Now’s the time to sow sweet peas in a cool greenhouse for an early display next year. Soften the seed coat by putting the seeds between two layers of kitchen towel on an old dinner plate. Dampen the towel, drain off excess water, then sow those that swell or sprout, after about 48 hours. Leave […]
There has been a drop in temperature that has made me swiftly clear out the mini glasshouse ready for overwintering anything semi tender. In fact, we are going away, down to the south coast for a week to see out the real shift in season by the sea, but I can’t be sure that there […]
Boost your weary greenhouse soil in autumn, watch nature work its magic over winter, and see it come back to life in time for spring. One minute it’s flooded, the next it’s baked dust-dry by the sun’s glass-amplified rays. It’s flogged like a workhorse, non-stop, from the first hints of spring to the fading days […]
I think I’m enormously lucky to be in the world of plants, because the people who grow them are always nurturing and kind. I made this discovery in my twenties when I joined the Hardy Plant Society – some forty odd years ago. They had a seed exchange ( and still do) and I wanted […]
Every gardener wants a greenhouse, but just what exactly are they used for? A greenhouse in the garden offers a whole new dimension to the garden. Different gardeners use them in different ways. Greenhouses have been used for decades by gardeners to extend the growing season at both ends, to cultivate and grow more tender […]
I usually write ‘you need a warm greenhouse for such or such a plant’. Annoyingly in this genus the species you really want, well they really need a hot tall palm house to succeed. Amongst the most impressive displays coming from the tropics the majority of Heliconias are awkwardly a bit on the large size […]
Early October is the time to check your glasshouse, so it is ready when temperatures drop. Pick the last of your last tomatoes, sweet peppers and chillies, and ripen them on a sunny windowsill or in a paper bag with a ripe banana or pear (the already ripe fruit will produce ethylene will ripen your […]
Towards the middle of the month, you won’t be able to escape from the pumpkin! They’ll be festooned outside shops everywhere and, by the end of October, they’ll be blackened by candle soot and perched limply on walls, following the Halloween revels. We think of this festival as an American custom. However the tradition of making […]
Our greenhouse has produced its first melon! In fact we have two, from our three plants…but never mind that shocking lack of productivity. We are delighted with ourselves anyway. Melon growing in the UK is clearly not going to be keeping any wolves from any doors, but it is still a thrill to have produced […]
Are you confused about compost? Jean Vernon unravels the mystery If you watched the ITV documentary last month about garden centres, you could be forgiven for being confused about compost. In fact compost is one of the most misunderstood subjects in gardening and that’s mostly because of what we call it. There are two totally […]
Could a new – and renewable – product on the market provide a nutrient-rich boost for home-made peat-free mixes? Early trials are bearing fruit. Whenever a new and – yawn – ‘amazing’ product blips on my gardening radar, the first alarm bells to go off are perfect twins: caution and scepticism. I’ve seen plenty of […]
At this back-to-school season, it’s time to study—what gets an A in your garden and greenhouse, and what rates an F? Take notes on both the perfect and the problem areas. Then you can hunt for plants that fit into these two categories. If, say, your foxgloves were a glory, find more for next year. […]
