Itās a time-honored tradition to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea among your plants in the greenhouse. But what about growing tea there? Tea (Camellia sinensis) has been cultivated around the world for thousands of years, but in the United States it is a relatively new crop. With the resurgence of interest in […]
Hartley Botanicās classic Victorian greenhouse was the centerpiece of one of the most relatable gardens at this yearās Philadelphia Flower Show, which was themed āHABITAT: Natureās Masterpiece,ā and geared to exploring āthe beauty of life through natureās kaleidoscopic lens.ā At 189 years old, this is the first time the PFS has been held in the […]
During summer, greenhouse plants need a lot of attention. Temperatures inside a greenhouse can easily soar to over 100oF (38oC) even with all the windows and doors open. Such heat can significantly stress your plants. The problem with high heat is that it causes water in plants to get quickly depleted through transpiration. Transpiration is […]
One of the best things about having a Hartley greenhouse is being able to propagate and that means plants for free. And thatās VERY important to those of us with Yorkshire roots. Oh yes, it is! Midsummer is a perfect time to start and it neednāt be complicated, despite what you read in books. I […]
It has certainly been excellent chilli weather in the greenhouse. In fact it has been chilli weather everywhere. The sort of sweaty, day and night heat we have had recently is perfect for chillies, which really hate the temperature fluctuations that come with spring, and hit their stride in a summer heat wave.Ā We have […]
Whether you want to pick a posy of flowers for a gift or fill a vase for the hearth, your garden can provide plenty of flowers for cutting There are so many benefits of having a garden and a greenhouse. Picking fresh flowers for the house or for a friend is just one of the […]
One of our tastier re-discovered culinary delights is a simply grown salading that may be harvested all year round within the protection of a cold greenhouse. Easy to grow from seed this weirdly shaped leaf resembles a blade of grass with irregular teeth somewhat like those on a saw or swordfish. Fortunately these are as […]
Summer is upon us. The freezing nights of spring are over, and days are warm in the sun. Now my plants and I are facing a different threat: the sun itself. As a shade gardener, Iām always focused on sunlight. Light is a plantās basic requirement, and in my tree- and building-shaded space, sunshine is […]
If weāre to truly break free from peat-dependent gardening, whatās needed is joined-up oversight with the vision to see the bigger picture. Unlikely as it sounds, there is every chance that gardening will soon turn noticeably greener, as our gardens, allotments and greenhouses ā after three decades of delay, doublespeak and deception ā are finally […]
After a wet, cold May and low light, letās hope plants and people can finally enjoy some sunshine. Aubergines, peppers and chillies should be transplanted into pots one or two sizes larger once they have formed a good root system but before they become pot bound. Transplant repeatedly until they reach a final pot size […]
This is the month when gardeners enjoy adding to their collection of plants. So, Iāve called on knowledgeable colleagues from different parts of the country, to find out what they canāt live without. When I asked them to name two, one person replied, āThatās like picking a favorite child!ā With a lot of culling and […]
The cool spring has been great for getting salad leaves going in the greenhouse, lettuce in particular. Most plants are in the greenhouse now to keep them warm while the weather is still uncertain ā I even have new perennials sheltering in there as it has been so chilly and I havenāt wanted to plunge […]
