Grow your own

One of our favourite products at the moment which we saw in action at RHS Tatton a few months ago is the smart solar powered Irrigatia SOL-C12 and SOL-C24 Automatic Watering Systems. Designed to save gardeners a whole lot of time and effort and encourage plant growth, this automatic watering system is one not to be missed!

The Irrigatia Automatic Watering System is solar powered and comes with a water pump system which can be connected to any water system, most commonly water butts. It harvests the power of the sun to water your plants, so on hotter days where the sun’s power is greater, it will automatically deliver more water to your plants. Unlike other water systems, this system can also pump the water upwards if needed and the power of the watering system can be adjusted to suit the natural climate. The water supply system works by delivering a drip feed to your plants every 3 hours, allowing for regular watering throughout the day. This is really useful for allotment users or if you’re greenhouse or polytunnel is not located at home, as it means you don’t need to visit your greenhouse every day if you don’t want to. What makes this system so smart is that it can now detect when it is dark and will turn the system off during the night to prevent watering.

The other great feature about the Irrigatia Automatic Watering Systems is that they come with a SMART controller and water level sensor which monitors the water level in your water butt and will alert you if the water level falls below a safe level, therefore preventing damage to the pump.

The system is available in two sizes, the SOL-C12 and SOL-C24. The Irrigatia SOL-C12 Automatic Watering System is capable of watering up to twelve 20 litre pots or 5 large hanging baskets whereas the SOL-C24 Automatic Watering System can water up to 24 20 litre pots or 10 hanging baskets.

To make your life easier, you can also purchase various extension kits to help water more plants. The system comes with 12 drippers for use with pots and baskets, but you could also choose to add the likes of a seep hose or extend the length of the watering system by using one of the connector kits.
All in all, we think that the Irrigatia Automatic Watering Systems are a great product which would make a welcome addition to most greenhouses or polytunnels. The smart technology which sees the system turn off in the evenings and sound during daylight hours if the water level is low are great features which will help to protect your watering system and plants. And what’s more, not having to stand there and water your plants everyday will also save you time and hassle! We’re happy with that!

It has long been said that growing your own food is not only cost effective, but it also gives you more control over the way your food is grown. If organic eating is something you’ve always wanted to, but never been able to afford, growing your produce is the way forward. It’s also a great way to get the whole family involved and learn more about fruits and vegetables and the many health benefits associated with these.

So this month we are rather excited to be running a competition to get you started with growing your own! Our amazing competition includes;

A VegTrug Classic – These beauties are perfect for getting started with growing your own vegetables. The V shape means that you can grow a selection of vegetables including deep rooted ones such as potatoes. At approximately 1 metre in length, they are a good size for a beginner as you will have enough space to experiment and try different produce, but not so much space that you don’t know what to do with it!

SeedCells – Included in the starter pack is a selection of SeedCells – these clever little things make planting easy as it’s a case of snap, pot, water and grow. Some will need to be started off in smaller pots inside before being transferred into your VegTrug, but with numerous cells to each pack, you are sure to have enough for a few rounds of planting! Included are mixed herbs, tomatoes, sweet peppers and chilli’s – and to help the kids get involved, we will also include a pack of giant sunflower seeds for planting next year.

Wooden Trug – And finally once you have successfully grown all of your tasty veggies, we are making it easier to gather them by including a medium sized wooden trug, perfect for transporting your produce back to the kitchen ready for washing and cooking.

To be in with a chance of winning this great prize worth over £100.00, just visit our Facebook or Twitter page, like/follow the page and share the competition post!

Entries close at 5pm on the 17^th August with the winner being announced on our social media pages!

Congratulations to Emma Kay who is the winner of our competition! 

Since the arrival of the VegTrug range a couple of months ago, we have been busy reading up and learning more about its purpose in order to help you get the most from it. We’re sure you know all about the great features of the VegTrug range and what makes them so special, but just in case you don’t, here’s a quick run-down;

1. The V shaped planter means you can really maximise your growing space to make the most of the seasons. The middle (which has a depth of 42cm) is where all your delicious veggies go that require a deeper root space, whilst the outside is perfect for everything else – more about what to grow and when later….
2. They are solid little (or rather big depending on which you go for) things which are made from hardy plantation-grown fir, and they come with protectors on their feet to help further project against rot
3. They come in all shapes and sizes, so you can literally create your own urban kitchen garden anywhere! Choose from the Poppy, classic or wall hugger ranges, with the classic and wall hugger coming in two sizes
4. They are much higher than a traditional raised bed, so all the horrible bending over is eliminated and due to their design, they can be moved (when empty) meaning you don’t need to dig up part of the garden - and if you think your produce would grow better in another area of the garden, you can move it there

Interplanting is one of the major advantages of the VegTrug and here’s some ideas for what to plant and when;

Potatoes – Need to be planted in the centre of your VegTrug to allow for plenty of space for the roots to establish themselves. You should plant your chitted potatoes when the soil has started to warm up, usually from mid-March or early April.

Radishes – Should also be planted towards the centre where the growing depth is greater. Radishes are quite easy to grow and will be ready to harvest around 4 weeks after sowing. Towards the end of May is normally a good time to start sowing your radishes and this can continue every couple of weeks well into Autumn if you want.

Broccoli – Another option for your deep planted crop is Broccoli. You can sow sprouting broccoli from mid-April to mid-May and it will do well in a sunny location in firm, moist soil.

Strawberries – These can be postioned towards the outside of your VegTrug. March is a good time to plant your strawberries and they’ll do well in fertile soil which is well-drained and that enjoys plenty of sunshine. Fruit should be ready for picking with 60 days, but this handy guide will take you through the various stages growth.

Garlic – Such an important component of cooking, garlic can be placed towards the outside of your VegTrug. You can plant from January to late March in free-draining soil and ensure you keep the soil well-watered. There are various websites which will give you tips on growing garlic, but it is one of the easier crops to grow, so we’d definitely suggest giving it a go!

Have fun growing!