Flogging faith in nature
There’s no need to buy solutions to pest problems that nature can solve for us. The only real problem is how to sell this idea.
Archives for 2012
Basil in the Heat
In the summer after finishing horticultural college I worked on a new herb garden on a hilltop near Sienna. Sounds gorgeous, eh? But the trouble with a new garden is the trees have not yet grown, and the trouble with Italy in the summer is it is really quite hot. No shade, on a parched […]
Identity Crisis
When it’s potting and planting time in the greenhouse the very act of labelling every single pot can almost seem to double the workload. But every gardener, well unless they’ve got a memory of a database, needs to keep records of some sort. It’s not about being obsessive; it’s about keeping note of good doers, […]
Flower power!
Removing faded flowers or ‘dead heading’, (see image) is a wonderful job for a late spring day, it extends the flowering season of annuals, hanging basket plants like Pelargonium’s, herbaceous plants – even shrubs, where it’s practical and is vital for sweet peas, which stop flowering if they are allowed to produce seed. Cutting bunches […]
Growing Melons
Few crops so require a greenhouse as melons. True seedsmen do sell varieties that may in a very good summer crop outdoors, but most years the results are rather disappointing. Come under cover though and truly amazing melons can be had of a size, sweetness and aroma far exceeding any sold commercially. The main reason […]
How to Identify an old Hartley Greenhouse
At Hartley Botanic, we are very proud of our heritage and the top quality greenhouses that we supply. As we build them with such care and precision, they can last for decades. We have even been made aware of one greenhouse (installed in 1979) that was sold by a customer at 100% profit; an amazing […]
Getting School Children at Ibstock Place School in to Gardening
Mini greenhouses are an excellent choice for those who wish to get into gardening. Not only do they offer a great taster into the world of horticulture, but they are great stepping stones to buying a bigger greenhouse. Of course, if you do not have the room in the garden for a fully fledged greenhouse, […]
Photos from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012
A few photos from this years RHS Chelsea Flower Show
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 Hartley Photos
Photos of the Hartley range at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012.
Austerity gardening
Make do and mend, learn to do without, pull your socks up and get stuck in: it’s time to cultivate some old-fashioned values in the garden.
Local Primary School Wins Greenhouse in RHS Competition
Hook Lane Primary School, in Kent, has won a greenhouse from Hartley Botanic, worth £2500 for staging the most ‘inspiring’ Get Your Growing event. They will be holding a photocall on Friday 4 May, at 9am. Part of RHS Campaign for School Gardening, Get Your Grown-Ups Growing is an initiative designed to encourage adults to […]
Heritage Vegetables
Growing your own produce is second nature to a united society of gardeners, most of whom have a greenhouse as the top tool in their gardening kit. There’s not much point in growing your own food if you can’t trial a few new things, try something different and grow what you want. Generally growing from […]