NCJD Sustainable Development Goals We support the Sustainable Development Goals - but what are they? Adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty and... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Botulism Although rare, botulism is a serious illness caused by toxins that affect the nerves, leading to breathing difficulties, muscle paralysis and even death. The scentless, tasteless and invisible toxins ... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Genus Salix The genus Salix is a diverse group of shrubs and trees encompassing over 400 species worldwide. Many of these are pioneer species, often the first to colonise bare, damp ground following heavy disturb... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Levisticum officinale Known as Lovage in the UK or the "Maggi Plant" in Europe is the great lost herb of our gardens. My goal is simple: to show you why this versatile powerhouse deserves a permanent spot in, or near your ... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Horticultural therapy Over the past year, I’ve kept a close eye on the real psychological impact gardening has had on me. As a 30-year-old male in relatively good physical health, the physical labor was one thing, but livi... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Time to look back at 2025 If 2025 taught me anything, it’s that nature has a wicked sense of humor. It’s the year my carefully pampered polytunnel tomatoes were outperformed by a 'wild' batch in tents out of bags, and my store... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum L. The journey of Solanum lycopersicum , or the tomato, began in the Andes mountains as a small, wild berry before being domesticated into a larger fruit by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. Followi... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD More potato talk Out of my selection of potatoes for this year (which you will find out about if you keep reading this post!), there is only one variety that a 1940s Cullen gardener would recognize. In fact, they woul... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Balkonzauber’ The journey begins. This diary serves to monitor the growth and progress of our latest batch of ‘Balkonzauber’ tomatoes, a determinate variety celebrated for its compact habit. Reaching only around 50... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Welcome back to the garden! Now that the design is settled, the really exciting work begins: deciding what goes into those beds. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind which crop would take the top spot on this year’s list. It... 13 Aug 2026
NCJD Hello and welcome! Since this is my very first post, I thought the best place to start would be from the ground up—literally. Before we get into what I’m growing, I want to share the "blueprint" of my garden. Having a s... 13 Aug 2026
