After enjoying the delights of April when we were greeted by warm sunshine for several days, the weather is now back to erratic, un seasonal, ‘normal’. Even the hot days of April were tempered by cool nights, so any heat that warmed the ground was lost overnight. It did, however, compact spring into a few […]
Despite a few sunny days and the welcome appearance of daffodils and early bulbs, it is still very cold. Eighteen inches of snow in Northern Scotland on 31st March as the month ‘goes out like a lion’ and the latest spring in 30 years, confirms a slow start to the gardening year. With the ongoing […]
What an old fashioned winter, it‘s been! Old country lore is that it‘s ‘February fill dyke‘, but it‘s not just the rain that‘s done the damage, the melted snow has turned the whole garden into a sodden puddle of clay and filled nearby ditches as well! The grass around my fruit trees is waterlogged, the […]
This cold winter has been a shock and I wouldn’t be surpised if there’s yet more snow to come. Even now there is some lying in a large patch behind a nearby hedge reminding me of the old country saying that if the snow lies more will come to take it away. The meltwater soaking […]
The ‘Indian Azalea’ is one of my favourite winter houseplants, the deep green foliage and delicate, tissue paper flowers are just perfect. With care plants last for many years and become a family heirloom: here are the secrets of success. Keep it in a cool, bright place and the compost moist with tepid soft water. […]
Although ‘Growing your own’ has ignited an unprecedented interest in vegetable growing, a fascination for fruit is taking a little longer. Sales are increasing slowly but people still believe that growing fruit is too challenging – birds steal the crops, lists of pollination partners are incomprehensible, and pruning, an impossible mystery to all but the […]
Whatever the weather in October, from the beginning of November, temperatures drop and strong winds begin to blow, clearing the leaves from deciduous trees. It’s the time of year to tidy the garden, making sure that tender plants are protected and that everything can withstand the winter blast. Last year came as a surprise; I’m […]
Three years ago I decided to make my own apple press, to take advantage of two giant ‘James Grieve’ apple trees, the most reliable cropper’s in the garden. This year, however, I admitted defeat, realising that my dream would never become reality and decided to buy a small press, instead. Although there are some wonderful […]
September is one of my favourite months of the year, it’s often warm and settled for part of the month, despite what may have gone before and the days often still, with barely a breeze. As you can see from the picture, the wet summer encouraged extraordinary amounts of new growth on my cordon and […]
August is the ideal time to be storing fresh herbs for winter use. Although they are much tastier when freshly harvested, there are several ways of preserving herbs that allow you to save them whenever there is a glut. Choose the best quality, disease free material and collect them early in morning on a dry […]
In a departure from my usual diary this month, I’d like to use the space to announce that I’m creating a feature garden at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. A phone call three weeks ago offered me the opportunity to create a small garden based on fruit and vegetables. Am I a landscaper? […]
Spring has been one of the best for years, after several mild winters when plants couldn’t decide whether to be dormant or grow, they’ve responded to a cold rest and sunshine by blooming beautifully, so our spring has been filled with flowers. One interesting feature has been the constant cold winds, which have been present […]
