What started Forest Schools in UK?
The rise of forest schools is, in part, a response to the increasing focus on measuring academic progress against objective standards, such as standardized testing and rigid curricula.
Early Years Myths / Toddler Myths / Young Children Myths
There are several myths and misconceptions about early childhood development, education, and parenting. These myths can sometimes misguide parents, caregivers, and educators.
Heritage Tomato Myths
"Heritage tomatoes" often refer to what many call "heirloom tomatoes," prized for their rich history, diverse appearance, and incredible flavours. However, myths surrounding heritage tomatoes can create misconceptions.
What are the Plastic Covering Options for a Hoop House?
When building a hoop house, choosing the right plastic covering is essential for creating a suitable environment for your plants.
Tomato vs Pepper!
While tomatoes and peppers share the same plant family (Solanaceae), they have significant differences in flavour, culinary uses, and characteristics.
What is the Kratky Method for Growing Tomatoes?
The Kratky Method is a passive hydroponic system that allows you to grow plants, including tomatoes, without pumps or continuous water circulation.
Cleaning a Poly-tunnel at the End of the Growing Season
Cleaning a polytunnel at the end of the growing season is essential for maintaining a healthy growing environment.
Kaizen - Continuous Improvement for Tomato Growing
Kaizen, a Japanese term meaning "continuous improvement," can be applied to various aspects of life, including tomato growing. In the context of agriculture or gardening, using the Kaizen approach encourages small, incremental improvements in growing practices to boost productivity, reduce waste, and optimize processes.
Natural Fungicides for Tomato Plants
Natural fungicides can be highly effective in managing fungal diseases on tomatoes while being safer for the environment and human health. Common fungal diseases affecting tomatoes include blight, powdery mildew, and anthracnose.
What is the Difference Between Perlite and Vermiculite?
Perlite and vermiculite are both lightweight, natural materials commonly used to improve soil aeration and drainage in gardening, but they have distinct properties and serve different purposes in plant care.
Can Tomatoes be Vertically Farmed?
While tomatoes can be successfully vertically farmed, the setup and maintenance are more complex than for crops like lettuce or herbs, but the benefits in terms of yield and resource efficiency can be substantial.
How to Make a Hybrid Tomato Stable?
Stabilizing a hybrid tomato involves growing successive generations from the original hybrid and selecting for the desired traits over time. With patience and careful selection, you can create a new, stable tomato variety that consistently produces plants with the traits you want.
Hoop House Innovations
Hoop house innovations involve various improvements in the design, materials, and techniques used in traditional hoop houses to make them more efficient, durable,
How to Collect Tomato Seeds?
Collecting tomato seeds is a straightforward process that allows you to save seeds from your favourite tomato plants for future planting such as heirloom / heritage tomatoes.
Paradigm Shift in Tomato Growing
A paradigm shift in tomato growing refers to a significant transformation in the methods, technologies, and philosophies used to cultivate tomatoes.
Beginners Guide to Growing Tomato Plants
Growing tomato plants can be a rewarding experience, whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener. Here's a beginner's guide to help you grow healthy and productive tomato plants from start to finish, including heirloom / heritage tomatoes, hybrid tomatoes, determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes.
Tomato Fertilisers / Fertilizers - NPK - Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus(P), Potassium (K)
Tomato fertilizers are designed to provide essential nutrients that tomatoes need for healthy growth and high yields. Fertilizers typically contain a mix of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and micronutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and trace elements). Understanding the role of these ingredients helps in choosing the right fertilizer for your tomato plants.
Building a DIY Hoop House / Polytunnel
Building a DIY hoop house / polytunnel is a great way to extend your growing season, protect crops from harsh weather, and create a controlled environment for your plants.
Black Russian Tomato
The Black Russian tomato is a unique heirloom variety known for its dark, rich colour and deep, sweet flavour. Unlike standard red tomatoes, Black Russian tomatoes have a distinctive dark purple to almost black hue, which comes from their high anthocyanin content—a powerful antioxidant. This tomato variety is prized for its juicy texture and a flavour that is both sweet and slightly smoky, with complex undertones that make it a favorite among tomato connoisseurs.