I started assembling a tub for peas and strawberries for my neighbour’s grandchildren. I planted one up last year, and to keep birds and cats out, I used a wigwam trellis for the peas to grow up and covered it with a crinoline skirt of butterfly mesh attached to a hula hoop, which fitted over the … More The Naked Truth
I am fortunate enough to have bought my greenhouse many years ago, when I moved to my current abode. I’ve also received a lot of gardening gifts over the years, so although I have a reasonable amount of gardening sundries, I started thinking just how much I could do if I didn’t have any or couldn’t … More Free For All
For months I have been complaining about how cold and wet it has been. The greenhouse was comfortable to work in most days, but we had a whole two days of sunshine – and what happened? The plants got scorched! A bargain deal of 72 lavender plugs for the price of postage was too good … More A Shady Deal
How often I have taken a plant, dead or alive, out of it’s pot only to see it’s roots packed tightly in it, often curling round in the pot. I lost a lovely acer, which I had had for many years because I didn’t check the bottom of the pot. It was a heavyweight earthenware … More Airfix In The Garden
They are only secret seeds because I bought them and forgot about them, so it is a pleasant surprise when I discover them again. Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Green Goddess’, an arum lily with a white flower with green tips. Poisonous but so many common plants are at some point in their lives and we don’t think about them … More My Secret Seeds
This year I am trying different slug deterrents. Slugs do have their uses, but it would appear that they don’t adhere to terms and conditions – my terms that is. In an ecological system, they should work with other creatures to clear the land of dead matter and debris, in order for the next generation … More Gastropods, Pubs And Patisseries
I have come to the conclusion, I sow too many seeds. I just like experimenting with and tasting the produce but I think I need to be a bit more practical. I have already grown over a hundred varieties of plants in my small area. I think that is enough to prove just what can … More Changing Seasons
We have been given this planet and yet we abuse it because we think we know best. The grass isn’t green enough, it’s too long, it’s not short enough etc. so we redesign the land of which we have been made guardians. We spray dangerous chemicals and artificial fertilisers and destroy land for the sake of … More The Rewilding Experiment
I decided to do a little bit of reconstructing my planting zone, it just wasn’t working for me last year, as it did in previous years. There was a fairly good reason for it. Between personal problems and a cold, wet summer, which I believe may have been an overspill of the previous winter, there … More Watch Your Butt
At last the tomatoes are planted up in their final pots. Eight in pots and three in the hydroponic tank, all different varieties. There are another three pots in another greenhouse with only the little Ildi tomato to be potted up. I haven’t quite decided what to do with that one yet, it’s the tiniest … More Keeping Up Appearances
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