Tomato

Tomatoes splitting after rain: why it happens — and what actually helps

Three dry days last week, then a thunderstorm. The next morning, nine split tomatoes lay under the plant. Not because of the rain. Because of the two weeks before it.

Peppers in the raised bed: why the fruits are still green in July — and what actually helps

Peppers need patience — and a few specific things that make the difference in midsummer. Why the fruits are still green, what helps them turn red faster, and when to just harvest them green.

Raised bed while you're on holiday: who waters when you're gone

Two weeks away in high summer, and the bed sits in full sun. No plan, and you come back to hay. One hour of prep, and you come back to tomatoes. The low-tech tricks that actually last — plus the things you must not do before you leave.

Heavy, medium and light feeders: the nutrient table for your raised bed

Some plants eat a lot, some almost nothing. Knowing which is which lets you spread your bed's strength across the years — and stops you planting two hungry crops on the same spot two years running. The table plus the crop-rotation logic behind it.

Mulching a raised bed properly: straw or grass clippings — and how thin

A 5 cm mulch layer halves how often I water — I counted it over two summers. Why straw and grass clippings both work, the one mistake that always goes mouldy, and when to mulch.

A watering timer for your raised bed: how the bed survives your holidays

An automatic watering computer on the tap, plus a drip line — and your raised bed waters itself, even when you're away for two weeks. How to set it up, program it properly, and dodge the one mistake that ruins everything.