June is still a good time to sow fast maturing vegetables in areas usually affected by late frosts, something that ‘caught out’ many gardeners last month in areas where the last frosts are generally much earlier. Spring onions, parsley and other salads that are harvested successionally should continue to be sown regularly until August, to […]
Now here is an interesting and rewarding genus of somewhat unknown tender shrubs for the greenhouse. Whether you want an attractive foliage plant, gloriously scented flowers or to grow an unusual but useful fruit Carissa grandiflora or Natal plum (once known as Acokanthera) ticks all the boxes. Perhaps the only drawback is the spines, not […]
Cucumber Feast If ever there was a good reason to grow your own, this has to be it. An outbreak of E coli that has affected dozens of people has been blamed on cucumbers. The jury is still out as to the source of the infection but the scare has left a question mark over […]
Glasshouse garden’ inspires beginners and experts alike Compact versions of the grand estate glasshouses to be found at Kew, Hampton Court Palace and various RHS gardens are being unveiled by Hartley Botanic at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show (May 23-28) in a bid to appeal to amateur gardeners of differing skill levels. Their courtyard ‘glasshouse […]
In autumn everyone lines their greenhouses with bubblewrap to keep the warmth in. Then, once that has served its purpose, about now, everyone takes it all off again. But then it gets a bit hot and bright in the greenhouse so we all get up a ladder and paint it with shading paint, which then […]
I hate – almost to the point of wanting to stop growing them – tomato seedlings that have been in the house too long. Every time you water them the water spills out all over the windowsills (it’s gloss paint so it’s almost a waterproof tray, right) and it’s enough of a faff dashing to […]
For the first time for years we have an early summer, it’s so early that plants that would normally be flowering in June are in blossom in April and May. That’s the one thing that makes gardening exciting and unpredictable, the weather is never the same two years running and always has a fresh challenge. […]
Now here are a delightful though little known bunch of closely related small tender trees and shrubs. From the Americas these are widely grown in most tropical and sub-tropical countries but are also surprisingly good as frost free greenhouse subjects. Although they are from such tropical areas they are quite tough and can endure short […]
I regularly count myself as fortunate ‘freelancer’, in the gardening world. I was recently a guest lecturer on a Fred. Olsen Cruise down to the Cape Verde Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Senegal, (No I didn’t know where they were, either!) once a Portuguese colony and tipped as the next ‘big’ holiday destination. […]
Here are the lettuces I sowed in the greenhouse earlier in the year, ready for harvesting. They may not look ready to you, but I am following Charles Dowding’s method, and if Charles says they’re ready, they’re ready. Charles is salad leaf Zen master. His approach is a little different to the usual cut and […]
One of the things that gardeners often forget is that the vast majority of the plants that we grow hail from far distant shores. That’s why we need a greenhouse! To lull these hot house flowers and sun loving plants into thinking that they are growing in their native environment. Of course some plants hail […]
Early in the month, while the soil is still cold, is the perfect time to get sowing in the greenhouse. Heavier soils in particular are going to take time to warm up. Frost tender crops like Aubergine, celery, peppers, sweet corn, French and runner beans, courgettes, squashes and other tender vegetables can all be germinated […]
