I’ve been on a bit of a healthy eating binge these last few weeks. It probably started after a pretty nasty illness I picked up on my travels, which left me particularly under the weather. Having wasted away for a few weeks (! Yes really), and then left craving for sugar and sweet things, I […]
You don’t need pesticides to keep your garden and greenhouse healthy, says Jean Vernon. Here are ten great ways to deal with garden pests without using poisons. Last month I outlined ten reasons not to use pesticides in your greenhouse and garden. So I thought it would be useful to provide ten ways to deal […]
Keep your greenhouse and garden free from toxins for the healthiest crops, says Jean Vernon You don’t need to use pesticides in your garden or greenhouse. Some gardeners reach for the spray with little thought about what they are doing, intent on destroying whatever bug or creature is eating their plants. But pesticides cost the […]
If you want to help the bees, bee savvy says Jean Vernon January brings a glut of seed and plant catalogues through the door, all vying for attention with their attractive bright and tempting pick and mix of plants. For the greenhouse gardener it’s a welcome distraction from the current wet, murky winter and a […]
Think outside the gift box when it comes to Christmas presents, says Jean Vernon. It’s that time of year when you can’t sit and watch the telly without adverts for extravagant gifts, ridiculously expensive toys, gadgets and perfume; all in the name of a religious festival. Somehow that just doesn’t compute for me. Even more […]
Gardening is the most sharing and caring hobby I can think of. We share plants and produce all year round, giving surplus plants to friends and family and sharing advice and expertise whenever asked. With social media playing its part now too, it is easier and easier to share information, ideas and tips from your […]
New to gardening? Don’t grow tomatoes, says Jean Vernon There I’ve said it. Don’t grow tomatoes if you are starting out. They are not for beginners. They might be one of the most popular seeds and plants to grow, as I keep being told by industry manufacturers and suppliers, but I honestly don’t think we […]
There are many reasons we grow our own food. There’s nothing better than the living larder that the garden and greenhouse creates. For me it’s a reality check. While pretty much everyone relies on supermarkets for some of their shopping, being able to not only supplement the weekly shop with some really fresh and tasty […]
Over the years I’ve trailed and tested a whole raft of garden gadgets and equipment; there are literally hundreds of tools and accessories for every garden task. Take watering for example. The first tool for garden watering is a good watering can. I’m a big fan of watering cans because they make you think about […]
With summer in mid flow there’s one garden pest that is taking the starring role, the wonderful wasp. While most people consider the wasp to be a huge pest, and it can be, in gardening terms the wasp is actually a very beneficial insect. It is a predator of many garden pests and will devour […]
I’ve always been astounded by the power of plants. Whether it’s the inherent medicinal properties of unassuming garden stalwarts, like willow bark containing an aspirin precursor, or wild garlic used by bears to deter fleas, or how the smell of lavender relaxes the inhaler. I could go on and on and I probably will. Nature […]
If you’ve ever grown potatoes or tomatoes, chances are you’ve experienced the blight that can affect them late in the season. It’s a fungus like infection spread by miniscule spore like microbes that are whipped around on the wind and thrive in a damp summer. Whole crops of tomatoes and potatoes can be totally wiped […]
