With increasingly wild weather the only certainty in future forecasts, greenhouse gardeners need to ready their structures for a stormy ride. Like it or not, increasingly powerful, destructive storms are now wired into the decades – centuries, unless we hit the emergency brake on carbon emissions – ahead. Everyday life, for us and for all […]

It is becoming hard to ignore the fact that my tender plants need to go back inside the greenhouse. It has been a mild autumn so far, and the temptation to leave them outside is huge. They look so nice, and are still mixed up with the houseplants too, which have been outside for a […]

More trees please! Why it’s time to make trees the new fashion icon of gardening. Trees matter and old trees are simply the best The devastating felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree in Northumberland has focused attention on trees. And that is a good thing. Trees are absolutely vital. And trees are beautiful too.   […]

I think I can say that this year has been the most difficult gardening year I’ve ever known. And I’ve known a lot! Temperatures fell a full ten degrees at the beginning of the year, following an exceptionally mild spell and lots of plants were caught out and subsequently perished. Penstemons and echinaceas were my […]

It is interesting how different each year can be. In 2023, I had no problems with red spider mite, whitefly, or blossom end rot on the tomatoes; I cannot recall when that last happened, or if it has ever happened at all. It is down to a cool summer where temperatures have been warm enough […]

Compost fodder, plant support, greenhouse shading, mulching material, soil enricher, winter fuel, garden screen, wildlife haven… there’s no end to the potential of the versatile willow. Our first stormy autumn night didn’t disappoint: warm, lashing rain, high, cottage-shaking winds and two mini power cuts – then a proper time-for-bed blackout. My head torch-illuminated check outdoors […]

If you wish to enjoy the most tasty Edamame beans simply grow some in your greenhouse so you can pick these really fresh. Edamame are green beans, steamed and podded hot or cold they’re gourmet delights very popular in Japanese cuisine. They’re also nutritionally rich in Vitamin C & K, Elements Ca, Fe, Mg, P, […]

I am delighted to say that I have a new Hartley Greenhouse, a Wisley Grow and Store, to play with. It joins an older Hartley Greenhouse that’s now twelve years old – but still as good as new. My new addition’s a gardener’s Greenhouse with full-length glass and staging and I’m going to grow seeds, […]

Among the many seeds we sowed in the greenhouse this spring was a selection of annual climbers. They have taken their time to get going, perhaps owing to being sown a little later than ideal, I have to admit, but I think some of the blame can be laid at the door of this gloomy […]

With the fruit trees laden with apples, it’s time to harvest, store and appreciate this humble fruit. Some years are better than others for different garden fruits and this year my apple trees are loaded with large juicy fruits. I’ve never seen such huge apples hanging from the branches and have to assume that the […]

Gourmet cooks with a greenhouse will already appreciate how growing herbs in the hotter drier conditions improves their strength and flavour. Many if not most grow Basil knowing how wonderfully flavoured this is fresh compared to the modicum left after preservation. You just cannot capture the essence. Which is why cooks also need to grow […]