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The sun is shining and the daffodils are out. Nothing spells the start of spring like a mass of golden, trumpet-shaped narcissi.Among the flowering daffodils are some that are only producing foliage. These ‘blind’ daffodils, either side of the driveway, are probably failing to fl...

now. They’re much more likely to germinate and grow successfully now that the soil’s warmer. It would have been a risk planting them a few weeks ago when it was still so cold.Some vegetable seeds can be sown directly outdoors now. I tend to sow only

Living on a hillside, I’m fortunately not in danger of being flooded, but it doesn’t mean I’m not feeling the effects of the recent heavy rains. It’s difficult to walk around my sloping garden without slipping over, and the grassed areas have turned to deep mud. They’re in a wors...

. It was useful, but still more information is needed. In order gauge the extent of the problem and work out the speediest end to it, the scientists working on it need your help.So, if you have any busy Lizzies (Impatiens) growing in your garden this year

to strike. I always try to sow my seeds fairly thinly and keep the seedlings in a very well lit spot. If you grow your seedlings in the house on a windowsill, they are likely to get a bit drawn. You can provide them with extra light by putting a sheet

It's that time of year again. When the weather gets grim, I like to peruse the vegetable seed catalogues, checking the availability of my favourite varieties and finding out what's new. I enjoy choosing what vegetables to grow next year, but I try

plummets at about 6pm. So yes, the fleece is draped all over the place in the veg plots. A bit of snugly-protection for my sweet potatoes (I'm growing Bearegard and Jetfire this year, it'll be interesting to see how they fare!) and some vital, please-grow

that managed to escape the dreaded potato blight were enthusiastically hoovered up by the family months ago ("they're so much nicer than the shop-bought potatoes").But this year, having sown surplus seed from a Gardeners' World growing trial, I'm enjoying

'Hundreds and Thousands', and I was lucky enough to be given a trial pack of seeds. It's a funny variety, with low-growing plants covered with numerous marble-sized fruits. I grew one plant unsuccessfully in the greenhouse and many very successfully

the summer, so it allows the trees' roots to grow and get established before winter sets in. We're lucky enough to have enough space to grow large autumn trees, such as sweet gum, Liquidambar styraciflua. And while I love the classic cultivars 'Worplesdon