Episode 662 — A Week of Growth: Garlic Harvest, Garden Tidying & Feeding Our Plants

This week on the Veg Grower Podcast, I’ve been making the most of a week off work — and it’s amazing how much difference a few focused days can make. Daily visits to the allotment have helped me get on top of all those little jobs that build up, and the plot is looking better than it has in a long time. It really has been a week of garlic harvest and garden tidying, and everything is thriving for it. Allotment Progress The highlight of the week has been the garlic harvest. The bulbs grown on the allotment have outperformed those at home, with bigger bulbs and stronger stems. They’re now curing in the greenhouse ready for long‑term storage. I’ve also been cutting back large clumps of comfrey for the compost bin. It’s growing vigorously at the moment, and while the bees love the flowers, the leaves make fantastic compost material. Kitchen Garden Improvements Back home, the kitchen garden has had a proper tidy and reset. I’ve moved the HotBin composter to a more practical location and set up a new Autopot Spyder watering system — a product I genuinely rate highly. If you’d like to try Autopot yourself, you can use my affiliate code AUTO10RVG for 10% off on the Autopot website. I’ve also spent time checking supports, tying in plants, and trimming back anything getting unruly. We’ve even had a nest of bumblebees set up near the chicken coop, which has been fascinating to watch. Recipe of the Week This week’s recipe is a simple but delicious pea and mint crostini — perfect for using those early‑summer harvests and ideal as a quick garden‑side snack. In the Potting Shed In the potting shed, I’m talking all about feeding our plants — when to feed, what to use, and how to avoid overdoing it. If you’re looking for reliable plant feeds, I recommend Empathy products. They offer excellent seaweed feed, tomato feed, and specialist blends.