In and out of the greenhouse, this is the year of the courgettes. That is, if you can keep them watered. Courgettes are always producing madly at this time of year but the seemingly endless heat is seeing mine pumping out fruits as fast as I can pick them. The watering really has been quite […]
With gorgeous sky blue flowers all of summer the Blue Spider-wort is an ideal plant for a cool greenhouse. True itās a tad lax and can flop if not supported and the waist high stems of lanceolate leaves are not exactly stunning. However continuous displays of gentian blue flowers redeems all. As these lovely blooms […]
Iāve been having one or two problems with Blossom End Rot, where the end of tomatoes becomes circular, black and flattened. It occurs in peppers and aubergines, squashes and watermelons but is most often seen in tomatoes and is caused by lack of calcium in the fruits. Plants growing in soil, growing bags and potting […]
Gardeners have a different perspective on the weather than most people. We are cheered by July downpours and winter storms that spread insulating snow. We love cool, wet springs that lengthen bloom time, while other people are anxiously waiting for the yearās first shorts-and-T-shirt day. Stretches of hot summer days may delight children and beachgoers, […]
I don’t think I can ever remember such a glorious June because it’s been warm – even in the wonderfully named Cold Aston! It’s a blessing for me (and the plants) after such a long, cold winter and my roses have really appreciated it. They are better than they’ve ever been at Spring Cottage. Most […]
In the spring I started my dahlias in the greenhouse and then planted them half and half at the allotment and on my veranda, wondering which would win the race to flowering: breezy and exposed with full sun at the plot or sheltered and protected but with a little bit of shade back home. I […]
Grow your own greenhouse shading: nature offers earth-friendly alternatives to parched plants and plastic pollution.Ā Since the end of May, in most parts of the UK, itās been hard to pin down the oft-cited ājoy of greenhouse gardeningā. Right now, even with a sun hat on, surely āhellā is the most apt substitute for ājoyā. […]
When summer arrives in Rhode Island, I move everything out of my greenhouse in preparation for a cleaning blitz, including window cleaning. Itās easy to clean the outside of the windows year-round because no plants are in the way. But when the greenhouse is full, cleaning the inside of the windows is difficult because access […]
As often found in an alpine house as a greenhouse many Bellflowers, Campanulas, are rock garden and border plants. However some low growing and prostrate species are delightful under cover for filling in around the base of taller plants with their verdant foliage and masses of cool blue flowers. Campanula is an interesting, floriferous and […]
South Africa is a cornucopia of exciting plants, perfect candidates for the greenhouse or the garden in warmer parts of the U.S. Knowing and growing these rarely featured varieties opens up a whole new world of interesting designs. This month Iām talking to Sylvia Lukach, founder of Cape Lily, Floral Design and Travel. Sheās originally […]
When you are looking to buy a greenhouse you need to do your research very carefully, where better to see a glasshouse in the flesh than an RHS Flower Show, says Jean Vernon Buying a glasshouse is usually a once in a lifetime investment. Itās really important that you can see some of the options […]
Back in 2018, a few forward-looking people envisaged ā though it was largely wishful thinking ā a network of āpollinator pathwaysā. Today, weāre opening our first insect superhighway. Fenn was anxiously watching two screens at once. The one on his tablet showed footage streaming live from the Earth Court of Environmental Justice. The other was […]
