100 GARDENING
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LIFE ON THE
Why our wonky veg is being given a new lease of life, plan ahead and plant tulips now ready for a show of colour in the spring, plus news on recycling your waste, jobs to do this month and more
Caroline Knight
because they are the ‘wrong’ shape, but the influence of many supermarkets dictates that produce has to be a certain size and appearance in order to be marketable. Step forward Oddbox! This company already works with
M
about 30 growers, collecting mis-shapen fruit and vegetables directly from farms, which are currently mainly based here in Kent. The farmers are paid a fair price for their produce and this covers their production costs. Oddbox packages
ost of us feel that it’s ridiculous for farms to throw away fruit and vegetables just
the fruit
and vegetables into boxes, which are sold at a price that is approximately 30% lower than that of other vegetable box schemes. Since launching just over two years ago, Oddbox has grown by more than 650% and there is now a waiting list of customers wanting the odd but rather desirable boxes of produce. The plan for the next year is for the scheme to expand from supplying London addresses to other areas including Brighton. The company is hoping to deliver to more than 4,000 homes by the end of this year and to 60,000 homes by the end of 2022. The scheme is simple: farmers
sort out produce that they feel will not meet the requirements of their standard buyers and once they have been accepted by Oddbox, the company collects the wonky food ready for distribution.
• Oddbox is hoping to attract more growers for this great scheme. If you think you fit the bill, contact them via email at
hello@oddbox.co.uk
4 things to do IN THE GARDEN this month
1. Don’t leave the leaves on the lawn! They will cause yellow patches and encourage mould. Leave them on the flowerbeds, however, as they provide a refuge for insects and therefore act as a winter larder for birds.
2. Prune young apple and pear trees from late November through to February. This will help to create a sturdy shape that can be a framework throughout the tree’s life. Once it has matured, it can be pruned during summer.
3. Plant trees and shrubs provided the ground isn’t frozen. You can plant container-grown and bare root plants now the season has started.
4. Clean out bird nesting boxes in order to eliminate mites and pests. Remove old nesting material so that the box is ready for spring. Birds will also appreciate a reliable supply of food.
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