Deadheading plants is a nice task, almost mediative, and it keeps plants flowering for longer. However, if you want to collect seeds from your favourite plants, you have to let the flowers go to the next stage and produce seeds. The advantages of collecting your own seeds are many: You … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in July
Here we are right in the middle of summer, and I hope you find time to just sit in your garden, and do nothing but enjoy it. However, we have to look ahead, and plan … [Read More...]
Favourite Gardens from R.H.S. Hampton Court Show
Following on from yesterdays post about past Hampton Court Garden Shows, here's more of the glorious show gardens from recent years. In no particular order, but … [Read More...]
Dreaming of Hampton Court Palace Garden Show.
Some say that the best gardens evolve over time, that layers of beauty can only be added with the years. But garden shows demonstrate that it's possible to build a … [Read More...]
Beautiful Biennials to Sow Now
Biennials plants sown from seed are easy and such great value, and now is a good time to sow them. Biennials germinate and grow their leaves, often as a low … [Read More...]
What to do in the Garden in June
These long, midsummer days are blissful. But we’re just past midsummer now, and the days are beginning to gradually get shorter. Gardening needs a change of … [Read More...]
Chelsea Flower Show 2020
Like many things during this pandemic, the Chelsea Flower Show is happening in a virtual world, Each day this week, on the R.H.S. website there's a great mix of … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In May
The last week has been spent battling with pests in the garden & trying to encourage friendly creatures to create some sort of balance. This is typical May, the … [Read More...]
Gardening To Help You Feel Good
We all know how nurturing plants & watching them grow, enjoying the colours & scents in a garden, help reduce anxiety & stress. It’s not surprising then, … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In April
The current lockdown & plethora of seeds I’ve accumulated, has focused my mind on the business of sowing plants from seed this month. Fortunately April is a good … [Read More...]
How To Grow Edible Flowers
Edible flowers are just the thing to grow at the moment. They're easy, your food will look amazing & many flowers are surprisingly full of punchy flavour. Let's … [Read More...]
How To Grow Herbs – part 2
Part 2 of How To Grow Herbs is all about growing annuals, quick & easy to grow, they're gems of the herb world. Sown from seed each year, they provide … [Read More...]
How To Grow Herbs – Part 1
Freshly picked herbs are a complete joy, they add so much flavour to any dish. Think of parsley or coriander scattered over a dish, or mint simmered with new … [Read More...]
How To Grow Fuss Free Vegetables
How different everything is in the short space of time, since I last wrote on here. In our own little way, growing a few fuss-free vegetables will make a difference … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In March
Fat little buds are developing on trees & shrubs in the garden, & the glorious sound of singing birds has begun. All this is usual for this time of year, but … [Read More...]
The Joys Of Growing Plants From Seed
The joys of seed sowing are many, but probably the most joyous thing, is how these little seeds will, within a matter of weeks be transformed into … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In February
The days are lengthening, & more daylight means the garden is waking up fast. It's the perfect time of year to get set for the coming seasons in the … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In November
It's that quiet time in the garden when growth slows down, at least it does above ground. Frankly, it's quite a relief after months of rampant plant growth & … [Read More...]
The Big Benefits Of Planting A Tree
The benefit of planting trees is huge. To begin with, you probably know trees have this ability to soak up CO2 emissions. We need all the help we can get to do … [Read More...]
Autumn Sown Sweet Peas.
As everything winds down in the garden, I almost forgot about sowing sweet peas this month. Here's a reminder about why autumn sown sweet peas are such a good … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In October
Autumn reaches its' peak in October. The colours are at their best, not yet spoiled by wind & rain. There's still a reasonable amount of daylight & the light … [Read More...]
What To Do About Climate Change Overwhelm.
When climate change-overwhelm & frustration gets to you, & it does pretty much on a daily basis. Remember this positive fact. Your garden, balcony or … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In September
Right on cue, as August ended there was a real autumnal feel in the air, bringing chilly evenings & shorter days. Nevertheless, it’s a joyful month. Our … [Read More...]
How To Take Pelargonium Cuttings
For gardeners, there’s a fine balance between enjoying the present moment & planning ahead. It’s not a difficult to achieve this in August, because apart from … [Read More...]
What To Do in The Garden In August
After months of working hard in the garden to get things to grow, August is the month when quite a bit of effort has to be put into stopping plants from growing too … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In July
The trick with gardening is approaching it as a pleasure rather than a chore. I've found the best way to do this is to have a daily wander round the garden. … [Read More...]
Do we need fewer garden chores?
I didn't intend to spend half the weekend gardening, it's just that it all took much longer than I thought it would. Does this happen to you, & if it does did … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In June
This is one of those glorious months in the garden, when the work really begins to pay off. Now that night-time frosts are no longer a possibility, I've been … [Read More...]
Unmissable Garden Shows in 2019
Garden Shows are the perfect day out. There's the opportunity to talk to plant sellers, the people who actually grow the plants. This is the case at Royal … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In May
This is it, the time is here to plant out those carefully nurtured seedlings & small plants, & generally get things ship-shape for summer. All plants … [Read More...]
How To Grow Plenty Of Plants From Seed.
Growing plants from seed can be an uncertain business, so let me share a simple method that guarantees plenty of plants for your garden. Sowing seeds is … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In April
What to do in the garden in April, well quite a lot since you as you ask. Though its all quite manegable, I've been making lists & getting through them … [Read More...]
Gardening with less plastic.
My word, April is a busy time in the garden, but busy in a good way, with the promise of this fresh season unfurling before us. And because we're in the … [Read More...]
How To Re-Pot Houseplants
They’re there day after day, almost part of the furniture, but houseplants deserve more than a weekly watering, they also need to be re-potted into fresh … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In March
We’re teetering on the edge of Spring here in the South-East of England. The days are getting longer, & there’s more bird song around, it really is a time to be … [Read More...]
How To Grow The Best Sweet Peas.
I'm dreaming of a billowing row of divinely scented, colourful sweet peas, lasting all summer long. So here's the plan to help you grow the best sweet peas, & to … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In February
I've been wondering about re-naming this monthly series of looking after your garden. I don't want it to sound like a list of chores or something you put off doing. … [Read More...]
Vegetables To Grow And Sow In February
What vegetables to grow & sow in February largely depends on the weather. The longer days are noticeable, but its a few weeks before there’s a good amount … [Read More...]
The Advantages of A January Garden.
As the end of January approaches, I have to admit, I’m going to miss her. There’s a clamour & a whole host of hashtags dedicated to the arrival of Spring, … [Read More...]
How To Grow Chillies
And we’re off! … its time for the first vegetable seeds to be sown. January is too cold & dark for most seeds, but ideal for chillies. Chilli plants like … [Read More...]
Garden Plans For 2019
Here we are, teetering on the edge of a new year, with dreams of a garden of lush vegetables, fragrant herbs & sweet smelling roses. But this will only happen … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In January
Given kind weather, gardening at this time of year is a particular joy. I spent a couple of happy sessions having a clear-up in the garden during the … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In November
Winter is a balance between getting things cleared away & ready for the next year whilst not being over-zealous about clearing away too much. I’m fond of a … [Read More...]
Glorious Autumn Colour For Your Garden.
I hope you're enjoying the autumn colour, that last fiery farewell in the garden before winter gets a grip. I've made a determined effort … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In October
Bright days, cold nights & beautiful autumn colours are breaking out all over. Tall grasses that have played a supporting role, become more … [Read More...]
Kokedama Workshop at Jamie Oliver H.Q.
Its easy to see why houseplants are back in the spotlight, at little cost, they instantly transform a room into a more vibrant space & boost your mood, we all … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In September
September in the garden is a pleasure. The weather is mild, the Miscanthus grasses are flowering, a couple of roses are flowering again & I'm harvesting spinach, … [Read More...]
Growing Salad Leaves Through Winter – The Low-Down
Home grown salad leaves are one of the joys of growing your own vegetables, & there's no need to stop at the end of summer So much cheaper than supermarket … [Read More...]
How To Avoid Watering Your Garden
We're right in the middle of a summer heatwave here in the UK, which has meant soaring temperatures of at least 85 degrees on a daily basis, & no … [Read More...]
What To Do In The Garden In July
July, what an interesting month you've been. Vegetables have been slow coming this year, what with the slugs that thwarted my early sowings & the lack of … [Read More...]
The War On Slugs
One of the joys of gardens is how the same one can vary from one year to the next, as new plants are added, & how the weather affects the size, shape … [Read More...]