12 www.dobbies.com spring/summer 2012Grafted TomatoesONLY £3.99Strawberry Mother of AllONLY £6.99Dobbies Essentials 5-Tier GrowhouseONLY £30(H193cm x W96cm x D49cm)3-Tier Strawberry or Herb PlanterSAVE £5Normally £25 Now £20Unmissable offers to save £££s Check out these great savings available in-storeSpecial offersGet ahead of the game by planting ready grown veg plants instead of sowing seed. It will save you a few weeks of growing time, which could make all the difference if you have a busy schedule and struggle to get into the garden. Most crops are available as ready grown plants, with tomatoes, lettuce and cabbages all worth looking out for. If you still want to try growing from seed, give radishes or a speedy salad mix a go - they're the fastest of all the crops and are ready to harvest just a couple of weeks after sowing.Pushed              for  time?Install a simple watering system if you're very busy - they're easy to fit and make all the difference to your veg plotTop tip

spring/summer 2012 www.dobbies.com 13GROW YOUR OWNFor the lamb4 x 200g lamb rump4 medium sweet potatoes300g garden peas50g butterSprigs of mint and thymeSalt and pepperFor the jus1 medium shallot, chopped1 garlic clove, crushed75ml rosé wine1 tsp lavender flowers50ml lamb stock1 tbsp of honey1. Pre-heat the oven to 190oC (375oF). Drizzle the lamb with olive oil and thyme and seal it in a frying pan to colour both sides. Transfer it to the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes (longer if you like it well done).2. Meanwhile, peel and cube the potatoes and simmer in water until soft. Strain and crush with a masher. Add a knob of butter and season. 3. Simmer the garden peas in water with a pinch of salt and a few mint leaves. When cooked, strain and add to a food processor (keep a little of the water). Add two more mint leaves, a splash of the water and a knob of butter. Blitz to make a purée.4. For the jus, sweat the shallot in olive oil on a low heat. Add the garlic. Turn up the heat and add the rosé wine and lavender flowers. Reduce by a third. Add the lamb stock and honey and bring to the boil. Turn down the heat, simmer and finish with a knob of butter. 5. To serve, create a pile of crushed potato. Slice the lamb and add to the pile. Drizzle with pea purée and serve with the jus. Glen Prance is Head Chef at Dobbies Ashford Roasted lamb rump with crushed sweet potato, garden pea purée and rose and lavender jusTroubleshooting???? Be vigilant for slugs and snails, removing any before they get to your crops.???? Place bird scarers near your plot - a traditional scarecrow is fun!???? Water consistently as crops won't recover if they're allowed to dry out.????????Harvest little and often to save waste.???? Remove aphids and other bugs by hand or blast them off with a strong hose.LETTUCE Plant ready-grown plants or sow seed. Look for cut-and-come-again varieties, which continue to sprout after harvest, and grow a selection of leaves with different colours, tastes and textures. BEANS Follow our simple growing guide on page 11 and you're onto a winner. French and runner beans are both easy to grow, although go for stringless types if you can. Grow them in the ground or a pot.TOMATOES For guaranteed success, look out for bush varieties, which don't need any tricky staking or pruning, and types that are resistant to blight. Miniature types are best for growing in pots or baskets.COURGETTES Plant in the ground after the risk of frost has passed, and allow plenty of space for each to grow. Water regularly and you'll be rewarded with a near non-stop supply for the entire summer. ONIONS To make life easy buy a bag of 'mini onions', called sets, and plant them in the ground. Watch them bulk up over the growing season and you'll have full-size onions to harvest in late summer - it couldn't be simpler!BEETROOT One of the most versatile crops you can grow, beetroot is great roasted or pickled and the young leaves are lovely in salads. It's best sown from seed in a pot or straight into the ground. 6 easy crops to grow nowKeep the following tips in mind throughout the growing season and you can't go wrong...Glen  Prance'sServes 4