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I've always assumed melons would be far too difficult or temperamental to grow in the UK, despite the Victorians' success at growing them in heated greenhouses.But a couple of summers ago, I visited the Thompson & Morgan seed trials in Ipswich

James Alexander-Sinclair's blogs on the subject of small trees but wanted to share my own experience - not of growing trees in the garden but in large pots.Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' is a stunning small, slow-growing maple with the most gorgeous palm

with grit. Germination should be quite quick, probably within the month. These seedlings probably won't flower next year, but should do the following year if they grow strongly. The anticipation of waiting for flowers to open is immense.You never quite know

Despite persevering with growing beefsteak tomatoes last summer, I was once again severely disappointed with the results. I've grown them several times over the past few years but always found their yields really small compared to normal

What a tremendous pleasure it is to grow sunflowers from seed. Thousands of children up and down the country sow sunflowers in spring, no doubt hoping to grow the tallest and enter the Guinness Book of Records.My sunflowers will never do

If I followed the adage that every plant in my garden had to earn its place then I'm not convinced peonies are worth growing. When it comes to their contribution to the display I'd have to say it's... brief. Of course, anticipation is a virtue every

true to their parent. But that's part of the fun of growing plants from seed, and the thrill of growing a brand new variety. It could result in something stunning and original, and you can even name it whatever you want. Hmmm. Agapanthus 'Adam's Delight

farm or stables then I'm sure I'd be calling in regularly for a few bags of their delicious produce, but now I've discovered an alternative. I'm growing my own compost. Well, actually its correct name is green manure.Several plants can be grown as green

down gradually by reducing watering in autumn, then overwinter their tubers to replant next spring.Calla lilies have a tongue-twister of a botanical name: Zantedeschia. They grow from dormant tubers (well I think that's what they are). They need a good

A bed of dwarf bedding dahlias I grew from seed three years ago has grown back and bloomed again better than ever this summer. Talk about great value! The more dahlias I grow from seed the more I appreciate them. The original seed variety was Mignon