We always have to be aware when large developments are to be implemented. One example is The Bishopsgate Goodsyard.
We had a promise that a forest would be created and it may soon come into fruition since works are to commence at the end of 2024. However, we are yet to see the park designs to see what the ‘promise’ will bring.
For those who are unaware, the new construction will result in an unhealthy air quality, so as mitigation for the already poor air quality, plus the extra poor quality, there is a promise to have a forest in Bishopsgate as part of the London Highline.
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How to plant, care for and grow potted melons:
Selecting Melon Varieties Choose bush-type or compact varieties suitable for containers like ‘Sugar Baby’ watermelon or ‘Minnesota Midget’ cantaloupe.
Choosing Containers
Use large containers with drainage holes, such as half-barrels or grow bags, and place them in sunny locations.
Preparing Potting Mix
Use well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter, avoiding heavy soils.
Planting Melon Seeds or Seedlings
Start seeds indoors before the last frost. Transplant seedlings into containers once they have true leaves and frost danger has passed.
Spacing and Depth
Plant seedlings 12 to 18 inches apart at the same depth as their original containers.
Watering Melons
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, watering deeply to reach the root zone. Mulch to retain moisture.
Providing Support
Use trellises or stakes to support vines and save space. Train vines vertically if space is limited.
Fertilising Melons
Feed with a balanced fertiliser high in potassium and phosphorus, following instructions to avoid over fertilising.
Pollination
Attract pollinators like bees or hand-pollinate by transferring pollen between flowers.
Harvesting Melons
Harvest when fully mature with characteristic colour and aroma. Use a knife or shears to cut from the vine, leaving a short stem.
By following these steps, you can grow delicious melons in containers and enjoy homegrown sweetness all summer.
A 100 acre site of former farmland has been re-planted with wildflowers that have attracted thousands of insects. Having been a farmer for 65 years, Alan Ellis decided to diversify in retirement, and the acres he owns near Ivybridge, Devon are now full of cornflowers, poppies and daisies.
“I very often wonder what other farmers must think of me. They must think I’ve gone mad, which I probably have” says Alan. “I feel it’s probably something most farmers would think is a strange thing to be doing. I didn’t expect it to be so exciting.”
How we discovered a walking/cycling route through east London’s nature.
A few years ago developers planned new construction within The Bishopsgate Goodsyard and part of their payback to the local community was to create a park on top of the listed arches. Eventually we persuaded them to have a forest park, hence The London Highline.
Around this time when the East London Garden Society suggested a scheme to form the largest Forest Garden in Europe in Shoreditch, people were also talking about a facility to walk through east London forming a nature walk. You can start or finish anywhere along the Great Eastern Parks Route which expands from Shoreditch through Hertfordshire to the Rainham Marshes bird sanctuary.
Now that people are becoming more aware of our east London walk/cycle ways, the national press has shown so much interest that correspondents have walked some of the route and written of their joy, away from the melee of a large city.
It has created stronger communities with one goal in mind, to love our urban landscape, much of which has guaranteed protection, by London Wildlife, and The Royal Society for The Protection of Birds, amongst others.
Whilst talking about The London Highline, the developers have committed themselves to provide a forest in Shoreditch, which in itself will be an iconic attraction for London. We now wait for the works to commence, since once they have, we will be able to see more clearly, the designs of the forest.
Everyone can be involved with this amazing new park which is two thirds of a mile in length, providing a starting point for your own adventure. Discover the history and look down from a vantage point to see how the community strived to succeed against the odds, and to have a clearer vision for their environment.
The melon was thought to have originated in Africa. However, recent studies suggest a Southwest Asian origin, especially Iran and India, from where they gradually began to appear in Europe toward the end of the Western Roman Empire.
Melons are known to have been grown by the ancient Egyptians. A melon from the Kordofan region of Sudan, the kordofan melon, may be the progenitor of the modern, domesticated watermelon.
They are native to the continent of Africa. Many wild forms of melons and watermelons can still be found there today. Though it is not known when melons were first cultivated, it is believed that prehistoric man may have gathered and saved the seeds of the sweetest melons, and this practice led to cultivation. Seeds and wall paintings found in Egyptian tombs indicate that melons and watermelons were under cultivation in Egypt at least 4,000 years ago.
Melons were introduced into Asia about 3,000 years ago. The melon became immensely popular in the region that includes Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, south and central Russia, China and Japan. The Greeks and Romans most likely introduced the melon into Europe. Columbus brought melons to the New World on his second voyage, and by 1494 melons were under cultivation in Haiti. By the 16th century, melons and watermelons were being cultivated throughout North and South America.
Melons can be classified in many ways. For the purposes of this discussion, the melon family has been divided into eight distinct groups: canteloupe, inodorus, conomon, snake melons, momordica, dudaim and watermelons.
Canteloupes are quite common in Europe especially France where they have been cultivated since the 1400s. Canteloupes are primarily round in shape with prominent ribs and almost no netting. Most cantaloupes have orange flesh. The flesh is usually very sweet and the melons are usually very fragrant.
Winter melons, more correctly known as Inodorus, include the well-known casaba, crenshaw and honeydew. These melons are usually quite large with smooth or netted rinds that can be deep green, bright yellow, beige and many shades in between. They come in just about any shape imaginable.
The flesh can be green, white, pale yellow or orange and is usually incredibly sweet, but not very fragrant, hence the name Onodorus which means lacking odour. The hard rinds help preserve the freshness of these melons until well into the winter months.
Conomons are two distinct types of Asian melons that are slowly gaining recognition in America. The pale green to white flesh of these melons is not sweet, but the taste is very interesting and well worth investigating. The makuwa uri are really a decorative melon with flesh that is bland and quite bitter. The tsuke uri which look more like fat zucchini or marrow squash are best used as salt pickles.
Flexuosus or snake melons are long, thin, sometimes curved or curled cucumber-like melons. They are also known as Armenian cucumbers. The greenish white flesh is refreshing, not sweet, and they are best used in salads.
Momordicas or snap melons are Asian melons not grown in the United States. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but their flesh is almost universally white fading to a pale green or a pale orange. What is unusual about this class of melons is that their flesh is as fluffy as snow. The flesh is not sweet. These melons are popular in Asia and eaten as a vegetable not as a fruit.
Dudaim as a class of melons are mentioned here because of Queen Anne’s Pocket Melon. Few dudaim are grown in the United States. The unusual orange and yellow mottled rind is beautiful to behold and the flesh, though not sweet, makes a refreshing condiment in a salad. Other varieties of dudaim are grown in Egypt where they are quite popular.
Watermelons are, generally, the largest of the melon classes discussed here, but, actually, they come in many shapes and sizes. Their rinds can vary in colour from blackish green to bright yellow and can be decorated with moon and stars, rattlesnake designs, mottling and stripes.
There are varieties that can be grown in Zone 4 climates as well as the deepest South. The flesh can be creamy white, salmon pink, bright orange, pale yellow and deepest red. The flesh varies in sweetness, with some being the sweetest melons available.
Melons require a long, hot, dry growing season, 80 to 120 days, with some watermelons requiring 150 days. Melons like 60 degree nights and 80 degree days and will not tolerate frost. They prefer sandy loam soil. Melons like a slightly alkaline soil. Watermelons prefer a slightly acidic soil.
Each year rotate melons and watermelons to different sites in the garden to prevent damage from nematodes or Fusarium. Start melons and watermelons indoors four weeks before the last frost date. Watermelon seeds should be soaked for 24 hours before planting.
Before transplanting melons and watermelons to the outside, mix generous quantities of compost or organic fertiliser into the soil. Melons and watermelons grow best when their garden patch is covered with 6 mm black polyethylene plastic.
Even though the plastic looks ugly, it keeps the soil warm, conserves moisture, retards weeds and the disruption that results from weeding, keeping plants clean and free of rot. Melons and watermelons will grow faster and produce more fruit.
'A Foraged Friendship' by Robin Harford
“As I trudged through the field near my home, the foul-smelling beast tugging at his lead, I had no clue that this ordinary dog walk would lead to an extraordinary encounter.
During this walk, I first met Mugwort, a plant that would profoundly change my perception of the natural world.
I spotted the silvery-grey leaves waving frantically, as if desperately seeking my attention. I immediately christened the plant the 'singing, ringing plant' because its presence rang out as clearly as a clanging bell.
This encounter started my journey into Domei, a practice that reveals a deeper relationship with the plant kingdom.
Since abandoning our nomadic roots, we have lost touch with the natural world as a species. In our rush towards progress, we need to remember how to listen to the whispers of the earth.
Mugwort, or Artemisia vulgaris as it's scientifically known, became my guide in this rediscovery. Its presence in my life grew from that chance encounter to a constant companion.
I kept sprigs around the house, drawn to its exquisite aroma and the sense of mystery it evoked.
Learning about its historical uses deepened my fascination. Children once placed it under their pillows to enhance dream recall, a practice that speaks to the plant's otherworldly qualities. Culinary traditions used Mugwort to flavour fatty meats, demonstrating the plant's versatility.
Inspired by this rich history, I created a Mugwort jelly recipe. As I experimented in the kitchen, I felt like the plant was guiding my hands, whispering ancient secrets. The resulting jelly proved to be a perfect accompaniment to lamb and duck and vegetarian options like nut roast.
My journey with Mugwort has been more than a culinary adventure. It's taught me to slow down, observe, and, most importantly, listen. In a noisy human world that often feels disconnected from the rest of nature, my relationship with this unassuming plant has become a bridge back to our roots.
So, pay attention to the plants around you the next time you're out for a walk. You never know which one might be trying to catch your eye, ready to lead you on an unexpected journey of discovery. If you happen upon some Mugwort, try my jelly recipe."
