D.T. Brown Blog

One of the most popular garden vegetables - and not surprising since the taste of fresh tomatoes from the vine is divine. There are numerous varieties from the small-fruited cherry types to the monster beefsteak forms; from the standard red to yellow, orange, green, purple and striped; from the standard tall cordon varieties to bush and even hanging basket types.

Dried peas, frozen peas and even freshly brought peas just can’t beat the flavour of freshly picked, home grown peas! It’s true, as soon as the pea is picked the sugars they contain start to turn to starch.

Broad beans are the first of the legumes to mature and there's nothing quite like shelling and eating the first crop of the year. But with successional spring sowings you can have broad beans from June into September. The flowers also have a delightful scent - an added bonus.

Even a small asparagus bed is a worthwhile, long-term investment, which will reward you with succulent spears early every summer for 10 years or more. It is also much easier to plant and to grow than many people think!

Aubergines can be grown outside in mild areas or during very good summers but they are better grown in a greenhouse or frame.

While most gardeners grow seed potatoes in open ground, an alternative, especially for those with limited or no open ground, is to grow first early potatoes in a bin or similar container such as a potato grow sack. This is ideal if you are living in a space with limited growing space, poor soil quality or otherwise would benefit from more mobility and space. So, take a look below to find out all you need to know about growing potatoes in containers.