Canada UK Chef James Golding’s Maple has worked in some of the UK’s best restaurants. In each of his dishes, James makes sure to use seasonal ingredients and he wants you to do the same.
If you have a small garden or live in an apartment with no green spaces, James recommends using a window box garden.
“These have become very popular over the last year, partly because of the lockdown,” he said.
James advised planting leaves that you can later eat as part of a salad.
“I would focus on planting lettuce leaves that you can cut a decent amount with at once, and then let the plant grow again, ready for the next bounty.”
Providing tips on how not to overplant, James said, “Make sure there is at least six inches and more between each plant if it’s a large plant like broccoli or a fruit tree.”
“If the plant does not have enough space, the airflow is restricted and diseases can develop,” explained the chef.
James also mentioned the biggest mistakes people make when planting their own produce.
He said, “The biggest mistake people make when growing their own produce is usually either under watering in the early life of the plant or over watering and root rot as the plants continue to grow.”
“When growing products in pots, always pour water into a base pan, not from the top – it sounds easy, but trust me, it makes a huge difference,” recommended James.
As the Chef Ambassador for Maple for Canada UK, James has also shared some of his favorite recipes, including a pumpkin puree made from butternut squash, olive oil, thyme, rosemary and garlic.
James instructed to cut the pumpkin into 1-inch cubes and place them on a baking sheet with oil and herbs before toasting everything in the oven until the pumpkin is tender.
After 20 to 25 minutes, the pumpkin should be ready to season with butter and a little salt and pepper.
