I have always believed that you should only write or talk about what you know
There are various ways we can keep the colours of summer in our homes over winter. Simply drying flowers is the easiest but not all flowers can be cut, hung up and dried. There are alternatives of course and with some ingenuity a large range of blooms can be preserved. I hate plastic plants and…
It will soon be time to think about spring and buy daffodils, tulips and crocus but, before that, there is a brief opportunity to plant autumn-flowering bulbs. These often get overlooked and the chance to plant them often passes quickly. They need to be planted this month because they bloom in September and October. They…
For some of us, our summer gardens are more or less a thing of the past. Heat and dry weather has put paid to summer flowers. But we need not dwell on the past. Gardeners are always looking to the future. And now is the ideal time to take cuttings and make some free plants….
Last week I promised to tackle tomatoes and what to do to keep them healthy and productive. Everyone plants tomatoes at least once and they have the potential to be productive and delicious. But I can’t ignore the heat of this week and the ongoing drought conditions. You are quite aware of what is going…
August is a month for harvesting rather than planting in the veg plot. Summer cabbages are ready, carrots are plumping up and onions should be starting to dry, ready to harvest and store. With cooler nights recently the runner beans should be setting their long pods, and French beans need picking. There should be lots…
There is always lots to do in the garden, especially if you want colour for a long time. The seasons come and go and so do lots of plants, some need to be dug up and replaced while others need attention at various times. I do not begrudge most plants a bit of care and…
It might not be the busiest time in the garden but there is a lot going on. There is fruit to pick, weeds to pull, plants to water, pests to control and crops to harvest. The heat of the last week has been a challenge for us all. I am sure you have been running…
The weather may be scorching but that doesn’t stop us gardeners wanting to plant. Even if you only went to Nags Hall to get some compost or even a coffee, it is difficult to resist a new plant, especially when it is in flower. Many of our gardens lack shrubs in bloom at this time…
When I was a boy, and indeed even when I was working at Nags Hall in the 80s, scarlet salvias were all the rage. They were among the most popular bedding plants, and no wonder – they are bright and bold and easy to grow. Their popularity as bedding plants outlived that of most Victorian…
Most people grow a few fruit trees or want to and it is very rewarding. After the initial cost of planting later expense is minimal and the plants can crop for many years. In my own plot I am growing as wide a range of fruit as I can and that way, I am hoping…