With chilli sowing season already upon us, it's time to unearth my special seedy shoeboxes to plan for the growing year ahead. One particular box contains an exciting collection of seeds - those I'm trialling for Suttons in my role as a guest blogger for 2018. I'm really looking forward to trying out some of … Continue reading Seedy Saturday: Rainbows, Crocodiles and Pearls
Last month I wrote about my allotment woes which had resulted in an accidental potato monoculture, but since then the allotment has been working hard, producing an exciting range of cut flowers by the bucketload. After an inspiring spring harvest of daffodils and tulips, I planted summer corms and tubers, and sowed a host of … Continue reading Cutting Patch: Into The Limelight
We've had a spectacular spring for bulbs, both inside and out, largely thanks to J. Parker's who have kindly supplied us with a fabulous selection to trial this year. Bulb anticipation began in January when we planted the Hippeastrum with awed respect for the size of the bulbs. By late February, paperwhite daffodils were filling … Continue reading Bulbs To Light Up Spring
The winter garden is waiting, the new raised beds watching me through the windows, daring me to step out into the frost, the drizzle, the sunshine to tackle a host of gardening jobs. Instead I've been cooking, eating, playing, crafting, walking, cycling and enjoying this unusually long period of family time together. But this afternoon I … Continue reading Planning a Cutting Patch: Annual Choices
I started a cutting patch in the back garden last year. It was a disaster. I planted Echinacea purpurea, Monarda, Calendula ('Indian Prince' and 'Porcupine'), sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus 'Barry Dare', 'Cupani' and 'Arthur Hellyer'), Gladioli ('Flevo Cool', 'Flevo Flash' and 'Flevo Sylvia') and nasturtiums. It was a bit of an odd mix with little forethought, just plants … Continue reading Planning a Cutting Patch: Bulb Time