Quick and easy to grow, cougettes have a reputation for producing prolific pickings. Follow our back to basics guide for your best ever results. While their pumped-up cousin the marrow is a familiar staple, courgettes are a relative newcomer to the UK veg scene. Perhaps it’s thanks to all those Mediterranean holidays and the fact […]
The humble carrot is such an important staple crop for many of us and with a little care and by selecting the right varieties it is possible to have fresh roots from the garden for much of the year. Carrots can be the easiest or the hardest of crops to grow; if conditions are right […]
Spring is just the time when veg is in short supply and expensive in the shops so plan ahead and sow some cabbage now for an early harvest next year. If you think your plot looks bare in spring with not a lot to harvest then try growing spring cabbages and spring greens so that […]
Packed with goodness and with their own delicate flavour, which has made them a favourite with gourmet chefs, broccoli and its close cousin, calabrese deserve to be on the menu on your plot, too. Follow our easy guide to growing these nutritious crops. Recent research proves what gardeners and mums with families to feed have […]
There are two types, climbing or dwarf, and they can either form round pods or flat and sometimes coloured, too. They are easy to grow and just one plant will produce many beans over a number of weeks Propagation French beans are not hardy so make early sowings indoors in pots or cell trays. Use […]
Colourful beetroot has made a comeback! No longer seen simply as a root veg only good for pickling, it is now eaten raw – roots, stems and leaves – as well as in many traditional recipes such as borscht and as an ingredient in wines and cakes. Of course it is delicious when served hot […]
Thanks to the fantastic Kitchen Garden magazine, Hartley Botanic brings you the best advice for both novice and experienced gardeners on how to grow the most popular vegetables in your gardens or greenhouses. Choose from 17 delicious crops from beetroot to tomatoes. With detailed instructions and discussions on different varieties of each vegetable, this series […]
It’s trendy, we’re told by certain superstores and style setters, to have a black Christmas tree or even an upside-down one, artificial, of course, and, because they last for years, they are more environmentally friendly than plantation-grown real ones. Well, if the tree you buy has been sustainably grown in the UK (and, this year, […]
Brits are turning to their gardens in record numbers as food prices shoot up. Growing your own food hasn’t been such a popular idea since the rationing years during World War II but many don’t know where to begin. Perhaps the handiest place to grow your own food is in the greenhouse or garden at […]
Tomatoes bought from shops and supermarkets are pale imitation of those grown at home, lacking not only the flavour but the rich aroma of those grown in your greenhouse. To ensure good crops, keep them well shaded, ventilated, fed and watered throughout the growing season and remove the leaf just above the fourth truss to […]
As the holiday season nears, here are a few ideas to ensure that your houseplants survive while you’re away. If a friend is watering them for you, move all of the plants into one room, so that nothing gets forgotten. The kitchen is ideal, as they are near the water supply and can stand on […]
One of the most famous botanic gardens in the world, and one of the largest tourist attractions in the UK, Kew Gardens is home to the planet’s largest collection of living plants. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was formally established in 1759, and is now one of the few gardens placed on the UNESCO list […]
