Search - Articles

turned plots and beds.While some of my neighbours have only just started digging their plots, others already have theirs ready. Annoyingly, at the entrance to our allotments is the most pristine and well-managed plot of them all. Every time I drive past

It's this time of year when the allotments become a frenzy of activity. Everyone is digging, composting and manuring like mad. My neighbours Mr and Mrs Ron wait until Easter, then till and plant their three plots within a week. The rest of us just

The recent sunny weather has been a godsend on the plot, as I've been able to get on with some much-needed digging. It was great to have a couple of weeks working in the sunshine.We've all felt the benefits of the good weather - spirits have been

to dig up half my flower garden to accommodate them all!My personal nominations for the list include:1. Courgette 'Tromboncino'2. Dwarf French Bean 'Maxi'3. Mangetout 'Oregon Sugar Pod'4. Sweetcorn 'Rising Sun'5. Watercress 'Aqua'And if I had to pick just

I love mulching, and my soil loves it too. Not that I'd admit this in public, but I think it's partly the lazy gardener in me that chooses mulching over digging - it's a far easier way to incorporate bulky organic material into soil.Yes, there's a

'glove question'. My reflections are prompted by having such cold fingers that I've had to dig out my fingerless Scrooge gloves in order to make typing easier.On one side of the glove debate is the very sensible Rachel de Thame argument that if doing

stubbing - I couldn't move my foot. Comforting myself with the knowledge that most people who think they've broken a toe actually haven't, I cycled the 15 miles home and had a bath.The next morning my foot was so swollen I couldn't walk. I managed to drag

of underground stems that will bear potatoes. This mounding can be repeated once or twice more at 2 - 3 week intervals to ensure the best crop, with the added benefit of smothering any competing weeds.Potato plantsGarden forkRakelate-May - late-June 20 minutes

Follow Monty's step-by-step video guide to laying an alpine garden path and making alpine beds using membrane and gravel.spring - autumnMore advice on growing alpinesWatch Monty Don make an alpine sandboxPlant alpines in a pot with Rachel de ThameMake an alpine container displayC...

Carol Klein shows how to move shrubs that are growing too close to their neighbours, in this practical video clip. Learn how to move plants without them drying out or their roots becoming damaged. (Some shrubs, such as daphne, don't respond well to tranplanting, so do research th...