There is no excuse for anyone not to grow something green. No matter how small the space, either inside or outside, there will be something anyone can grow. Many of us would have experimented at school in growing cress on blotting paper, although fast-growing mustard and cress will last a bit longer if grown in … More Small Things Matter
You learn something new everyday and here in Scotland, the unassuming little bug which seems to be everywhere, we know as ‘slaters’. Elsewhere, they have different names but even as a ‘pill bug’ we understand what they are. We find them around old property and especially where there is old, decaying wood. As they were … More Well I Never!
At long last I got around to sowing tomato seeds. Unfortunately I don’t have room for all my choice in the greenhouse. I still have to leave room for courgettes, cucumbers and peppers. In spite of trying to reduce the number of tomatoes by not buying any new varieties this year, there are still two … More Bring On The Ladies
Throughout the year, and especially at the beginning of the new year, seed catalogues flood through the letter box like there was no tomorrow. Besides the hard copy of the catalogue, you also get bombarded with emails from the same companies. If you do order something, then adverts pop up on your computer’s browser. It … More Don’t Believe The Adverts
I should never be surprised when seeds, which have been put in five-litre water bottles and tossed outside, actually start to grow. That’s how nature intended it to be, not in plastic bottles of course, but to battle their way through winter for only the strongest to survive. I am much later than normal at … More Hitting The Bottle
I’ve met a number of people over the years who have varying degrees of interest in the garden. Many have ideas quite different to mine, but that doesn’t matter, it’s what makes it interesting. I’ve been described as an enthusiastic amateur, but actually I think ‘hobbyist’ might fit better. I don’t like ‘twee’ gardens where … More Gardening For All
I was brought up with recycling and upcycling as were many people of my generation, even if our younger generation think they were the inventors of it. Instead the younger generation destroyed it by opting for an easier and more lucrative lifestyle of takeaways, ready meals and a plethora of pre-packed produce. I don’t like … More The Serendipity Gardener
It has been some time since I did anything with the garden. With two disastrous cold, wet summers, anything I attempted to grow had a poor show. Between the weather and feeling a bit poorly, I lacked enthusiasm to try to repair damage and my little patch went to pigs and whistles. The origin of … More Long Time And Changes
I don’t think I’ve experienced such a bad summer before, I’m sure I would have remembered it. I have complained bitterly about the last two summers but this one is one that beats all. Lack of sun meant tomatoes ripening before they had reached a size which would make them recognisable as tomatoes. They have … More The Weird And The Wonderful
Of course weather doesn’t go anywhere but it never stays the same, sometimes a gardener’s friend and sometimes an enemy. The problem comes as we are on a small island and very few parts of it are consistent with the national weather forecasts. It’s quite disheartening when within a few miles, one area is in … More Where Has The Weather Gone?
