Sometimes a few well-chosen accessories and tools can make life not only much easier, but also more satisfying too. You’ve probably got a favourite spatula for scraping the cake basin and a trusty bread knife, but what’s your go to greenhouse gadget? Here are some of mine, in no particular order. Watering wizards One of […]
The magic of seeds never fails to bring a smile to my face. What could be more exciting and wonderful than watching a dried-up speck start to sprout and root and begin its life as a plant? It’s a process I can watch and enjoy again and again. It’s simple, it’s nature at her very […]
If you are worried about the lack of fresh food in the shops, it’s time to rethink your take on salads and look a bit closer at what is growing in and around your garden and greenhouse. Beat the fresh veg shortage by using some alternative salad ingredients instead. I’ve never been a great fan […]
It’s hard to understand the extent of the climate crisis when we are surrounded by beautiful gardens and immersed in nature. But that’s because many of the changes are subtle or distant or even gradual. But it’s happening on our watch, under our noses and before our eyes. It’s easy to think that you can’t […]
Wow, I’ve got so much planned for 2023 I’m not quite sure how I’m going to fit it all in. But just starting in January is a good start. It feels uplifting and powerful and I’m going to harness that feeling and keep going. There’s so much to do before spring hits, but already there […]
It’s just turned December in the UK and until a few days ago there were still butterflies and bumblebees foraging on the winter shrubs. In my garden my resident wasp nest was still very much active, and there were many late summer flowering plants actually still in bloom, like cosmos and coreopsis and roses. Social […]
Don’t forget garden fruit this winter. Plant more fruit and fruit trees to provide natural food for nature and plenty of fruit for your family too As winter approaches, anyone that gardens and grows a little produce knows the incredible inherent value of homegrown fruit. It can be bottled, dried, frozen, jammed and stored for […]
Take a wander around your garden, or into your greenhouse and I could almost guarantee there are plants that have a direct memory of a friend or loved one. In my garden I have cuttings of my grandmother’s rosemary plant. That in itself is quite ironic because rosemary is associated with remembrance. So much so […]
If you grow tomatoes, you are probably now awash with lots of fruit. It’s a great challenge finding ways to use up a glut of tomatoes and there are many wonderful ways to make use of this fabulous, flavour filled surplus. Gardeners that grow tomatoes should now have a bit of a glut and be […]
Imagine if you went to a restaurant and were served plastic vegetables? And when you complained the chef said that they were less maintenance, didn’t need washing and would never go off. Would you eat them? Would you think, oh wow, that’s a great idea, another way to circumvent nature? I don’t think so. But […]
What do wasps do?? What’s the point of wasps?? These are commonly uttered, exasperated questions of wasp-laden summers. Wasps need a new PR agency. They are badly misunderstood, hugely persecuted and victims of incredible abuse. All because they dare to gate crash our summer parties and from time to time kick back. Yes some wasps […]
Don’t let the dreaded tomato blight reduce your harvest to mush; Jean Vernon has some timely advice. Anyone who grows tomatoes has probably experienced the highs and lows of the fantabulous greenhouse crop. Let’s be honest, tomatoes are fairly high maintenance. We spend time and effort sowing, growing, repotting, tying in, pinching out and feeding. […]
