I was strolling (properly masked) through my neighborhood on a recent afternoon when I spotted a flower in a front-yard garden that swept me into one of those wave-of-memory moments. It was Gaillardia pulchella, the plant my mother grew up calling Indian blanket, its cheery red daisylike flowers rimmed with bright yellow. It threw me […]
The beefsteak tomatoes have started ripening in the greenhouse, the most delicious crop of the year. I could survive all of late summer just on beefsteak tomatoes, a bit of salt and olive oil, and hunks of bread to mop up the juices, and by the way the greenhouse is looking now I most probably […]
I had rather a large birthday recently, the sort you want to keep a deep, dark secret! Iâve seen a variety of gardening styles and, although Iâm not quite old enough to remember Dig for Victory, I do remember the self-sufficient gardens of the 1950s, the low-maintenance shrub gardens of the 1960s, the conifers of […]
âDonât sweat the small stuff,â but do pay attention to it. In this time of pandemic, when even our commonest gestures must be made with care, my focus has been put into sharp detail on the treasure to be found in the smallest package. I begin with my grandson, turning seven months as I write […]
As the climate crisis escalates, 40°C heat alerts are becoming a regular event â and thatâs before youâve factored in the midsummer frosts and greenhouse-shattering storms. Dry, rustling leaves roused Lena from her heat-induced snooze; the thick, clammy air was finally on the move. Yawning, she pressed her back against the oakâs trunk, her legs […]
HISTORIC GLASSHOUSE MANUFACTURER HARTLEY BOTANIC ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS Historic Glasshouse and Greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic experienced a renewed demand from homeowners in its beautiful, handmade Greenhouses during lockdown, as the benefit of being more self-sufficient and âgrowing your ownâ was thrown sharply into focus. The Lancashire-based business, which has been operating since 1938, experienced a […]
It doesnât matter whether you have a large or small, old or modern greenhouse, you will use potting soil. I use a lot of potting soil, bales of it in fact. Iâm talking about real potting soil. Mixtures that are instead called âgarden soil,â or something similar, are a different animal entirely. They can contain […]
Plan ahead and plant some Christmas cropping potatoes now for your festive feast, says Jean Vernon Growing your own food is a wonderful way to connect with nature, nutrition and your own well-being. Thereâs little more healthy than harvesting fresh, homegrown produce from your own garden, especially if itâs organic and free from toxic pesticides. […]
Looking for a spot in your garden to grow more edibles in this stay-at-home summer? But maybe you donât want to tear up more lawn or build raised beds. So, consider planting fruits and vegetables in the existing ornamental borders around your home, where the soil is already turned, mulch may be down, and weeds, […]
Your greenhouse can increase your GYO production in so many ways. Naturally oneâs most often used for starting plants off earlier and in summer most greenhouses are filled with tender annual crops. Recently theyâre becoming utilised for growing salads and other leafy crops almost year round. Of course the frost free greenhouse was actually effectively […]
This year, the British weather has been extreme, even by its own exalted standards. I have spent more time adjusting the ventilation in the greenhouse, than any year I can remember. Too hot, too cold, too draughty, scorching sunshine, black clouds, dry wind, cold wind and thatâs just in one morning. Towards the end of […]
