Gardening & Growing

Flower gardening

Sowing seed outdoors

Hardy annual flower seeds and seeds of many vegetables and salad crops can be sown directly outdoors in garden soil where they are to grow to maturity.

Sowing seeds indoors

Seeds of non-hardy or half-hardy plants have to be sown indoors in compost in pots or seed trays with gentle heat.

Growing roses

Roses are one of our favourite garden plants. Careful attention will prevent any possible rose problems.

Winter and spring flowering bedding plants

Autumn is the perfect time to plant autumn, winter and spring bedding plants into their flowering positions to take over when the summer colour fades.

Beds and borders

Dig a hole and put in the plant roots? To ensure plants establish quickly and live a long time, you need to take a little more trouble than that.

Ericaceous (lime-hating) plants

Plants that don’t like growing in soils that contain lime are called ericaceous plants, acid lovers or lime haters.

Mulching

Understand your soil and you are halfway to gardening success. Soil acts as an anchor for plant roots and holds air, water and plant nutrients.

Seed sowing and growing seedlings

Many plants can be grown from seed. Their requirements for temperature, light, sowing, and after care will be clearly marked on the seed packet.

Planting bulbs, corms and tubers

Daffodil, tulip, crocus, lily and dahlia are bulbs or ‘bulbous plants’. They are all swollen parts of roots or stems which when planted grow into new plants.

Feeding border plants

Plants, just like humans, need a balanced diet of nutrients to grow to their maximum potential.

Improving border soil

If you have heavy clay or sandy soil you will need to add plenty of organic matter to improve the structure and widen the range of plants that will thrive.

Decorative finishes

Covering soil with a decorative finish provides a clean visual background that makes plants and flowers shine through.

Container gardening

Winter and spring flowering bedding plants

Autumn is the perfect time to plant autumn, winter and spring bedding plants into their flowering positions to take over when the summer colour fades.

Pots, tubs, window boxes and other containers

Pot and tubs are the mainstay of every patio display in many sizes and shapes of container. Ones with drainage holes are essential for year round use.

Hanging baskets

Hanging baskets are great for small spaces and a brilliant way to add colour to otherwise drab walls and fences.

Houseplants

Houseplant care

Neglected houseplants may not die, but sooner or later they can get untidy and covered in dust. Regular attention will pay handsome dividends.

Caring for orchids

Orchids are tropical plants living as epiphytes – this means they grow on trees and between rocks, not directly in the soil.

Watering houseplants

Get to know your plants. Their needs for water will change depending on humidity, time of year, temperature and amount of light available.

Feeding houseplants

Just as we water houseplants because rain doesn’t reach them, so we need to feed them because their roots aren’t able to reach out for nourishment.

Successful houseplants

You don’t need greenfingers or special equipment to have thriving houseplants. Instead, a little loving care and a few basic facts are sufficient.

Caring for Christmas houseplants

Christmas houseplants are a great way of brightening up the house, making it colourful and festive, and they’re fabulous Christmas gifts.

Propagation

Sowing seed outdoors

Hardy annual flower seeds and seeds of many vegetables and salad crops can be sown directly outdoors in garden soil where they are to grow to maturity.

Sowing seeds indoors

Seeds of non-hardy or half-hardy plants have to be sown indoors in compost in pots or seed trays with gentle heat.

Rooting stems and cuttings

Some shrubs, trees and plants don’t set seed easily and are best propagated from part of the original plant that can be persuaded to develop roots.

Growing-on small plants

Immature plants that can be grown on to flowering and cropping are the mainstay of most garden centres.

Seed sowing and growing seedlings

Many plants can be grown from seed. Their requirements for temperature, light, sowing, and after care will be clearly marked on the seed packet.

Grow your own

A-Z of vegetables

Find out how to grow the perfect vegetables. Contains tips and advice for soil, planting, caring for the plants and harvesting.

A-Z of fruit

Learn how to grow the perfect fruit. Contains tips and advice for soil, planting, caring for the plants and harvesting.

Create a vegetable garden

Grow your own ingredients for a perfect Sunday roast

How to create a vegetable garden in urban gardens, vegetable plots or allotments. Includes tips on soil type, preparation and the best locations.

Crop rotation explained

Crop rotations help prevent pest and disease problems

Rotating your crops to different plots each season is one of the best ways to avoid vegetable pests, diseases and disorders.

Where to grow your own

Every small garden or patio can produce some healthy vegetables even if you need to grow them in pots.

What vegetables can I grow?

Almost any vegetable you can buy seed for can be grown in the garden or on the patio. Just follow the instructions for best times to sow and plant out.