Fruit Hill Farm Blog

How to Make Sauerkraut Homemade sauerkraut is easy to make and tastes delicious. Sauerkraut is made by a process called Lacto-fermentation, the lactic acid preserves the cabbabge and prevents harmful bacteria from growing. Preparing the Cabbage Make sure your pot and all utensils are clean before you start. Give the cabbage head a good rinse and remove any insects or...

Winter green manures are sown in late summer and early autumn after the harvest of crops. The winter weather can lead to a great loss of nutrients and structure in the soil if left unprotected.

What is Foliar Feeding? Foliar feeding is the spraying of a liquid fertiliser onto the leaves of the plant rather than into the soil. The plant's leaves then absorb the fertiliser through their stomata and epidermis. It's important to note foliar feeding should not be used to replace regular soil fertilisation. Supplying a plants major nutritional needs is most effective...

The best method of pest and disease management is always prevention. Make sure your soil is healthy, that conditions are suitable for the crop you are sowing and that it is the correct time of year. Crop rotation is also important, many pests and diseases are plant family specific. By rotating crops between sites these pests tend to decline in...

A weed is defined as a wild or uncultivated plant growing in an undesired location. Weeds are particularly difficult for organic farmers to deal with as chemical herbicides are, of course, strictly prohibited. The three main ways to deal with weeds organically are:-Manual/Mechanical Weeding-Mulching-Thermal Weed Control Manual/Mechanical Weeding Perhaps the most obvious (and most off-putting) method is the hand pulling...

A plant biostimulant is any substance or microorganism applied to plants with the aim to enhance nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance (abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an environment and include sunlight, temperature, weather and altitude) and/or crop quality traits.  Biostimulants promote plant growth without being a fertilizer.  Biostimulants are available in many formulations and with varying ingredients. The...

The carrot root fly (Psila rosae) is responsible for much grief amongst home gardeners and commercial growers alike.

If you have a polytunnel you will know how long it takes to water your crops.  Why not install an irrigation system and free up all that time that you spend watering? Drip Irrigation Perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective way to water your crops is with a drip irrigation system where pipes are laid along the ground and water...

Love your soil - Learn about soil conditioners The condition of a soil will greatly impact how efficiently nutrients are taken up by plants. Most soils can be improved both in nutrient content and in structure by following good gardening practices. Soil that is in good shape will be free-draining, easy to dig, have a crumbly texture and a healthy...

Cover & Protect With Netting Birds, rabbits and insects are unfortunately very efficient pests and will polish off a crop of strawberries or cabbages before you can blink.  Netting is the answer - but the trick is to get the right netting for the job. It is important to consider the size of the net mesh and the strength. You...