In these strange times, more and more of us are turning to gardening as a means of exercise, escape from the pandemic worry, and growing our own fruit & veg. Gardening is brilliant for all of those things - but how do you get cracking during lockdown if you don't already have lots of gardening supplies? This post aims to help you improvise with what you've already got, and also lists UK online gardening retailers that are currently still ...
The best garden tools for planting seeds – and how to improvise with what you’ve got
Are you sowing seeds right now? It's a great low-cost way to grow your own vegetables, herbs and salad crops - not to mention lots of garden flowers and plants. And you don't have to be a gardening pro to do it. Having the right tools for planting seeds can really make life easier, and also increase your chances of success. Don't be put off if you're unable to get hold of some things though; there's always a way to improvise with what ...
Gardening Calendar: what to plant month by month
Welcome to your one-stop gardening calendar for what to plant each month! Click on the relevant link to see my top picks for what to plant each month, including flowers, fruit, vegetables and bulbs. Your one-stop gardening calendar What to plant in January What to plant in February What to plant in March What to plant in April What to plant in May What to plant in June What to plant in July What to plant in ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in April
April is when things really start to get going in the garden. The soil is warming up, the risk of frost is much lower, and there's lots of planting to be done! If you’re keen to sow, grow and plant things this month, here are some ideas for what to plant in April. Flowers to plant in April Bedding plant & hardy annual seeds April is a good time to sow seeds for hardy annuals and summer bedding plants. Growing these plants ...
Gardening Calendar: 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! If you’re raring to go in the garden or allotment, here are some ideas for what to plant in March. Flowers to plant in March Bedding plant & hardy annual seeds If you have a greenhouse (even a miniature one), you can get started on sowing seeds for summer bedding plants and hardy ...
My top winter plants to perk up your garden
We’re heading towards the last ‘official’ weeks of winter, phew! With spring not far off in the garden, it’s only natural to be a bit impatient for that rush of colour that the warmer weather brings. Our garden has been looking decidedly drab all winter. For the last couple of years I’ve promised myself that I will make some changes to our planting, to stop this lack of interest continuing into another year. Guess what? It ...
4. The 10 minute gardener: quick gardening in February
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 gardening jobs for February. While January was a low-input month in the garden, we spent a lot of time planning, sketching and dreaming. The kids chose what to grow in their plots and I sorted out my seed order. Now the end of winter is ...
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 with children in winter: quick and easy growing seeds to plant
We’ve started the seed planting for this year, hurrah! Sowing seeds is my kids favourite gardening job; it never fails to grab their attention and we always have a really great time doing it. Usually a messy time too, but that goes with the territory! Now, you may be thinking “But it’s still freezing outside, no way could we start growing tender little seedlings” - and yes, if you planted most seeds outdoors at this time of year you’d ...
Easy ways to make your garden look good in winter
A quick glance out of my kitchen window confirms that winter is definitely in residence in the garden. The light is low, the tree branches are the only real structure in sight, most plants are dormant, and the lawn is blanketed in yet another carpet of fallen leaves (note to self: make more leaf mould). This all sounds more than a little bleak, but actually it’s not that hard to add interest to your winter garden. At the simplest level it’s ...