My greenhouse floor is currently covered with what looks like pots of soil, all neatly labelled, some with a covering of grit over the surface. I have been planting bulbs in pots, something I always mean to do and very rarely get around to. But it’s a fine thing to do, packing away little pots […]

You might try and grow Acidanthera without a greenhouse, but only when growing in one will they come into their full glory. These are very tall, rather elegant plants when in grown in tubs under cover. Outdoors however, they become stunted, beaten and can suffer badly from strong winds. More importantly, they also dislike cold […]

Some of the drivers behind the peat-free roll-out are surprising and not all are admirable – but that doesn’t detract from the benefits to the gardener and the natural world.

I have been cooking with herbs a lot this past summer, making use of the basil that I have finally worked out how to grow (essentially: have a hot and very sunny summer, plus a greenhouse) to make pesto in a vibrant shade of green you never find in the shops, and sprinkling with abandon […]

Last month we were fortunate to visit the RHS flower show at Tatton Park and travelled by train from Leeds to Knutsford (via Manchester) to reduce our carbon footprint. It was then a just short walk through the town to the gates, where a free courtesy bus took us to the entrance of the show. […]

In these days of credit crisis, what we grow to eat in our gardens and greenhouses plays a more and more important role in our lives. These days it’s not a lifestyle choice to grow your own, but a moral obligation and for many a commonsense solution to making ends meet. Greenhouse space is often […]

Step back, let live, and try a little gardening on the wild side. A laid-back approach has all sorts of benefits – starting with more time to enjoy it all.

You don’t need a greenhouse to grow Dahlias but having one is an immense help especially until the frosts are over. There are Dahlias in almost every colour save blue with an almost extravagant series of sizes and sorts such as Cactus, Pompon, Peony and Ball flowered. Many of these are great for cut flowers […]

And spike and scarify, for September is the traditional month for lawn maintenance, a job I find immensely satisfying. If you have a small lawn, rake out the ‘thatch’ or dead grass and moss that has accumulated over the mowing season with a wire rake or buy an electric scarifier. Hire a motorised scarifier if […]

This time last year I visited a Thai woman living in Dorset who grew the crops of her homeland in her greenhouse. On arriving in England, Nid had despaired of ever growing anything she knew, but she said: ‘I soon found out why everyone in England has a greenhouse’. She got one herself and set […]