Stefan Drew, Author at Bite Sized Gardening

The Surprising Tomato-Potato Connection: How a 9-Million-Year-Old Hybrid Shaped Our Favourite Spud

On April 20, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

For UK Gardeners, Potatoes Are A 9 Million Year Old Versatile, Reliable, And Endlessly Rewarding Staple Crop. Yes 9 Million. But Have You Ever Wondered Where This Beloved Tuber Came From? A groundbreaking Chinese genetic study has revealed that potatoes owe their existence to an ancient natural crossbreeding event between wild tomatoes and a potato-like plant in South America around 9 million years ago.… More Leave a comment

Potent Edibles: Cultivating Highly Flavoured Plants in UK Gardens

On April 17, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

British People Love Strong Flavours; Curries, Chillies Etc. And Many Highly Flavoured Plants Can Be Grown In UK Gardens. Supermarket herbs are fast grown and lack flavour because the plant oils have little time to fully develop. British gardeners will get better flavour than supermarket plants if they choose the right species and varieties … and grow the plants slower.… More Leave a comment

Beetroot are not overly frost sensitive and make great beetroot hummus

What Can Be Safely Sown in April in UK?

On April 15, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

With Late Frosts Expected In The UK, Protecting Young Seedlings Is Vital. The Safest April Approach Is To Start Seeds In Pots Or Modules, Even Hardy Ones, So They Can Be Moved Under Cover If Frost Threatens. However, Many Vegetable Crops Can Still Be Sown Outdoors This Month.… More Leave a comment

Well chitted potatoes lead to wonderful potato flowers earlier than would have happened

How To Match Soils & Vegetable Crops

On April 13, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

Gardeners Frequently Struggle To Grow Basic Crops Because Their Soil Is Unsuitable. By Working With Nature Growing Becomes Easier. Knowing How To Match Soils & Vegetable Crops Is Essential. Adding sand to a clay soil to grow carrots rarely works. Without enough organic matter the clay / sand mix just turns to “concrete”.… More Leave a comment

How To Grow Sugar In UK Gardens & Allotments.

On April 10, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

Here’s A Guide to Growing Sugar in Your UK Garden. It Is a Niche Crop That Few Gardeners Will Bother With. But Still Worth Knowing About. Years ago, when I managed the Cambridgeshire Agricultural College farm on the outskirts of Cambridge, I had a sugar beet licence so that we could demonstrate how to grow sugar on East Anglian farms.… More Leave a comment

How to Grow Rice in the UK

On April 8, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

We Often Joke About Growing Rice In The UK. But The Joke Might Be On Us In The Next Decades, As Rice Growing Experiments Are Taking Place In England. So before you ask How to Grow Rice in the UK, here is my research and thoughts on the topic.… More Leave a comment

Celery regrowth, in it’s third season, no bare soil,

The “No Bare Earth” UK Calendar

On April 6, 2026 By Stefan Drew

How To Dig For Victory

This UK Rotation Assumes You Are Using Henderson’s “Extravagant Manuring” (Applying A 5-10cm Layer Of Well-Rotted Compost Or Manure In Late Winter). In my previous post, “Henderson’s 1866 Gardening Soil Secrets for the Modern UK Gardener”, I discussed how Scottish born Henderson grow crops on his market garden in New Jersey and his 1866 book that described the process.… More Leave a comment

How to Dig For Victory

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Ruth Davenport

November 23, 2025.

Great practical and usable advice. Friendly and accessible writing style. The site is a goldmine of information on all subjects growing related.

Rebecca McLintock

November 22, 2025.

Just found Stefans page and have already spent more time than I should binge reading all the articles. Really useful resource - thank you!

Mags Mills

November 22, 2025.

Good reliable advice on vegetable and fruit growing.

Sally Cass

November 22, 2025.

Always sensible, comprehensive advice for new gardeners as well as those who are more experienced. There is usually something a little out of the ordinary thrown in too! Always one of the first places I come to online.

RasSimonR

November 22, 2025.

Friendly and helpful webpages and FB Groups for UK vegetable gardeners and allotment people. Many useful guides and discussion articles on their website. Thanks for the work keeping this all fresh.

Diana Benson

November 22, 2025.

Bite sized gardening provides a huge amount of information in an easy to understand format, articles of use to growers throughout the year. A first port of call when I want to check something or learn something new. Grateful for the generous availability of so much knowledge.

Lynne Magennis

May 12, 2025.

Really practical and easy to follow advice with proper scientific basis, my veg growing has improved significantly since I found Stefan. Not a gimmick in sight - fabulous.

Norman Nostril

December 2, 2024.

Extremely useful gardening advice.

Kathryn Hobbs

November 29, 2024.

It’s a brilliant site. Very knowledgeable chap that Stefan . Lots of helpful members, who willingly give advice to those with questions or problems. Highly recommended

Sandie Cottee

November 29, 2024.

Fantastic information from a trustworthy and knowledgeable source. Articles are well written, very clear and helpful.