Tofties Urban Greens

18/07/2024

Sunflower microgreens are the early sprouts from the adult sunflower plant! 🌱🌻

Unlike their adult counterparts, the Sunflower Microgreens are a fantastic source of vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, folate, iron, protein, and healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6.

Sunflower microgreens provide all the essential amino acids and up to 100 times the enzymes of regular, fully-grown greens.

They are delicious, juicy, and nutritious, and can be used in sandwiches, salads, dishes, or as a healthy stand-alone snack, they have a fresh, and slightly nutty taste. Sunflower microgreens are most often grown from black oil sunflower seeds and harvested when the green leaves have just started to sprout, before they are 1-2 weeks old.

15/08/2023

15/08/2023

As part of National Allotments Week, we’re exploring the No Dig method 🌱

What is the No Dig method?

The No Dig method is a way of growing crops and creating a bed without the need for double or single digging the soil. A layer of cardboard topped with a thick layer of mulch is used to suppress the weeds and mark out the new growing area. Crops can be grown in the top layer of compost, while the weeds wither away underneath the cardboard, allowing organisms in the soil to break down the matter, doing all the hard work for you!

What are the benefits of No Dig?

- It promotes mutually beneficial relationships between fungi, worms and plants
- It reduces disturbance to the delicate soil ecosystem
- It has been shown to produce bigger harvests
- It’s quicker as there’s less weeding when starting off a bed
- It’s less physically demanding than digging
- It requires less watering as the covered soil better retains moisture

Raise a hand if you’re a No Dig convert! ✋

Find out more: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Grow-Your-Own/Allotments/Allotment-styles/No-dig-alternatives

10/08/2023

We had a good time looking around Hare Hill country estate today, founded in the 18th Century and cared for by National Trust Hare Hill, and its volunteers.

Although it's a small location theres plenty to see. Bog Gardens, Walled Cottage Gardens full of Lillies, Roses, Lamb Ear, and Echinacea, and enclosed in natural untainted forest.

Would highly recommend locals to Cheshire pay them a visit and get lost for a few hours.

28/07/2023

12/07/2023

We've seen some amazing posts from people sharing their images of their lawns this , but have you ever considered a perennial groundcover? 🌿🍂

Take a look at:

• Cerastium Tomentosum (Snow in Summer)
• Thymus Serpyllum (Creeping Thyme)
• Creeping Phlox
• Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
• Blue Star Creeper (Lobelia pedunculata)

06/07/2023

The Grapevines in the Greenhouse are doing well this year. We decided rather than using the vertical planting, we'd transplant them overhead and fix them there, the increase in heat, light, and humidity has made a huge difference. Even on some of the newer vines.

Green Grapes are known to improve mood, they can lead to increased brain health, prevent cell damage, help with migraines, and even help your eyesight (do your research first, we aren't doctors)

Something you could try growing for yourself, maybe?

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine BBC Gardeners World

05/07/2023

Whilst out for a walk, Christopher was jumped on by a few scary looking birds of prey, quite possibly looking for an easy snack!

All jokes aside, can anyone help with what these three little birds are, and why they might have all decided to climb onto his shirt today in this vicious and unprovoked way? (He's definitely no Snow White) we're fairly sure they can't quite fly just yet but if they are what we think they are, they are a little behind..

Is there anything we can do to help them? We feel quite bad to leave them.. but assume that's what needs to happen..

RSPB England Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Chris Packham

05/07/2023

We've been at home wondering what to plant this season, luckily BBC Gardeners World was on hand with their article on which and are good to plant in July.. 🌿

Find out which vegetables and flowers you can plant in July.

03/07/2023

It's never too late to become a enthusiast, these tips and secrets from Harkness Roses, posted by RHS - Royal Horticultural Society, are a sure-fire way to turn those dreary Rose's into beautiful for your with height, colour, and saturation. Share some photos of your own flowers, we love to see them.

Every summer, the beautiful roses in the Floral Marquee are a highlight of our RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival! https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/...

03/07/2023

What a beautiful space, inspired by the work of Cedric Morris and designed by Sarah Price, for the RHS - Royal Horticultural Society show in Chelsea this year.

This is what gardens should be, beautiful yet subdued colour from the Iris, flickers of light, paths that lead the way through dense planting leading to focal trees and utility spaces.

Great piece of work. Well done Sarah.