you cutting edge products and information – so enter Kate....read more
Sarpo Success! 10/11/2006
Those heavy August rains certainly had an effect on the Kitchen Garden plants as they spent most of September producing fruit of fantastic shapes and colours – the garden was a real riot of colour and scents....read more
Sweet as a Potato! 15/09/2006
The endless, hot sunny days of July were soon washed away by the regular deluges of August, but although I was half-drowned most of the time, the plants in the Kitchen Garden absolutely loved it!...read more
Kitchen Gardener Heads for Surrey! 16/08/2006
The Kitchen Garden has been left to fend for itself for two days this week as I've been off on my travels once again - this time to the Royal Horticultural Society's famous garden at Wisley and here's my report on the trip...read more
Runner Bean - and Gone! 08/07/2006
A mystery is unfolding in the Kitchen Garden during the long hot days of the summer - just who is responsible for eating the runner bean plants?...read more
Summer in the City 14/06/2006
Now the Chelsea Show is over I can get back to tending the garden - can anyone remind me how to get there?!...read more
Springing into Action! 07/04/2006
Seventeen degrees celcius certainly seems to indicate that Spring is finally here, and the Kitchen Garden is starting to awaken!...read more
Sowing the Seeds for 2006 03/03/2006
Sowing the Seeds for 2006 -It’s going to be a busy year in the Kitchen Garden and I’ve already started sowing our Organic vegetable seeds – as per the plan!...read more
Planning for the Future 08/02/2006
As we are well into the New Year, garden thoughts have turned to the spring and summer and what will be growing in the Kitchen Garden. If ever a plan was required, it's now!...read more
A Year of Sensational Progress! 10/01/2006
The arrival of the Yuletide Season and the New Year brings fruit trees, a potting shed and a long list of jobs!...read more
Fog, Frost and the Big Autumn Clean-Up 24/11/2005
The winter starts to fire off it’s weather arrows and we clean the garden from top to bottom…...read more
Ghouls in the Greenhouse 01/11/2005
As it's Halloween, we concentrate on the nasties in the greenhouse and how to get rid of them...read more
The Autumn Winter Collection 2005 28/09/2005
We showcase the latest models destined to appear on the Kitchen Garden catwalk this winter.......read more
Recipe for Success - continued! 01/09/2005
Continuing our resume of the produce on the kitchen table this month.....read more
Recipe for Success 28/07/2005
From the Kitchen Garden to the Kitchen Table - we bring you up to date on exactly what has been happening to the crops harvested in the Kitchen Garden so far...read more
Early July and crops are ready for tasting 12/07/2005
The legume bed has proved extremely popular...read more
The Path to Success! 29/06/2005
The Heavy Duty Steel Fruit Cage arrives and the paths take shape...read more
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2005 06/06/2005
Harrod Horticultural receives a commendation at the World's premier Gardening Show...read more
Tomato Heaven in the Greenhouse 29/05/2005
Greenhouse crops are flourishing and the A-Tom frame plants thrive...read more
The Masterplan.......takes shape 05/05/2005
An Oasis of green in the Kitchen Garden...read more
War on Slugs in the Kitchen Garden 28/04/2005
A fierce battle rages in the Garden - but who is winning?...read more
Springing into Action! 06/04/2005
The Garden welcomes its' first flourish of plants...read more
No Happy Easter for Bunnies! 24/03/2005
The Kitchen Garden is now Rabbit proof - or is it?...read more
March is a growing success 03/03/2005
Winter's late blast does not affect propagation and the Potato chitting debate continues...read more
Winter Wonderland 24/02/2005
Very picturesque - but not so good for progressing the project! - design plans are finalised...read more
Can you Dig It? 10/02/2005
The heavy machinery rolls in as the Kitchen Garden Site is cleared...read more
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