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Useful Stuff

Here you will find some useful growing guides, some of our favourite recipes, magazine articles we've written, magazine articles about us - as well as one or two video clips.

Spend a few minutes enjoying...

 

How To...

How To Grow Asparagus
Detailed advice on cultivating and harvesting asparagus. Includes information on watering and dealing with pests.

How to Grow Cardoons
Detailed advice on growing cardoons. Includes information on watering, pest control and harvesting.

How To Grow Exotic Fruits
Basic guidance on how to plant and growing exotic fruits including Loquats, Citrus, Pineapple Guavas, Olives, Pomegranates and Passion Fruits.

How to Grow Fuchsias
Detailed advice on growing fuchsias. Includes information on watering, feeding and pest control.

How To Grow Globe Artichokes
Detailed advice on growing Globe Artichokes, including information on feeding, watering and pest control.

How To Grow Saffron
Detailed advice on growing saffron. Includes information on cultivation, dealing with pests, and how to gather and dry saffron flowers.

How To Grow Strawberries
Detailed advice on growing strawberries. Includes information on watering, pest control and harvesting.

How To Grow Sweetcorn, Beans and Squashes Using The Three Sisters Method
Detailed advice on how to plant and grow Sweetcorn, Squashes and Beans using the Three Sisters method.

How To Harvest, Dry & Pop Popcorn
Detailed explanation of how to harvest and dry sweetcorn for popping. Includes brief advice on popping corn in either the microwave or saucepan.

How To Keep Cobnuts Under Control
Advice on how to keep cobnuts to a more manageable size whilst still obtaining a good crop.

How To Plant Cherry Plum Hedging, Conservation Hedging, Coral Pearls Hedging, Whispering Willows
Detailed advice on planting out different varieties of hedging.

How To Plant Out Cluster Colourama & Trailblazer Hedging
Detailed advice on how to plant out Cluster Colourama and Trailblazer Hedging

How To Plant Fruit Trees & Nut Trees
Detailed advice on planting fruit and nut trees - including advice on container growing, pruning and training, and advice on specific varieties.

How To Plant, Grow & Train Grape Vines
Detailed advice on siting, planting and training grape vines - both outside and under protection. Includes basic pruning advice.

How To Plant Out Ornamentals
Detailed advice on how to plant out ornamentals, including information on recommended planting distances.

How To Plant & Prune Raspberries
Brief guidance on how to plant bare root raspberries, and information on pruning regimes for summer fruiting (floricane) and autumn fruiting (primocane) raspberries.

How To Plant & Grow Soft Fruit
Information on unpacking and planting bare root and pot grown soft fruits either in the open ground or in containers and pots, with additional information on specific varieties.

How To Sow & Grow Aubergines
Detailed advice on sowing and growing aubergines under protection and outside. Includes information on watering, feeding and pest control.

How to Sow & Grow Beans
Detailed advice on sowing and growing beans of all kinds outside and under protection. Includes information on watering and pest control.

How to Sow & Grow Carrots
Detailed advice on sowing and growing carrots. Includes information on watering and pest control.

How To Sow & Grow Chilli Pepper & Sweet Peppers
Detailed advice on sowing and growing chilli peppers and sweet peppers - both inside and outside.

How To Sow & Grow Courgettes, Marrows, Gourds, Pumpkins & Squashes
Detailed advice on sowing and growing courgettes, gourds, marrows, pumpkins and squashes - including advice on germination temperature and pollination.

How To Sow & Grow Cucumbers
Brief guidance on how to sow Cucumber seeds and then grow on the plants - both inside and outside. Include advice on removing male flowers on F1 hybrid varieties.

How To Sow & Grow Herbs
Detailed advice on sowing and growing herbs outside and under protection. Includes information on watering and pest control.

How To Sow & Grow Onions
Detailed advice on growing all types of onion - including how to start onions from seeds as well as transplanting onion plants.

How To Sow & Grow Peas
Detailed advice on sowing and growing peas outside and under protection. Includes information on watering and pest control.

How To Sow & Grow Samphire
Detailed advice on sowing and growing samphire outside and under protection. Includes information on watering, feeding, and cooking.

How To Sow & Grow Sweetcorn, Babycorn & Popcorn
Detailed advice on sowing and growing sweetcorn both outside and under protection. Also includes information on growing babycorn and popcorn varieties.

How To Sow & Grow Tomatoes
Detailed advice on sowing and growing tomatoes outside and under protection. Includes information on watering, feeding and pest control.

How To Sow & Grow Brassicas
Detailed advice on sowing and growing brassicas outside and under protection. Includes information on watering and pest control.

How To Sow & Grow Leeks
Detailed advice on sowing and growing leeks outside. Includes information on watering and pest control.

How To Videos

How To Grow Chillies & Sweet Peppers - Part 1 (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on the basics of caring for chillies and sweet peppers in the first few months.

How To Grow Chillies & Sweet Peppers - Part 2 (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on the basics of caring for chillies and sweet peppers as the season progresses.

How To Grow Tomatoes - Part 1 (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on the basics of caring for tomatoes in the first few months.

How To Grow Tomatoes - Part 2 (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on the basics of caring for tomatoes as the season progresses.

How To Harvest Asparagus (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to harvest asparagus.

How To Harvest Sweetcorn & Babycorn (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on how to know when sweetcorn is ready to harvest - and how to harvest it. Also how to harvest babycorn.

How To Make A Scarecrow (Video)
An instructional video by Claire from Claire's Allotment on how to make a scarecrow.

How To Pick Spinach (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on how to pick spinach.

How To Plant Bare Root & Potted Fruit Trees (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen explaining the differences between a bare root and potted fruit tree, and how to plant them.

How To Plant Compost Block Grown Asparagus (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to plant compost block-grown asparagus.

How To Prune Raspberries (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on how to prune raspberries. Includes advice on pruning summer-fruiting (floricane) and autumn-fruiting (primocane) raspberries.

How To Save Tomato Seed (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on how to harvest and save tomato seed.

How To Sow & Grow Sweetcorn (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen on sowing and growing sweetcorn.

How To Sow & Plant Beetroot (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on sowing and planting beetroot.

How To Sow & Transplant Chilli Peppers, Sweet Peppers & Aubergines (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen explaining how to sow and then transplant chilli and sweet peppers. The same technique can also be used for aubergines.

How To Sow & Transplant Tomatoes (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen explaining how to sow and then transplant tomatoes.

How To Sow Carrots (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to sow carrots

How To Sow Climbing French Beans (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to sow climbing French beans.

How To Sow Climbing Peas (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to sow climbing peas.

How To Sow Onion & Leek Seeds (Video)
An instructional video by Stephen explaining how to sow onion and leek seeds. Includes information on sowing times and temperatures.

How To Sow Our Flower Seed Mixes (Video)
An instructional video by Jeremy and Milly on how to sow our various flower seed mixes.

How To Sow Peas (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to sow peas.

How To Sow Pumpkins & Squashes (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to sow pumpkin and squash seeds.

How To Thin Carrots (Video)
An instructional video by Serena on how to thin carrots.

Preparing For Propagation (Video)
Stephen spends a few moments talking about preparing for propagation and how to achieve the best from your seeds and cuttings.

Edible Classroom - Identifying Vegetables (Video)
Lesson plan idea for school children introducing them to vegetables and teaching them to group them according to type.

Edible Classroom - Making Paper Pots (Video)
Lesson plan idea for KS1 children introducing them to sowing seeds and making paper pots.

Edible Classroom - Planting Seeds (Video)
Lesson plan idea for children introducing them to the differences between pea seed and the resultant crop - before making paper pots and sowing peas.

Edible Classroom - Growing Beans (Video)
A video lesson plan on sowing and growing French Beans in jam jars. Can be undertaken with both French Beans, Runner Beans and Broad Beans.

Edible Classroom - Planting Beans (Video)
Paul explains how to plant the Beans the children have grown and the activities that can stem from this.

Edible Classroom - Organising Your Edible Classroom (Video)
A brief video on how to use a polytunnel as an outdoor classroom - both for growing and teaching.

Edible Classroom - Preparing Raised Beds (Video)
Paul talks a little about how to turn virgin ground into growing ground by making and preparing raised beds.

Edible Classroom - Thinking About Seeds (Video)
Lesson plan idea for children encouraging them to think about the differences between the weight of a pea seed and the weight of the crop it produces.

Recipes

Apple Crumble Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for making apple crumble.

Beetroot & Horseradish Cream
A tasty recipe to make a savoury dish to serve with meat and poultry.

Champagne Recipe
A recipe for making fine-quality sparkling wines from your own grapes, including advice on the art of degorgement.

Chilli Jam Recipe
Stephen's recipe for making delicious chilli jam. A very versatile recipe that can be used for making chilli jams of all heats - or even sweet pepper jam.

Chilli Sauce Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for chilli sauce. Experiment with different varieties of chilli peppers to get just the right amount of heat for your tastebuds.

Courgette Soup Recipe
A quick and simple recipe to help use up some excess courgettes and make a lovely soup that freezes well for the winter.

Crab Apple Wine Recipe
A straightforward recipe for making crab apple wine; a delicious, fairly dry white wine

French Onion Soup Recipe
An easy recipe to make this French classic. A really warming winter soup that can be made in large batches and frozen.

Jersulam Artichoke and Hazelnut Soup Recipe
A quick and easy recipe using Jerusalem Artichokes to make a delicious soup, with none of the usual after-effects!

Jostaberry Jelly Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for making your own jostaberry jelly. Something a little bit different to go with scones and cream.

Leek & Potato Soup Recipe
Serena's favourite soup recipe - and one she is famed for among our friends. A gorgeous autumn and winter treat that freezes well.

Onion Marmalade
A simple recipe for dark and delicious onion marmalade. Try it with meat, poultry or cheeses.

Pea Soup Recipe
A great late summer soup to use up any gluts of peas you may have. Freezes very well.

Pickled Onion & Shallot Recipe
The simplest and best way to pickle onions and shallots. Includes information on brining to remove excess moisture.

Pickled Samphire Recipe
An easy recipe to preserve this unusual and much-coveted vegetable for winter use.

Nana Shirley's Stovetop Red Cabbage Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for making delicious cooked red cabbage. Ideal accompaniment to winter roasts.

Rose Hip Jelly Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for making rose hip jelly. Delicious with brown bread and butter or home-made scones.

Rose Hip Syrup Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for that childhood favourite, rose hip syrup. Keeps winter ills and chills at bay!

Sloe Gin Recipe
A traditional recipe for making sloe gin that can easily be adapted for making other fruit gins or vodkas.

Smoked Tomato Chutney Recipe
A simple recipe for making delicious, tangy smoked tomato chutney. Goes well with cold meats, poultry or cheese.

Stir-fried Brussels Sprouts Recipe
A quick and simple recipe for stir-fried Brussels sprouts that also works with cabbage, kale and other brassicas.

Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
A quick and easy recipe to make the most gorgeous strawberry ice cream - with or without an ice cream-maker.

Strawberry Jam Recipe
An easy recipe for making everybody's favourite - strawberry jam!

Sweetcorn Fritters Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for sweetcorn fritters. Simple to make, delicious to eat, and very moreish.

Thai Chilli Sauce Recipe
An easy recipe for Thai chilli sauce. Mild, medium, or hot - it depends on the chillies you use.

Toffee Apple Pudding Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for making toffee apple pudding.

Vegetable Spaghetti Recipe
An easy method to turn this much under-rated squash into lovely 'spaghetti' . Perfect for performing at the table in front of your guests.

White Onion Soup Recipe
A really simple and quick white onion soup recipe that looks and tastes far more impressive than it should, given how easy it is to make!

General Information

New For 2024
All our new additions to our range for 2024 in one handy place. From Chilli Seeds and Tomato Seeds to Exotics.

A Little Information About Our Vegetable Plants (Video)
Information on the vegetable plants that Victoriana grows and how we make sure they are always hardened off before dispatch.

A Note About Our Seed Packets & Seed Counts
Information on Victoriana's method of packeting seed, including information on the seed packets. Also details on Victoriana's seed guarantee.

Chilli Pepper & Sweet Pepper Heat Guide
A guide to the heat levels of sweet peppers and chilli peppers - from the cool to the volcanic. Also details on how Chilli Pepper heat levels are measured.

Claire from 'Claire's Allotment' talks about Victoriana (Video)
Claire from Claire's Allotment talks about Victoriana Nursery Gardens and the first order she received from us.

Fruit Tree Pollination Simplified (hopefully)
Information on fruit tree fertility, pollination and compatibility, with simple explanations of regularly used terms.

What's A Compost Block Grown Plant?
Information on the size of the compost blocks that Victoriana grow their plants in - and what you can expect to receive.

Plants Awarded The RHS Award Of Garden Merit
A listing of the seed and plant varieties sold by Victoriana Nursery Gardens that have been awarded the Award Of Garden Merit by the RHS.

Pollinator Friendly Plants
A detailed guide to the seeds and plants sold by Victoriana Nursery Gardens that will attract and provide a food source to bees and other beneficial pollinating insects.

Magazine Articles

A World Outside The Classroom
Text extracted from the magazine article 'A World Outside The Classroom' which appeared in the August 2009 edition of Smallholder.

Get Your Kids Into Gardening
An article about encouraging children to garden written by Stephen Shirley that appeared in Grow Your Own magazine

Going Round The Mulberry Bush
An article on the basics of growing mulberries written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the July 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Is A Nut Tree For You?
An article on the basics of growing nuts written by Stephen Shirley that appeared in Grow Your Own magazine.

Killer Kiwis
An article on growing kiwi fruits written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the July 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Not So Sour Grapes
An article on the basics of growing grapes written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the June 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
An article about growing Citrus Fruits written by Simon Lindley which appeared in the August 2007 edition of Grow It magazine.

Passion Fruit Cocktail
An article on the basics of growing Passion Fruits written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the July 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Strawberry Yields
An article on the basics of growing strawberries written by Stephen Shirley that appeared in the February 2007 issue of Grow Your Own magazine.

Succulent Spears
An article on the basics of growing asparagus written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the May 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Top Of The Pops
An article on the basics of growing and popping strawberry popcorn written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the May 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Tip Top Leeks
An article on the basics of growing leeks written by Paul Peacock that appeared in the June 2007 issue of Grow It! magazine.

Tree Wishes
Tree Wishes - magazine article giving inspiration to those thinking about growing fruit written by Stephen Shirley for Grow Your Own magazine.

Projects & Show Gardens

A World Outside The Classroom
Design, plant list and pictures of the RHS Silver Medal winning garden - along with a pictorial story of how the plants were grown that went into the garden.

A World Outside The Classroom (Video)
Video clip showing the Silver Medal-winning 'A World Outside The Classroom' show garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live 2009

Annual Pumpkin Competition 2012
Details of the annual School Pumpkin Competition run by Victoriana, where the children grow pumpkins from donated plants.

Mr McGregor's Garden
The story of the allotment bed created on Cleethorpes seafront utilising one of the municipal flower beds, with seeds and plants from Victoriana Nursery.