Episode 666: Grapevine Pruning, Potato Problems & A New Vegetable Garden Begins

Welcome to Episode 666 of the Veg Grower Podcast. This week Richard has been juggling warm, humid weather, kitchen‑garden pruning, allotment challenges, and an exciting new project helping a young couple start their very first vegetable garden. It’s a classic midsummer mix of maintenance, problem‑solving and inspiration. Here’s what’s been happening. In the Kitchen Garden The week began with early‑morning gardening sessions — the only time cool enough to work comfortably. Richard has been potting on cucumbers, cabbages, cauliflowers and kale, watering in the mornings to reduce slug activity, and making steady progress despite the heat. Grapevine Pruning A major job this week was pruning and training the productive grapevine. Richard explains how careful thinning improves fruit size and airflow, and shares his experiment with a Bramley apple grown from seed and trained as a step‑over tree. It’s decorative, compact, and a fun long‑term project. Water Conservation A new rainwater collection system has been attached to the greenhouse, along with an additional water butt. With rainfall scarce, every drop counts. Down the Allotment Warm, humid weather has made allotment visits tricky, but straw mulch continues to keep beds moist and plants healthy. Richard has been heading down early at weekends to stay on top of jobs. Potato Problems A late frost in early May killed the foliage of the first‑early potatoes, and the harvest has been disappointing — only enough for a couple of meals from a whole bed. Richard reflects on how weather extremes affect yields and why growing your own food matters more than ever. Mixed Harvests Despite the potato setback, other crops have been more encouraging: Broad beans Courgettes Overwintered onions (small but usable) Rhubarb Tomatoes from the greenhouse Broad bean plants have been cut back, with roots left in the soil to return nitrogen. Straw Mulch: Still the Hero Straw mulch has once again proved invaluable, keeping potatoes and other crops less stressed and prompting Richard to buy another bale to replace what’s been used. Recipe of the Week Warm Summer Cabbage & Herb Pan‑Fry This week’s recipe is a simple, delicious cabbage dish perfect as a barbecue side. Finely shredded cabbage is sautéed with onions, garlic, wholegrain mustard, butter and fresh herbs. Quick cooking keeps it sweet, and it’s a great way to use summer cabbage A New Vegetable Garden Project One of the most exciting parts of this week’s episode is the start of a brand‑new edible garden for Lisa and Alistair, who have just moved into a house with a large front garden. Richard visited to help them plan their first vegetable patch, offering guidance on: Clearing and reorganising an overgrown compost area Removing unwanted trees Preparing a 10×20 metre vegetable area Planning for a greenhouse Installing sunk IBC water tanks Building raised beds (possibly from reclaimed sleepers) Garden designers John and Bryony will help shape the layout, and Richard will be checking in monthly to track progress. Listeners can follow the project on Instagram at Rooted at Belvedere.