If you’re raring to go in the garden or allotment, here are some ideas for what to plant in March. The arrival of March really is the start of the growing season in my mind - even if the weather isn't in agreement and it’s still freezing outside! You do still need to be careful temperature-wise, but if you can provide some frost protection there are lots of plants you can start growing this month. Flowers to plant in March Bedding ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in February
We’re almost there…. February is underway and spring is just around the corner. I still want it to hurry up though! It really won’t be long before I’m up to my neck in packets of seed and fussing over my labelled pots like a mother hen. But the fact remains that it’s still winter, and most plants just won’t tolerate being started off until the weather warms up a bit and the light improves. That said, there are some that will ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in January
If you’re anything like me, by January you’ll have had enough of being content with looking forward to sunnier days, and will be longing to get outside and plant something. I dearly love the whole process of coaxing plants into life, and it feels like an age since I last pushed a seed into some earth and willed it to grow. I think I have the gardening equivalent of itchy feet! To satisfy my cravings, I’ve been looking at which plants ...
The benefits of building a greenhouse with acrylic sheets for organic kitchen gardening
Collaborative post Have you made the switch to organic food? It's a trend that continues to grow in popularity, reflecting increased consumer interest in the health benefits and reduced environmental impact of organic produce. Organic food does tend to cost more than it's alternatives though. A great solution to this problem is to embrace organic gardening, and grow your own organic produce for a fraction of the cost. What is organic ...
3. The 10 minute gardener: quick gardening in January
If you always feel like you don't have enough time for gardening, or just need some guidance on what to focus on each month, this is the series for you! Read on for tips and ideas on quick but effective gardening in January. The start of a new year has worked it’s magic on my gardening enthusiasm, as it always does. I’ve replaced the frenzy of Christmas with a gentler form of excitement, and my mind is buzzing with ideas for the ...
Tips for controlling plant diseases
Plant disease: it’s not the most glamorous of gardening topics, but it’s an issue that’s highly likely to have affected your garden at some point. To be honest, in the past I’ve struggled to understand and recognise plant diseases beyond a very basic level. Yes, I could tell when a plant has suffered from under or over watering, and recognise leaf scorching from bright sun, but beyond that I was pretty much out of my depth! I have noticed ...
Review & Giveaway: Greenhouse Sensation plant watering kits
Welcome to a new giveaway, courtesy of Greenhouse Sensations. I'm giving away a brilliant Quadgrow Planter worth £42.90, which is perfect for taking the hassle out of plant watering. If you grow plants in a greenhouse of any size, you'll be familiar with the task of regular watering. I've had a greenhouse on my allotment for a couple of years now, and I've learned the hard way that it only takes a day or two to create drought conditions in ...
A Home-grown Health Kick
Do you grow your own fruit and veg? We started our grow-your-own journey a few years ago, and it has made such a difference to the amount of fresh produce we eat on a regular basis. We've found home-grown to be fresher, tastier and a really convenient way to manage a healthy diet. I've recently come across this great infographic from Premier Polytunnels, which has loads of ideas for getting more fruit and veg into your diet. There are some ...
Exploring Clumber Park
Visiting Clumber Park is one of those days out where the minute you arrive, you just know it’s going to be brilliant. We’ve been meaning to visit for such a long time and we finally managed it over the bank holiday weekend. Covering over 3,800 acres of parkland, heath and woods in North Nottinghamshire, Clumber Park was once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. The original house is no longer there but there are lots of other ...
An unruly Summer allotment
It's been a while since I shared any pictures of our allotment. This hasn't been deliberate, I just haven't got myself organised! I feel like I've been behind the whole way with the allotment this year. Last year I had the plot rotavated in early Spring, which meant I was good to go with the planting nice and early. This year however there's a greenhouse slap bang in the middle of the plot, a few raised beds and some permanent fruit canes, ...