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flash of scarlet to liven up a dank afternoon.PS The flowers in the photograph above adorn a vast multi-stemmed specimen that I've just (with the aid of much heavy machinery and many sturdy fellows) planted in a client's garden.

wrote a number of important garden books in the 1930s. The photography is not brilliant, but what struck me is that nothing much changes, they're still much the same plants grown in much the same way.Except that perhaps our slug-catching techniques have

they grow so well here, why are we importing them?If you look at the catalogues and garden centre displays, you'll see that most seed potatoes need planting from the end of March. Well, I'd recommend starting now. You can chit potatoes first but it

peaches as they don't get the dreaded leaf curl.Interestingly, there is a chap called Mark Diacono who has planted a lot of apricots on his farm in Devon (along with a lot of other unexpected things like pecans, olives, persimmons ans Szechuan peppers). He

of the finest herbaceous plants in cultivation'. However later editions, after about 1905, state 'it is easier to plant than to get rid of in the garden'.

precious sward (they also tend to undermine young plants).As everybody knows, moles are rather attractive black, velvety furred creatures with enormously powerful paws. They charge around in shallow tunnels eating earthworms. They also paralyse worms

That's it - summer's over! There was a definite hint of autumn in the air this week - a certain crispness to the morning air, a dampness of dew underfoot and a freshening breeze.Even the plants seem to know that autumn is on its way, the odd leaf

About six years ago we planted a number of fruit trees in the field close to the house. We had great expectations, some of which were fulfilled almost immediately, while others were slower in coming (literally) to fruition.This year, for the first

Where does the old season end and the new one begin? For allotmenteers it can feel like something of a continuum - these days you can buy excellent plug plants of winter lettuce and oriental greens that will take you right through winter, if you

There are some plants I struggle with, and one family in particular: the brassicas. I can't say that I am a huge fan of the taste of all the kales and cabbages. I never have been and don't think I ever will!But it has always infuriated me that