Three years ago I decided to make my own apple press, to take advantage of two giant ‘James Grieve’ apple trees, the most reliable cropper’s in the garden. This year, however, I admitted defeat, realising that my dream would never become reality and decided to buy a small press, instead. Although there are some wonderful […]
The children may be back at school, but at this time year there is always the promise of a few delicious days of unexpected sunshine. One of the great pleasures is having impromptu family meals outside: making the effort, savouring the moment. Then, just as everyone is seated and about to tuck in, the wasps […]
By September the greenhouse is starting to look a bit tired, well not so much the greenhouse, more the plants inside. I often think that the plants I’ve chosen to grow inside the confines of my wonderful glasshouse are almost forced into productivity, a little bit like battery hens, cooped into a small space to […]
In this series of monthly articles Bob explores the incredible range of plants you can grow in a greenhouse, conservatory or plastic tunnel. Not just the purely decorative but the scented and edible also, and maybe those plants that are just downright interesting. This month Bob nominates ~Bananas. I admit bananas are not for the […]
September is one of my favourite months of the year, it’s often warm and settled for part of the month, despite what may have gone before and the days often still, with barely a breeze. As you can see from the picture, the wet summer encouraged extraordinary amounts of new growth on my cordon and […]
Of course it’s depressing to start thinking about Christmas when you still have shiny tanned skin from your summer holidays. Think about it you must if you are to provide a superior feast for your family. This is the time to make way in the greenhouse for Christmas potatoes. What could be nicer than some […]
In this series of monthly articles Bob explores the incredible range of plants you can grow in a greenhouse, conservatory or plastic tunnel. Not just the purely decorative but the scented and edible also, and maybe those plants that are just downright interesting. This month Bob nominates the Nycto-Cereus cactus. Now the Cereus, or Nyctocereus […]
I’m off to Sweden for my holidays this year (can you tell who has been watching Wallander?). One of the highlights of my tour will be a visit to the Glass Bubble community centre built by the talented landscape architect and artist Monika Gora in Malmo harbour. The tower blocks which stood in the howling […]
All greenhouse owners have experienced it at one time or another, munched on plants, missing leaves, and more. There are more than just bugs in my greenhouse. Over the years I’ve seen a whole menagerie of creatures setting up home in my greenhouse. For years I had a huge warty toad that helped despatch slugs […]
August is the ideal time to be storing fresh herbs for winter use. Although they are much tastier when freshly harvested, there are several ways of preserving herbs that allow you to save them whenever there is a glut. Choose the best quality, disease free material and collect them early in morning on a dry […]
One of the things I love about gardening is that it fills you with hope for the future. We may well be in high summer (literally and metaphorically), but while you have a packet of seeds there is always much to look forward to. Last week I attended the open day at Thompson and Morgan’s […]
Most gardeners will have saved a few seeds over the years. Runner beans are the most likely candidate and one of the easiest seeds to save. There are lots of reasons to save seed, it’s a technique used by man since the early days of farming. By selecting from the strongest, most prolific plants gradually […]
