Well here we are - autumn. Summer is such a busy time - with the kids off school, but also in the garden - and September always seems to arrive so quickly. It’s a lovely month though; harvest time, beautiful angles of sunshine, and still plenty of warm weather to enjoy. And it’s also quite a productive month for sowing seeds, planting bulbs and growing new plants - some to enjoy soon, and some to get started for next ...
Tips for saving seeds in autumn
With autumn getting underway and many plants starting to shut down for the colder months, now is a good time to try saving seeds from your garden. Like dividing existing plants, saving seeds is a great way to get lots of new plants for free - and it’s easier than you might think. How do I save seeds for next year? If you'd like to have a go at saving seeds from your garden, read on to find out how to do it, plus some suggestions for ideal ...
Easy autumn gardening: planting wildflowers to support bees
This is a collaborative post in partnership with The Grass People Would you like to make your garden more bee-friendly? If the answer is yes, autumn is a great time to do just that by planting wildflowers. You may already be aware that bees are struggling, with species and numbers in dramatic decline. Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of plants - and that’s all plants, including food crops. Around a third of the ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in August
August is definitely a less hectic summer month in the garden, and chances are you're able to sit back and enjoy the view a little more than in previous months. But if you'd still like to start off some new plants, there are plenty of options that will either give you a quick edible crop, or prepare your garden for the seasons to come. Here’s what to plant in August. Flowers to plant in August Winter flowering pansies & ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in July
We’re into the height of summer now, and you might be thinking it's too late to plant anything and enjoy it's flowers or harvest this year. But there are still lots of things you can plant this month that will give your garden a boost, or prepare it for the later months of the year. Here's what to plant in July. Flowers to plant in July Summer bedding plants At this time of year a few bedding plants are a great way to fill any gaps ...
How to grow a windowsill herb garden
If you’re new to growing your own food, a windowsill herb garden is an ideal place to start! Growing herbs from seed is a low-cost way to have fresh herbs for your cooking, with one packet of seeds usually containing enough for a few pots of herbs. And it's really easy to grow herbs from seed - you don’t even need a garden to do it. Lots of herbs will grow very well on a windowsill indoors. Growing herbs indoors is also an ideal gardening ...
Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in June
You may be reading the title of this post and thinking “but it’s too late to plant anything now”. Don't worry, I've got lots of ideas for what to plant in June! Starting off your plants a little later than you intended just means your flowers and crops will be a little later too. Summer may be upon us, but there are still plenty of things to sow, grow and plant this month. If you're not sure what to plant in June, here are my top picks ...
Growing sunflowers in a pot: fun gardening for kids
Are you growing plants with the kids this year? If you're looking for easy seeds to grow with children it's hard to beat growing sunflowers in a pot. And now is a great time to get planting! As well as producing seriously impressive blooms, sunflower seeds are easy for little hands to deal with, and pretty low maintenance to grow. They're also brilliant for local wildlife; the flowers are great for bees and other pollinating insects, ...
Gardening during lockdown: improvising with what you’ve got and getting hold of supplies
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 ...
Planting Calendar: what to plant month by month
Welcome to your one-stop planting 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 planting 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 ...