Hartley Magazine

All the latest news, hints, tips and advice from our experts

Gardening with Alice McGowan

One of the biggest challenges of spring is that we eventually must limit what to grow. It’s worst inside greenhouses, where the space is confined by four walls. Seedlings have a shocking way of increasing exponentially in their needs–that tiny handful of seeds sprouts into a modest seedflat, then moves in a fairly orderly fashion […]

Establishing a vegetable garden

With vegetable gardening becoming “all the rage”, according to Tim Lamprey of the Newbury Port Daily News, the gardener has given his fellow horticulturalists some tips. Those looking into growing their own food can reclaim some of their lawn to make room for the crops, he wrote. Mr Lamprey explained kitchen gardens do well in […]

Master gardener gives tips on buying plants

A master gardener has offered advice on buying plants for the garden and greenhouse. Duval County Agriculture Extension Service and the University of Florida expert Tom Bruton wrote in the Florida Times-Union that gardeners should have a good poke around a nursery before judging the quality. He advised horticulture fans to avoid specimens with yellowed […]

How to make fertiliser in the kitchen

Gardeners looking to add some life to their plants can do so without spending a fortune on expensive fertilisers, it has been asserted. A simple and cost effective solution can be found in the kitchen, according to 6abc.com. The website advises a mixture of two tablespoons of white vinegar and a quart of water can […]

New book gives tips on desert gardening

A new book from Dorrance Publishing promises to help gardeners working in harsh environments get the best from their land and greenhouse. Tough Plants in a Fragile Land: Saving our Planet, One Garden at a Time, written by Danish national Fritzie von Jessen, is available for $35. It highlights the beauty of holistic, chemical-free, desert […]

Master gardener gives tips on tomatoes

A University of Idaho master gardener has given tips on growing tomatoes in a local newspaper. Elaine Walker wrote in the Idaho Statesman that the plants can be divided into two categories – determinate and indeterminate. She explained the former produces flower clusters at the end of stems and tend to be smaller. The latter […]

Macy’s to host floral displays

Gardeners who enjoy shopping will soon be able to combine their interests with a trip to Macy‘s department stores in Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Each year, the chain puts on a spectacular floral display at some of its top venues. This year‘s showcase will include landscapes, fantasy bouquets and a […]

Gardening restraint ‘a good way of saving’

A gardening enthusiast has been examining the merits of frugal horticulture on volunteertv.com. Michael Grinder believes the pastime can be a good way of cutting back on spending – as long as it is done correctly. He advises restraint when browsing in garden centres and suggests using websites such as GardenWeb.com is a good way […]

Pantyhose ‘ideal for tomato growing’

A gardening expert has suggested that pantyhose may be the ideal tool for growing tomatoes. However, it must be pointed out that Detroit Organic Gardening Examiner writer Bill Canaday simply suggested gardeners use the undergarments to tie tomato plants to their stakes. Mr Canaday has found that the legs from tights are the ideal material […]