I have always believed that you should only write or talk about what you know
Figs are not the most obvious garden crop but they are a viable option and the plants are attractive as ornamentals too. Figs are hardy, deciduous shrubs or small trees. They have rather thick branches, large, hand-shaped leaves and prefer a well-drained soil in sun. They can be grown in most soils including chalky soils…
Yes, it’s that time of year again. No. I don’t mean Wimbledon, but strawberry season – though the two are inextricably linked. If I was forced to pick a favourite fruit it would be easy for me to choose strawberries and fortunately it is easy to grow a few at home, whether in beds, pots…
If you started your tomatoes in spring then it should not be long before you will be picking your first ripe tomatoes, especially if you are growing them in a greenhouse or polytunnel. I covered the basics in spring and it may be useful to have a quick look at that . But the year…
Many years ago, when I worked at Nags Hall, alstroemerias were far from popular garden plants. The only kinds you could get for the garden were forms of Alstroemeria area, in gold and orange and they were not good garden plants. They flowered profusely in June but then set seed, and died down by August,…
You may think that secateurs are something you use only in winter but you should really be using them all year round. Apart from using them for cutting flowers, you should be pruning different things all year round. Summer is the time for pruning plums, gages and damsons and peaches. These must never be pruned…
With RHS Chelsea Flower Show next week the whole nation will be thinking about their gardens! Of course, some of us are thinking about our garden all year. Chelsea always means the introduction of new roses. I can’t wait for my roses to be in full bloom. A few are already opening and I am…
With so much to do in the garden our houseplants can get a bit neglected at this time of year. Yet it is the ideal time to repot any that are getting potbound and generally give them a clean or tidy. I have been repotting some of my houseplants. It is often recommended that houseplants…
This weekend may be all about celebration but gardeners don’t need a reason to celebrate. I have been enjoying the tulips for many weeks now: the cool weather has helped them to last well. The red tulips with the wallflowers have coincided well and done exactly what I wanted – colour and scent. They are…
The recent shortages of salad crops in supermarkets has sparked renewed interest in growing your own. Growing tomatoes is on everyone’s mind. Lots of us grow tomatoes already and we know that you can’t really grow tomatoes to pick anytime except in mid- late summer. That doesn’t bother me because I cook and freeze my…
I have never needed a reason to grow my own crops; it is satisfying and it is a joy to pop into the garden to pick something for lunch. But with finances squeezed and supermarkets running out of veg, this may be the year to have a go yourself. Over the years I have covered…