I am the proud owner of two Hartley greenhouses, one heated and one unheated. I have a problem, Houston! They’re just not big enough at this time of year for all the things I want to grow. By early May they’re both groaning under the weight of dahlias, tomatoes, pelargoniums, countless annuals, sweetcorn, peppers and […]

Isn’t it confusing? We all love the garden birds and wish them no harm. But feeding them seems to be causing problems. So, what do we do to keep the garden birds safe? Everyone loves garden birds. We stop and listen to their melodious songs, we watch their funny antics around the garden and we […]

Compost, leaf mould, bracken, wood chips, even grit… it’s time to sieve your way to gardening gold. Blackcaps are serenading overhead. Spring sun warms my cheeks. A cool, light breeze gets the bluebells shimmying – and I’m joining them. My arms and upper body are moving to a steady, repeating motion, left-right, left-right, as I […]

My greenhouse in May feels like it is buzzing with potential, the warm, humid air, the trays of seedlings stretching towards the light. This May has felt a little different. There are still trays of seedlings but it has been so cold of late that there isn’t the feeling that everything is bursting to get […]

Purple Passion is a striking greenhouse soft shrub, the reddish violet colour alone makes it stand out. As you look more closely you notice amazing furriness on every part. As soft and hairy as Lamb’s Quarters (Stachys) in the open garden, similarly gentle under the fingers. Indeed a tactile plant you are driven to touch […]

Check greenhouse seedlings daily. They should only be watered if necessary and ensure they are not overwatered. They need watering less often when light and temperature levels are low. Use tepid tap water. Continue to inspect plants daily; look out for the three main greenhouse pests – aphids, whitefly and red spider mite – on […]