Hartley Magazine

All the latest news, hints, tips and advice from our experts

‘Don’t mention the rain’!

To misquote John Cleese; ‘Don’t mention the rain’! It has been the most extraordinary year for precipitation; it started as soon as the hosepipe ban was announced. Low temperatures and lack of sunshine, has meant plant growth has often been at a standstill. Normally restricted growth forms of gooseberries, redcurrants and apples, like fans and […]

‘Hardening off’ plants

‘Hardening off’ is the process of acclimatising plants which have been grown indoors, until they become robust enough to grow outdoors for the summer like bedding plants, ornamental or vegetable seedlings propagated in the greenhouse and tender or half hardy plants, like Fuschias and dahlias, which have been protected through the winter. It usually takes […]

5 Top Tips for Greenhouse Maintenance by Ewan Michaels

Growing plants is an excellent way to spend time in your garden and to experience the great outdoors in a productive manner. I’ve always been interested in gardening ever since I was a young boy and my father asked for my help in growing some cherry tomato plants. At the time, I wasn’t too keen on vegetables but after […]