Spinach, Spinacia oleracea

Jeremy Bartlett's LET IT GROW blog Posted on by

It’s time to sow seeds of Spinach, Spinacia oleracea. This is a crop that rapidly bolts (runs to seed) in hot, sunny weather, so it’s a good idea to sow it early and often, so you have a succession of young leaves. (See How to grow spinach for growing tips.) I have grown several varieties. “Matador” works well for me and I’m trying out a “red rooted” variety, “Medania”, this year.

I start my sowings in a cool greenhouse in February (see The growing season starts here on this blog), then sow about every three weeks until late April. I also make a late sowing in mid August or early September, which will crop in a mild autumn, or stand sulkily over the winter to give some early leaves in spring, especially if under a cloche.

I think the greenhouse spinach’s leaves are best – tender and delicious; early and late in the season outdoor ones are much thicker and tougher.

Young spinach leaves are delicious in salads, while older ones are best cooked in curries or omelettes, or many other recipes.

Spinach

Young spinach leaves

Spinach probably originated in ancient Persia, from where it was taken to China and the Mediterranean. It is highly nutritious, with vitamins, iron and calcium. However, the leaves contain oxalic acid, which binds to iron and especially calcium, reducing its uptake by the body. Very large quantities of oxalic acid are poisonous in some plants, such as rhubarb leaves and black bryony, but spinach has lower levels and, unless you suffer from conditions such as gout and kidney stones, or perhaps eat spinach every day for weeks on end, there’s no need to be concerned.

See Oxalic Acid and Foods for more information.

Rosemary, Romarinus officinalis

Jeremy Bartlett's LET IT GROW blog Posted on by

“As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship, whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language.”  – Sir Thomas More (1478-1535). 

Rosemary

Rosemary – in flower as early as January in sheltered places

Like Sage, Rosemary (Romarinus officinalis) is an evergreen herb that can be picked all year round. It originated by the Mediterranean Sea and its Latin name, Rosmarinus, means “dew of the sea”.

There are several different varieties, from “Miss Jessopp’s Upright”, which is 2 metres tall and wide, to “Prostratus”, a tender, spreading form that is suitable for pots and only grows to 50cm tall and wide. It likes a sunny spot in the garden and well-drained soil.

In the Grapes Hill Community Garden we have a couple of patches of rosemary – one by the lawn and one by the top ash tree, all of form “Primley Blue” (80cm by 80cm).

Rosemary is relatively short lived. It was alleged to live as long as Jesus Christ (33 years) but this is a bit optimistic, certainly in the cold and damp of the British climate.

Rosemary leaves are used in many recipes, including vegetarian ones. Rosemary goes very well with pork and lamb and can be used to flavour new potatoes. The blue, pink or white flowers can be added to salads or fruit purees.

Rosemary oil, which you should only apply externally, can be used as a bath oil or as a rub to help poor circulation. Applied to the head, it can relieve a headache. As a bonus, this also repels insects.

If you steep rosemary leaves in boiling water, the resulting tea can be used as an antiseptic mouthwash or gargle. In small amounts it relieves flatulence but avoid drinking very large quantities.

Rosemary can be propagated by cuttings. Plants shouldn’t be pruned in autumn as this may damage or kill them.

Rosemary Beetle

Rosemary Beetle

The Rosemary Beetle, Chrysolina americana, is a shiny, metallic green beetle with purple stripes. is a native of southern Europe but became established in Britain in the 1990s. It has been in Norwich for a number of years and I have seen it in my garden and on my allotment.  Sometimes called the Lavender Beetle, it also eats Lavender, Sage, Perovskia and Thyme.

In the worst case, the beetles can destroy whole plants. However, in my garden and on my allotment they don’t seem to do much damage so I’m happy to share my growing space with such a pretty beetle.

This blog post is adapted from articles I wrote for the February 2012 edition of the Grapes Hill Community Garden Members’ Newsletter.

Norwich Eco Awards

Jeremy Bartlett's LET IT GROW blog Posted on by
Norwich Eco Award 2012

Norwich Eco Awards - certificate

Last night I went to Norwich Eco Awards at City Hall in Norwich with two friends from the Grapes Hill Community Garden. This is the fourth year of the awards, which recognise businesses, individuals, schools and community groups making Norwich a more eco-friendly place.

An award of “eco hero” is chosen from all the entries received, which “recognises the hard work of an individual or group towards making Norwich a cleaner and safer place in which to live and work” (see Norwich City Council website).

We started the evening with a buffet of local food and then went into the council chamber, where Chris Higgins (Sheriff of Norwich and landlord of the great Trafford Arms pub) presented the awards.

Community group awards were the last award category. The overall winner was a very deserving African community growing initiative based on Bluebell South allotments, the Ray of Hope – Youth Horticultural Skills Training Project. Grapes Hill Community Garden received a commendation.

Then it was time for the Eco Hero award – and I won, for my work at Grapes Hill Community Garden, The Belvedere Centre and other projects I’m involved in, such as Norfolk Master Gardeners. I’m thrilled to have received the award and I now have a glass trophy made from recycled green glass by Langham Glass.

Eco heroHowever, it’s important to remember that projects such as Grapes Hill Community Garden and the improvements at The Belvedere Centre come about because of the efforts of all supporters for all the work that has been done, submitting grant applications, helping with events, planting and then tending the garden, unlocking and locking the gates, providing food … – the list is nearly endless.

Read all about the award winners on the Norwich City Council website.