Royal Kitchen: Vegetables

The Royal Estates has grown its own vegetables for many years in the grounds of the palace and more recently on rented land. An organic approach has been adopted and no herbicides or insecticides are used. Companion planting helps to reduce loss but some crops are lost to birds and insects. Production levels have been reasonable to good, especially for soft fruit.

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2.2kg Butternut Squash 2008 - but we grew a 7Kg one in 2009 !

Our programme of building raised beds on our rented land has now been completed. A large amount of humus, manure and home made compost needs to be added to the beds once dug over. We look forward to the new season and hope you will be growing some food of your own this year.

April 2010: We have sown and brought-on a host of vegetables plants in the Royal Greenhouse. So far this year we have planted-out Duke of York new potatos, onions and shallots and Broad Beans. We have growing in the greenhouse Dwarf French Beans, Cyprus Climbing Beans, Zuccini, Yellow Courgette.  Within the next four weeks we should be planting our Tomatoes, French Beans, Butternut Squash and Sweet Corn.

May 2010: Our greenhouses are bursting with young plants ready for planting but the weather has been too cold. Over the past few years we have become accustomed to early warm springs, but nature has returned to its traditional schedule this year. The forecast is good from the third week in May - just as well as the greenhouses cannot take anymore plants!

HRH at work on the land 2009

Last Update: 21-May-2010