Search - Articles

something of a mollusc free-for-all at night. Then just pick them off the piles in the morning.You could grow a sacrificial offering, perhaps a tasty lettuce or two, in your borders, and ensure you regularly pick off the culprits.Encourage natural predators

problem with spider mite last winter, but it’s best to err on the side of caution.This virtuous activity is always very satisfying, and makes me feel prepared for the year ahead. Roll on 2013, and a productive growing season!

journalism, here are three:I want to grow marigolds. I know they seem frightfully old fashioned and not at all sexy but I think it is time for a revival. In particular a tall (about 1.5m high) variety called a Tagetes ‘Cinnabar’, which is dark red.I must go

: The wood anemone. You don’t have to have a wood to grow this little plant. Underneath deciduous shrubs or in a shady corner will do fine. Also comes in white and a sort of washy pink. But I would stick with the first two.

another great breeder, Barry Fretwell, who used to run Peveril Clematis Nursery down in the West Country (I think he retired a few years back). I like to know the origins of the plant varieties I grow; the people at the nurseries who put so much skill

for drainage.More on growing alpinesMaking an alpine path and gravel bedPlanting up alpines video projectMaking an alpine container displayCreating an alpine pebble display

A wooden planter is a great way of creating a bed to grow plants and vegetables in if you are short of space. Your wooden planter can be adapted to fit any corner, depending on your needs. And as it's made of pressure-treated timber it can

it isn't.As a bit of a bulb 'nut', I've grown many, many bulbous plants but never tigridia. So, when another photo of tigridia arrived last year I made a note to order and grow some myself. I'll admit that results haven't been that successful, possibly

bizarre to be taken seriously. However, there is an absolute King of Vegetables (Kay agrees with this while Pippa still needs to be completely convinced).Perfect raw or cooked, easy to grow, simple to prepare and the pods make excellent compost. (My

and herbaceous climber found in forest and thickets from Mexico to tropical South America." I'd love to see a picture of this. Suffice to say, my cobaea is on an obelisk in Cambridgeshire, and has been a star this summer.I've tried growing it from seed before