Contrary to popular belief you can grow herbs indoors and they will taste just as fabulous as if they were grown outdoors. Home grown herbs taste so much better than shop bought herbs and there is no comparison in the taste of freshly grown herbs to dried herbs which offer a bland alternative.

Growing herbs indoors enables those without gardens living in a flat or apartment the opportunity to grow fresh produce. Indoor growing can also hugely benefit those with gardens as their herbs will be within reaching distance. The indoor herbs are at close at hand before mealtimes which will guarantee even in bad weather you being able to reach and use your fresh home grown herbs.

Which herbs are best to grow indoors?

1. Basil – Great for pastas, salads and Italian food
2. Bay –  Flavour stews, casseroles and Italian dishes
3. Chives – Great on fish or potatoes
4. Parsley – Used as a garnish, with fish or rice dishes
5. Rosemary – Lamb dishes
6. Coriander – Thai and Chinese food

There is no point growing a herb indoors that you do not like the taste of. Think carefully about which herbs will improve your day to day cooking and really enhance the flavour of your food. If you follow the simple steps below you should be able to grow most herbs indoors successfully.

I have compiled a few simple steps to help you successfully grow wonderful herbs indoors.

1. Find a sunny window. Herbs love the sun, the location you choose to grow your herbs must receive an average of 4-5 hours of sunlight each day.
2. Herbs grow at an incredible rate meaning that they will require watering regularly. A sunny window sill in your kitchen close to the sink for watering would be ideal.
3. To start herbs from seed soak them in water and refrigerate for 48 hours to speed up germination.
4. Plant seeds in shallow seed trays or pots that have good drainage. You can use yogurt pots, butter packs or ice cream tubs as long as you make several drainage holes in the bottom. (Jacks top tip – make sure you put a saucer or plate beneath the seed trays to ensure you catch any excess water that drains away from your seedlings!)
5. As the seeds begin to grow water every couple of days to keep the soil moist but not drenched. Rotate the herb pots as well each time to make sure the whole pot is exposed to sunlight. This will ensure uniformed growth.
6. If your herb plants begin to grow flowers pinch the flower off.
7. When the leaves have grown to the right size for each type of herb, simply tear off and add to your food!

Visit “my grow your own” section for a great range of herb and salad seed kits to get your herb garden off to a cracking start!

I also offer plenty more hints and tips on various different gardening subjects at my blog which I would recommend visiting here.

Good luck

Gardener Jack!

If you are keen to grow your own vegetables this year, there is nothing to stop you getting started right now!
To start your vegetable garden off at this time of year you will need to pre-warm your soil so that your vegetables will begin to germinate earlier than normal.

Jacks top tip – “Hardy vegetables such as beetroots and carrots need soil temperates to be above 46F in order to germinate whilst tender veggies such as french beans and sweetcorn require a warmer soil temperature of around 54F”.

How to warm up your soil
You can use either plastic sheeting, old fabric or a cold frame to cover your intended vegetable bed six weeks in advance of sowing your vegetable seeds. The covering will help increase the soil temperature during the day and help to reduce heat loss at night.

If the soil in your area is heavy and wet you may want to consider using a raised bed as free draining soil is far easier to warm.

If you are planning to grow cabbages, onions, leaks or lettuce you can do so in a cold frame alone and will not need to pre-warm your soil for six weeks.

As the season progresses and the weather begins to warm up you can slowly remove the covering and your plants will harden off. If unexpected cold weather is forecast use fleece to protect your young vegetables throughout the cold spell.

Visit Jacks garden store to view our fantastic range of starter vegetable and herb kits. You will also find a good range of quality cold frames.

Good Luck

Gardener Jack!

At Jacks Garden Store are online blog is constantly being updated with new gardening information. If you have a question that cannot be answered by our blogs please contact Jack and he will happily answer your questions.

Every Autumn I used to find myself fighting the battle of man versus tree.

My Saturday mornings (and most of the afternoon!) used to be spent raking leaves from my driveway, lawn and garden paths, wishing I could be somewhere else enjoying my weekend.

Then I discovered a leaf blower and the rest as they say was history!

If you, like me, need to move a lot of leaves from your garden, a big rake or a large bunch of motivated and willing helpers will come in handy. However, both of these are difficult to come by. A leaf blower is the best solution for eradicating those leaves and requires very little time and effort on your behalf, enabling you plenty more time on the weekend to enjoy those sacred hours outside of work.

What is a Leaf Blower?

A leaf blower is simply a high speed fan surrounded by a cover. A tube which is connected to the fan allows you to focus the air current generated from the fan into whichever direction you want your leaves to move.

Some blowers also come with an attached vacuum and bag for collecting leaves. This type of blower is ideal for removing leaves from your borders or when they are intertwined with your shrubs.

You can also purchase a blower and vacuum with a mulching facility so your leaves can be used as compost.

Before you purchase your leaf blower ask yourself a few essential questions:

• How big is the area the blower will need to cover?
• How much power can you handle and over how long?
• What is my budget?
• How much noise will my family/neighbours put up with on a Sunday morning?

Types of Leaf Blower

Handheld Leaf Blower

This is currently the most popular leaf blower on the market as this type is lightweight, portable and powerful. However do note that you may find this tool does become quite heavy when operating it for long period of time.This is the cheapest option, and can be powered by either gas or electricity.

Back Pack Leaf Blower

This comes with a harness so you can carry the blower on your back and it has an elongated hose which you hold and control the direction of the blown leaves. Back pack blowers are gas powered. This item may be more suitable for you if you have a large area to cover.

Walk Behind Leaf Blowers

This is suitable for those with really large gardens. This gas powered tool is on wheels and is commonly used by commercial gardeners. Walk Behind blowers are the most expensive option and will need to be housed somewhere so check you have plenty of room in your garage beforehand!

One of the main factors to consider when purchasing your leaf blower is the energy source it uses. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Electric Leaf Blowers

Electric blowers are slightly less powerful but are lighter, quieter and vibrate less than gas blowers, meaning that if you tire easily this may be a better option for you. Also if you are only looking to clear a small area of leaves an electric blower will be suitable for you. You can purchase either a corded blower or a cordless one with a rechargeable battery. The corded option obviously comes with an endless supply of energy but your mobility will be restricted to the length of the cord. Whilst the blowers running on rechargeable batteries may be able to move freely around your garden, they have been found to be weaker in power than other types of blower.

Gas Leaf Blowers

Both mobility and power is greatly increased with this type of leaf blower meaning that you an cover a larger area in quicker time which is a real bonus if you have a larger garden. Do note that with more power comes a lot of noise and these machines are  a lot heavier.

Once you have considered your options and purchased the blower that is right for you, you’ll never find yourself reaching for your old rake again!!

Good luck and happy gardening!

Jack

So, you want your kids to exercise, why not use an outdoor trampoline?

Kids have a tendency to turn their back on anything that might be “good for them“. We do our best do get them out on walks, enrol them in clubs and generally do anything possible to keep them away from the TV. So how do we get our kids to unknowingly exercise in a safe and secure environment whilst still in your back garden ..

Enter .. the outdoor trampoline!

Imagine, your two boys who have been running you around all day are still bursting with energy and all you can wish for in the world is 15 minutes on your own with a good cup of tea!

It’s not much to ask for is it?

Outdoor trampolining provides you and your family with one of the most efficient exercise activities whilst being safe and convenient in your own home. Your kids can bounce and bounce and bounce and bounce (depending on their energy levels) until they drop .. and they all do eventually!

Kids Sports & Health
Outdoor trampolining is a great form of aerobic exercise which is great for the heart, circulation and respiratory systems. Trampolines have shown to also help improve balance, co-ordination, posture and muscle tone.

What should I look for?
The recreational trampoline tends to be made of waterproof canvas nowadays. Most trampolines are left outside for extended periods so this is pretty important to consider. Other areas to look into are ;

* Frame Pad. This is the padding around the main frame. It goes without saying that better frame pads provide better protection. Check the width, thickness and quality of material used.

* Jumping Mat. This is the part your feet touch when you are bouncing up and down. The mat should be strong enough to carry the weight of the person using the trampoline and be properly stitched. There are numerous grades of mat available and they will differ from supplier to supplier. Try and get the best you can afford.

* Springs. The longer the spring .. the better the bounce.

*Frame. Good trampolines should not bend or bow whilst in use. More than one child is likely to be bouncing around on the trampoline at any one time. Therefore, as a general rule the frame should be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of more than one person.

*Enclosures. Kits are now available which allow a retaining net to be fixed around the circumference of the trampoline. A very good idea to stop your children ending up in next door’s pond

*Indoor Use: Mini-trampolines are very good for indoor use. They are typically under 1 meter in diameter and are sometimes referred to as trampettes.

* Size. Common diameters are 8′, 10′ & 14′. I would recommend looking at a 10′ for the typical family trampoline. 14′ is great but this may be impractical for the size of your garden? Take a tape measure into the garden and see what space you have. Remember .. you don’t want it too close to your pond or prized roses.

*Price. Look to spend around £150 for a simple 8′ trampoline and upto around £450-500 for a decent 14′ trampoline complete with enclosure and accessories.

So, you want your kids to exercise? Get bouncing!