The Beechgrove Garden 2023 episode 20 – This week, the serene grounds of Beechgrove Garden are alive with a harmonious blend of preparation for future months and the joyous celebration of the fruits borne from diligent work earlier in the year.
A standout success story of the season is the bountiful yield of windowsill tomatoes. These tomatoes, thriving in the most minimal of spaces, have proven that even the confines of a simple windowsill can be transformed into a flourishing garden patch. Their ripe, juicy offerings have been a boon for urban dwellers, providing an ample supply perfect for refreshing summer salads and other delightful culinary creations.
As we look towards the colder months, Calum is immersing himself in the careful sowing of an array of winter vegetables, chosen not just for their hardiness but also for their rich flavors and textures. Meanwhile, Carole, with her keen eye for beauty, is busy collecting a myriad of blooms that she had thoughtfully planted in the spring. These aren’t just any flowers; selected specifically for their drying qualities, they’re destined to be meticulously preserved, transforming into stunning dried flower arrangements that will grace homes with their timeless beauty long after their fresh counterparts have faded.
Further afield, we also journey to the vibrant Cranhill area of Glasgow. Here, amidst the urban hustle, we’ll delve into an inspiring feature on a community garden, an oasis where locals come together, not just to cultivate plants, but also to nurture community spirit and shared aspirations.
The Beechgrove Garden 2023 episode 20 – A Celebration of Community, Nature, and the Fruits of Diligent Labor
The serene grounds of Beechgrove Garden are alive with a harmonious blend of preparation for future months and the joyous celebration of the fruits borne from diligent work earlier in the year. This harmonious balance beautifully reflects the ebb and flow of the seasons and the gardener’s connection to the natural cycles of life.
Windowsill Tomatoes: Urban Garden Gems
A standout success story of the season is the bountiful yield of windowsill tomatoes. These hearty tomatoes, thriving in the most minimal of spaces, have proven that even the confines of a simple windowsill can be transformed into a flourishing garden patch. Their ripe, juicy offerings have been a boon for urban dwellers across the country, providing an ample supply perfect for refreshing summer salads, sauces, and other delightful culinary creations.
The best varieties of tomatoes to grow on a windowsill are cherry tomatoes, as they stay compact and produce a good crop. Sungold, Sweet 100, and Red Robin are excellent choices. Larger varieties like beefsteak can become spindly and leggy without enough space. Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, so a south or west facing windowsill is ideal. With attentive watering and nutrition, windowsill tomatoes can reward urban gardeners with pounds of sweet, homegrown tomatoes to enjoy through the summer.
Winter Vegetables: Hardy and Nutritious
As we look towards the colder months, Calum is immersing himself in the careful sowing and tending of an array of winter vegetables, chosen not just for their hardiness but also for their rich flavors and textures. Unlike their summer counterparts, winter vegetables can handle light frosts and cold weather. With some protection like cloches or cold frames, many can grow right through snow and frigid temperatures.
Some excellent winter vegetables to grow include kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, parsnips, carrots, turnips, spinach, lettuce, radish and Asian greens. Getting them established in late summer or early fall allows time for them to mature before winter. For those with limited space, focus on a few hardy crops like kale, carrots and spinach. Those with more room can create a winter cornucopia overflowing with nutritious bounty. For many gardeners, the sweet, earthy flavor of carrots fresh pulled from frost covered soil is one of winter’s simple joys.
To store winter vegetables, leaving them in the ground with a thick mulch is ideal for hardy types like carrots and parsnips. For more delicate greens, blanching and freezing is a great option to preserve both nutrition and flavor. With so many winter hardy and nutrient dense vegetables to try, there is abundant opportunity to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce all through the cold months ahead.
Dried Flowers: Preserving Summer’s Bounty with Timeless Beauty
Meanwhile, Carole, with her keen eye for beauty, is busy collecting a myriad of blooms that she had thoughtfully planted in the spring. These aren’t just any flowers; selected specifically for their drying qualities, they’re destined to be meticulously preserved, transforming into stunning dried flower arrangements that will grace homes with their timeless beauty long after their fresh counterparts have faded.
Some of the best flowers to dry include everlastings like statice, helichrysum, and strawflowers. Airy flowers like baby’s breath, lavender, yarrow and amsonia also dry beautifully. Hearty zinnias, celosia, gomphrena and marigolds hold their shape and color well. For woody stems, try gathering hydrangea, feverfew, lavender and rose.
To dry flowers, hang small bundled bouquets or spread individual stems in a cool, dry area out of direct sun. Silica sand, borax or drying crystals can help absorb moisture. Use wire or raffia to shape bouquets before fully dried. The results are stunning dried flower arrangements with the colors and beauty of summer preserved indefinitely. As winter winds blow, a vase of dried flowers is a reminder of the hopeful seasons yet to come.
Cranhill Community Garden: An Urban Oasis Where Community Spirit Flourishes
Further afield, we also journey to the vibrant Cranhill area of Glasgow. Here, amidst the urban hustle, we’ll delve into an inspiring feature on a community garden, an oasis where locals come together, not just to cultivate plants, but also to nurture community spirit and shared aspirations.
Tucked between rows of houses, Cranhill Community Garden started small fifteen years ago as a few raised beds on a vacant lot. It has since blossomed into a lush garden and gathering space that is the pride of the neighborhood. On any given day, you’ll find people of all ages tending vegetable patches, chatting on benches under the arbor, or admiring the colorful flower beds.
The garden is an inclusive place open to all and focused on building community. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome to “grow their own” in the vegetable plots. Gardening workshops teach everything from composting to pickling the harvest. The annual Plant Swap is a lively event where everyone shares seeds, cuttings and stories. A weekly “Garden Blether” session over tea and biscuits is a chance to get to know fellow locals of all generations.
For many, the Cranhill Community Garden has had a profoundly positive impact. Retiree Angus says it helped pull him out of isolation after losing his wife. “I can have a good chat over the cabbages now,” he beams. Teenager Aisha found a sense of purpose teaching younger kids about pollinators and “seeing how things grow if you just give them a little love.”
The garden demonstrates the power of even the smallest green space to nourish community roots. As a focal point for gathering, learning and service, it has blossomed into so much more than just a vegetable patch. The Cranhill Community Garden is an inspiring reminder that coming together to tend living things often helps nourish the human spirit as well.
In looking at these stories emerging from Beechgrove Garden today, some inspiring themes arise. They speak of the beauty of the natural world, from the delicate petals of a flower to the graceful vines of the tomato plant. Yet even more profound is the sense of interconnectedness, community and shared human experience that gardens can cultivate.
Urban gardeners bonding over the joys of growing food in the smallest city space. Neighbors coming together across generations to nurture not just plants but the communal spirit of their community. These are meaningful acts of service, made possible by people taking the time to nurture living things without expectation of reward. But as with any act of selfless service, the giver often receives far more than they could imagine. Joy, connection, purpose and an expanded sense of community have all blossomed in these places where living things are tended with care.
Nature provides the canvas. The gardeners and community members are the artists. Together they create not just beauty but belonging, meaning, sustenance and so much more. As the seasons continue to unfold, may we carry the spirit of community gardening forward. Though the harvests will wax and wane, what endures are the human connections forged and nurtured through collective service and care for living things. For when we come together in service of life, we are planting seeds of hope, empathy and the better angels of our shared human nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good tomatoes to grow in containers?
Cherry tomatoes are excellent choices for container growing. Varieties like Sungold, Sweet 100, and Red Robin stay compact and produce prolifically. Other good container varieties include Patio, Balcony, Tumbles, and Urban Zinger.
What winter vegetables can handle heavy frost?
Some of the hardiest winter vegetables that can withstand heavy frosts down to around 15°F (-9°C) include kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, parsnips, carrots, spinach and Asian greens like mizuna and tatsoi. With a thick layer of mulch, they can continue growing through early winter freezes.
How long do dried flowers last?
Properly dried and stored flowers can retain their color and form for 1-3 years or longer. Avoid direct sunlight and humidity. Dried statice, strawflowers and gomphrena are among the longest lasting dried flowers.
What community benefits do gardens provide?
Community gardens provide many benefits including food production, education, health/wellness, social connectivity, environmental stewardship, neighborhood beautification and more. They can boost community pride and cohesion.
How much sun do tomatoes need when grown indoors?
Indoor tomatoes need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. South or west facing windows are best. Use supplemental grow lights if needed to provide enough light for the plants to grow and fruit well.
