Blog : the vegetable garden guide

Discover lots of tips and tricks to become an experienced gardener !

Why won't my cucumbers grow?
Growing vegetables
Why won't my cucumbers grow?

It's a familiar scenario in the vegetable garden: you've sown or transplanted some beautiful cucumber plants, watered them conscientiously, they've started to climb their trellis or run across the ground, the first flowers have arrived... and then nothing. Or almost...

5 July 2025 (0)

Aphids on tomatoes: how to avoid them and get rid of them?
Diseases and pests
Aphids on tomatoes: how to avoid them and get rid of them?

At the moment, tomatoes, the queens of the vegetable garden, are growing fast. While their yellow flowers herald a tasty harvest, you spot tiny aphids at their feet. You need to take action quickly.<br /> Aphids: what damage? There are...

2 July 2025 (1)

Why are the leaves on my aubergines curling up?
Diseases and pests
Why are the leaves on my aubergines curling up?

The aubergine is a vegetable that we love to plant in our vegetable garden. It is the main ingredient in moussaka, a Greek speciality, or in ratatouille. But it can also be made into fritters, tarts or caviar. But it...

28 June 2025 (1)

Black soap against flea beetles and aphids: how to use it?
Diseases and pests
Black soap against flea beetles and aphids: how to use it?

Aphids, flea beetles and other small beasts that are greedy for plant resources are useful in our gardens, but there's no question of letting them proliferate either. When they become a little too invasive, good old-fashioned black soap can be...

25 June 2025 (1)

Salad going to seed: how to avoid it?
Growing vegetables
Salad going to seed: how to avoid it?

Sprouting is as much of a gardener's hassle as runaway seedlings. Everything looks promising and then, all of a sudden, the seeds arrive and blow away your hopes of a harvest. Most lettuces go to seed at the end of...

21 June 2025 (1)

Should vegetables be sown in this drought?
Growing vegetables
Should vegetables be sown in this drought?

Growing vegetables organically during a period of drought presents particular challenges. However, with careful planning and appropriate practices, it is possible to succeed and produce healthy, tasty vegetables while adhering to the principles of organic farming. The health of the...

18 June 2025 (1)

How/when to prune kiwifruit?
Pruning and maintaining
How/when to prune kiwifruit?

Originally from China, the kiwi fruit has spread throughout the world. Although it prefers the heat of summer and the mildness of winter, this liana with its juicy fruit acclimatises easily. Ideally, plant one male and three females to ensure...

14 June 2025 (1)

Mulching the garden: what vegetables can be mulched in permaculture?
Preparing the soil
Mulching the garden: what vegetables can be mulched in permaculture?

Soil preparation is a key point when you start growing crops in the garden, and this is particularly the case in permaculture. One of the fundamental practices for improving soil structure and encouraging plant growth is mulching. This technique involves...

11 June 2025 (1)

Why and how should you thin out your seedlings (carrots, spinach, turnips, etc.)?
Pruning and maintaining
Why and how should you thin out your seedlings (carrots, spinach, turnips, etc.)?

Thinning out young plants is an essential step after sowing, whether in the ground, in pots or under cover. Why should you do this? To give the other plants room to grow and develop. But how do you go about...

7 June 2025 (0)

When are the potatoes harvested?
Growing vegetables
When are the potatoes harvested?

The potato (Solanum tuberosum) belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is grown for its tubers. Potatoes are eaten cooked and are used in the preparation of a large number of recipes. They are often served whole or mashed as a...

4 June 2025 (1)

Grass cuttings: a good amendment for the vegetable garden?
Preparing the soil
Grass cuttings: a good amendment for the vegetable garden?

We're always on the lookout for manure or compost for our garden and vegetable patch. But what if, in the end, the amendment you were looking for was right under your feet? Yes, these days it's very common to use...

31 May 2025 (1)

The potato tower: does it really work?
Growing vegetables
The potato tower: does it really work?

You have a small garden and don't want your vegetable patch to take up all the space. There are plenty of solutions for optimising the space in your little patch of greenery. In particular, when you grow vegetables that take...

28 May 2025 (1)

Are woodlice harmful to the vegetable garden?
Diseases and pests
Are woodlice harmful to the vegetable garden?

Hello Permapotes! Today we're going to discuss a subject that's on the minds of many of you: woodlice in the vegetable garden. These little crustaceans that look like mini-armadillos can sometimes seem invasive, but are they really harmful to your...

24 May 2025 (1)

How can I attract ladybirds to my garden?
Diseases and pests
How can I attract ladybirds to my garden?

There are secret battles going on in our vegetable gardens! Aphids suck the sap from our plants. Ants protect them by feeding on their honeydew. As for ladybirds, they devour aphids, but are, themselves, threatened by ants. Aphids, the gardener's...

21 May 2025 (1)

Squash, courgettes, melons: what are the risks of hybridisation and is it dangerous?
Tips for the vegetable garden
Squash, courgettes, melons: what are the risks of hybridisation and is it dangerous?

It has to be said: we love our brightly-coloured winter vegetables, such as pumpkins, squash and gourds, which we love in gratins or soups. They all belong to the cucurbit family. But this family also includes courgettes, melons and cucumbers....

17 May 2025 (1)

Carrots: why do they need to be thinned after sowing?
Growing vegetables
Carrots: why do they need to be thinned after sowing?

Thinning carrots, as with spinach or turnips, is one of those thankless garden chores that, while necessary, isn't much fun. But why is it necessary to thin carrot seedlings? <br /> Preparation before sowing Carrots grow best in a sunny...

14 May 2025 (1)

What to do in May in the vegetable garden (sowing, planting, harvesting, etc.)
Growing vegetables
What to do in May in the vegetable garden (sowing, planting, harvesting, etc.)

The month of May represents spring in all its splendour, as plants adorn themselves with their most beautiful flowers and what seemed dead comes back to life in a joyous symphony of colour and fragrance. It's also a crucial month,...

10 May 2025 (1)

When to sow and plant tomatoes?
Growing vegetables
When to sow and plant tomatoes?

Cultivated since the 18th century, the tomato is native to South and Central America. One of the most popular vegetables, it is also considered a fruit. This fragrant annual plant can be recognised by its yellow flowers, red fruit and...

7 May 2025 (1)

What to do in the vegetable garden in June?
Tips for the vegetable garden
What to do in the vegetable garden in June?

With temperatures rising and the days getting longer, June heralds the first signs of summer. In this article, discover everything you can do in your vegetable garden, from sowing to harvesting, planting and maintenance. Sowing in June If you've done...

3 May 2025 (1)

Vegetable garden: what are the easiest vegetables to grow?
Growing vegetables
Vegetable garden: what are the easiest vegetables to grow?

With the arrival of fine weather, we want to spend more time in our garden and why not start growing vegetables that will enable us to make superb soups, mouth-watering salads... Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, there...

30 April 2025 (1)