Sow What?

Varieties of Peppers – Seeds to Sow

Samantha Ford — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:25:40 +0000

February and March are the months of the year when we start to sow seeds in earnest, particularly those that require a long growing season to ripen. Of course, this is easier if you have a greenhouse or can start seeds under cover, such as on a sunny windowsill. If you can start to sow [...]

Planning Your Plot – Crop Rotation

Samantha Ford — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:07:08 +0000

Sow What?

Last time, I started my discussion on how to plan your garden so that it is most productive all year round by giving advice on companion planting. Companion planting, or the practice of growing vegetables with herbs and flowers, is useful for deterring pests and keeping the soil in balance as different crops need different [...]

Planning Your Plot – Companion Planting

Samantha Ford — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:31:22 +0000

Sow What?

It is the ideal time of year to sit down and think about which seeds you will be sowing during the next few months. Rather than growing the same as last year, try something new for a change and take inspiration from the range of unusual garden seeds from around the world, available to browse [...]

Feeding Birds In Winter in Your Garden

Samantha Ford — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:10:24 +0000

Sow What?

Feeding birds in winter is very important to help our birds to survive by providing fresh food and water. Once a feeding routine is established, keep it up as birds will become used to returning to your garden and they will be a valuable ally in combatting garden pests in the coming months as well [...]

The north wind doth blow ….

Samantha Ford — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:26:11 +0000

Sow What?

The north wind doth blow … but don’t despair about the snow! The recent autumn and winter climate has been relatively mild but, as expected, we are now experiencing freezing temperatures and snow. There are still many tasks that you can get on with over winter to protect and prepare your garden for the spring. [...]

Sow What? – November 2012

Gardening Guru — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:36:12 +0000

Sow What?

November already? This month always seems so cold especially after a mild October, so don’t forget that the change in temperature will also be a shock to some of your outdoor plants. Wrap outdoor terracotta pots with bubble wrap and lift them from the ground to keep them free draining and away from ground frost. [...]

October Gardening

Gardening Guru — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:26:30 +0000

Sow What?

As I write, we are experiencing a welcome weekend of warm weather but unfortunately, national newspapers are predicting that the UK will be battered by the remains of Hurricane Katia later this week. This time last year I reported that the UK summer of 2011 was the coldest for 18 years; this year’s summer was [...]

September in the Vegetable Garden

Gardening Guru — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:22:30 +0000

Sow What?

Fortunately, recent weather has improved (at the time of writing) and given chance for some of our crops to make progress after the slow start to the season. However, we do not have too long before the nights draw in. For those that are easy or quick to grow, such as courgettes and baby carrots, [...]

August in The Garden

Gardening Guru — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:20:14 +0000

Sow What?

According to the Met Office, we have just experienced the wettest June in the UK since records began in 1910. As we approach the height of summer when temperatures are typically higher, we may expect thundery storms. Therefore, it is even more important to make the most of any fair days in your own garden [...]

July in the Garden

Gardening Guru — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:45:58 +0000

Sow What?

Read our gardening guru's tips for July