Search - Articles

What wonderful creatures composting worms are. I first set up my wormery compost container about 15 years ago, and it has been converting kitchen waste into compost ever since. Unlike traditional compost bins where you simply pile in and mix-up your

into the top of the container on my patio, so as one fades another takes its place.By planting bulbs in baskets instead of directly in the pot, I avoid locking up a lovely container with a single display, and prolong the show of beautiful spring bulbs.The trick

plans. Each plan contains an easy-to-follow growing calendar for 10 recommended crops. Simply choose which profile suits your circumstances best, and start sowing:• Allotmenteer• Container grower• Gourmet grower• New to the plot• Weekender

.Among my sowings this year is Chilli Pepper 'Anaheim' which came in a free seed packet with the April issue of Gardeners' World Magazine. The packet also contains Basil 'Sweet Green', Tomato 'Gartenperle' and oriental mixed salad leaves, so I'll be well

Birds bring gardens alive, and in so many ways they make gardening worthwhile. It's lovely having them as companions, delving into newly dug soil for worms and pests, but better still when they take up residence and make a nest.What better accolade

in the Gardeners' World Awards 2010 has highlighted their popularity.The category for 'Best Plant for Bedding' was won by pansy and viola with a very respectable 20 per cent of the vote. They beat summer favourites like pelargonium with 17 per cent of votes

or the variety?).I've been a member of the Heritage Seed Library run by Garden Organic for many years, and fully endorse the value and ethos of saving varieties from extinction. After all, you never know when the genetic material they contain could be of value

dwarf rhododendrons to pieris, skimmia to euonymus, cordylines to phormiums, hydrangeas to acers. All have their place, and when they've outgrown their containers they have often taken up residence in my garden.This year I've gone for something a little

Although I started planning what crops I'd like to grow this summer well before Christmas, my plans have just been turned upside down. The February issue of Gardeners' World Magazine contains a feature on '100 Best Veg' varieties, an inspirational

changing from pink to blue...a clear illustration of the affect of pH on plants.My garden soil must have got more alkaline, possibly through watering with 'hard' tap water during hot weather last summer, hence the pink flowers this year. I'll need to change