Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
Garden Guides
Garden Guides
Latest Guides
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9th January 2023 Asparagus
All onions require good soil and free drainage. Choose a sunny site for planting, and dig the ground well in early winter, incorporating a g...
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13th August 2021 Onion sets & shallots
All onions require good soil and free drainage. Choose a sunny site for planting, and dig the ground well in early winter, incorporating a g...
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12th August 2021 Garlic
All onions require good soil and free drainage. Choose a sunny site for planting, and dig the ground well in early winter, incorporating a g...
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9th August 2021 Broad beans
For best results, apply a balanced fertiliser such as Growmore about 1 week before sowing, organic fertiliser, chicken pellets or blood, fis...
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9th August 2021 Cabbages
Pick a reasonably sunny spot, which has not been used to grow cabbages or any other brassicas in the past 3 years. As with all brassicas, a ...
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13th May 2021 Leeks
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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13th May 2021 Sweetcorn
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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13th May 2021 Beetroot
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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13th May 2021 Brussel Sprouts
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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13th May 2021 Runner Beans
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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21st April 2021 Salad
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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15th April 2021 Melon
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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9th April 2021 Marrow & Courgette
These popular members of the squash family need a sunny spot protected from strong winds, together with soil that’s well-drained and rich in...
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9th April 2021 Peas
Sugarbon is a dwarf variety of pea which does well in containers. It’s an early-maturing, heavy cropping variety with short, broad, flat tas...
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23rd March 2021 Carrots
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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23rd March 2021 Potatoes
All potatoes grow well in bags or containers, and you’ll find a great range of varieties in our garden centre shops. First and second earlie...
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23rd March 2021 Strawberries
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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23rd March 2021 Sweet Peppers
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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19th March 2021 Tomatoes
Your soil must be deep, fertile and rather sandy if you want to produce fine long specimens. If your soil is rather heavy or stony, try grow...
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9th October 2017 Swede
Swedes are brassicas, and like other members of the family they need firm, non-acidic soil with reasonable drainage. Pick a sunny spot and d...
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9th October 2017 Parsnips
If you want to grow long, tapering parsnips, you’ll need deep, stone-free soil, well manured for a previous crop. Any reasonable soil in sun...
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9th October 2017 Potatoes
Potatoes can be grown in practically every soil kind of soil, and they’re perfect for helping to turn grassland or wasteland into a producti...
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9th October 2017 Spring onions
These are found in many oriental dishes, and need to grow in a sunny position in well-drained fertile soil. Dig the soil over to make a fine...
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9th October 2017 Komatsuna
These form large, productive, healthy plants with glossy leaves that can grow up to 30cm (12”) long and 18cm (7”) wide. Their flavour resemb...
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9th October 2017 Mizuna greens
Mizuna greens can be eaten cooked or raw after harvesting young, tender leaves. They’re adaptable and capable of tolerating high summer temp...
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9th October 2017 Chinese cabbages
With their mild flavour and crisp texture, these are excellent in salads, or lightly cooked. Prepare the soil in the normal way, and apply h...
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9th October 2017 Oriental mustard
Like other oriental brassicas, these are fast-growing, so prepare the ground prior to planting adding lots of organic matter and a high gene...
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9th October 2017 Chinese broccoli
Plant these in a prepared site, in a cool but moist spot, with high organic and nitrogen levels. Apply a general fertiliser prior to planti...
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9th October 2017 Companion planting and vegetable groups
When you’re growing veg, there’s a very helpful practice called “companion planting” which you can use to to deter pests and improve flavour...
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9th October 2017 Organic vegetable growing: simple steps and ideas
Growing organic veg has lots of benefits including: Provides safe, uncontaminated food Reduces food miles and the use of fossil fuels Waste...
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9th October 2017 Spinach & beet leaf
These crops require some soil preparation in order to perform well, with ground that’s rich and contain plenty of organic matter. Apply well...
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9th October 2017 Endive
Summer and autumn-sown crops of endive need a sunny spot with good soil, but a semi-shaded site is equally suitable for spring-grown endive....
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9th October 2017 Rocket
This tangy salad crop likes cool conditions in fertile, moisture-retentive soil, and it makes a great cut-and-come-again option for your kit...
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9th October 2017 Corn salad (Lambs lettuce)
Corn salad will grow happily in nearly all garden soils and situations, so it’s very useful as a winter salad, or as an undercrop for other ...
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9th October 2017 Chicory
Chicory isn’t fussy about soil type, but it does require a sunny spot. Dig the soil in autumn or winter, and incorporate compost if the soil...
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9th October 2017 Lettuce
Soil for planting lettuce needs to be neutral - alkaline, with adequate organic matter, and kept moist throughout the life of the crop. Choo...
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9th October 2017 Thyme
Culinary uses - Fresh or dried leaves and flowering tops of thyme are used to flavour soups, fish, meat, sausages, marinades, vinegar, stuff...
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9th October 2017 Sage
Culinary uses - Leaves are traditionally used to flavour meat dishes, especially pork, liver, goose, soups, stews, sauces and sausages. It’s...
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9th October 2017 Oregano
Culinary uses - In Italian, Greek and Mexican cooking, oregano is often used dried in dishes with other strongly-flavoured ingredients like ...
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9th October 2017 Parsley
Culinary uses - Parsley leaves are widely used as a garnish and to flavour sauces, butter, dressings, stuffings and savoury dishes....
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9th October 2017 Basil
Culinary uses - As you’d expect from one of the most popular herbs in Italian cuisine, basil makes a natural partner for tomato dishes, and ...
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9th October 2017 Mint
Culinary uses - Leaves are widely used in flavouring, with peas and potatoes, and for making mint sauce and jelly to accompany lamb - also a...
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9th October 2017 Fennel
Culinary uses - Leaves are eaten in salads and as a garnish and flavouring, especially with olives and fish dishes. Fennel leaf bases are ea...
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9th October 2017 Coriander
Culinary uses - Leaves and leafstalks of coriander are used to flavour soups, salads, beans and curries. Seeds are an ingredient of curries,...
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9th October 2017 Chives
Culinary uses - Chives are especially good with potato and eggs, while the leaves can also be used to garnish and flavour soups and salads, ...
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9th October 2017 Rosemary
Culinary uses - Fresh or dried rosemary leaves can be used to flavour meat (especially lamb and goat), sausages, stuffings, soups and stews....
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9th October 2017 Lettuce
The soil for planting needs to be neutral - alkaline, have adequate organic matter and to be kept moist throughout the life of the crop. Cho...
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9th October 2017 Potatoes
Potatoes can be grown in practically every kind of soil, and they’re perfect for helping to turn grassland or wasteland into a productive ve...
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9th October 2017 Cucumbers: varieties
To ripen green fruits at the end of the season, lay them on a tray and put them into a drawer. Next to the tray, add a couple of ripe apples...
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9th October 2017 Cucumbers: outdoor ridge
To grow cucumbers outdoors successfully, it’s necessary to plant them in a sunny spot, protected from strong winds. Your soil must be well d...
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9th October 2017 Cucumbers: greenhouse
Crop care - Try to maintain the temperature in your greenhouse at a minimum of 60-70°F. Keep the compost moist but never waterlogged, with t...
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9th October 2017 Tomatoes: outdoor
Outdoor tomatoes are a tender crop, so choose a warm spot in front of a south-facing wall if you can. During winter, dig the soil thoroughly...
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9th October 2017 Tomatoes: indoor
To reduce the risk of root pests and other soil diseases, tomatoes are best grown in ring culture, growbags or by planting them into 9” pots...
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9th October 2017 Radishes
Radishes are easy to grow and mature relatively fast. For a classic, appealing appearance, choose a globular variety like Scarlet Globe or S...
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9th October 2017 French beans
Dwarf french beans are well-suited to growing in pots, and we’d recommended varieties like Masterpiece, Purple Queen, Safari, Sprite, Tender...
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9th October 2017 Cucumbers
If you’d like to grow cucumbers outside and in a pot, the dwarf variety Delta is probably your best option....
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9th October 2017 Chillies and Peppers
Chillies and peppers actually seem to prefer growing in pots instead of the open soil, and can make a very attractive feature in your kitche...
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9th October 2017 Lettuce
The easiest lettuces to grow in containers are the cut-and-come-again salad varieties, which will supply you with a steady harvest. The soil...
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9th October 2017 Spinach
Spinach will grow quite happily in containers, and so will beetroot and leaf beet (perpetual spinach). Harvest the leaves when they’re young...
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9th October 2017 Kale
Kale is much more accommodating than other brassicas like cabbages, cauliflowers, and Brussels sprouts, and it will grow in nearly all soils...
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9th October 2017 Broccoli
Like other brassicas, broccoli can fail in loose and starved soil, so your ground should ideally be firm and rich in organic matter. Pick a ...
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9th October 2017 Cauliflowers
Choose a sunny position for cauliflowers, and dig in some well-rotted manure the previous autumn. Use lime if necessary in winter. In spring...
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9th October 2017 Squashes
You can cultivate these just like melons, allowing the right amount of space for them to grow, depending on the variety....
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9th October 2017 Pumpkins
Pumpkins aren’t very hardy or long-suffering, so they do need a sunny, sheltered spot in your garden, with the soil prepared as you would fo...
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9th October 2017 Cucumbers
Outdoor ridge cucumbers - To grow cucumbers outdoors successfully, it’s necessary to plant them in a sunny spot, protected from strong winds...
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4th October 2017 Peas & mangetout
For peas and mangetout, choose an open spot where peas haven’t been grown for 2 seasons. Apply a light dressing of Growmore fish blood and b...
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4th October 2017 French beans (dwarf/climbing)
French beans will succeed in most soils, but they hate heavy clay. For really good results, dig your soil well and rake it to produce a fine...
Garden Guides
Latest Guides
-
9th October 2017 Swede
Swedes are brassicas, and like other members of the family they need firm, non-acidic soil with reasonable drainage. Pick a sunny spot and d...
-
9th October 2017 Parsnips
If you want to grow long, tapering parsnips, you’ll need deep, stone-free soil, well manured for a previous crop. Any reasonable soil in sun...
-
9th October 2017 Potatoes
Potatoes can be grown in practically every soil kind of soil, and they’re perfect for helping to turn grassland or wasteland into a producti...
-
9th October 2017 Spring onions
These are found in many oriental dishes, and need to grow in a sunny position in well-drained fertile soil. Dig the soil over to make a fine...
-
9th October 2017 Komatsuna
These form large, productive, healthy plants with glossy leaves that can grow up to 30cm (12”) long and 18cm (7”) wide. Their flavour resemb...
-
9th October 2017 Mizuna greens
Mizuna greens can be eaten cooked or raw after harvesting young, tender leaves. They’re adaptable and capable of tolerating high summer temp...
-
-
9th October 2017 Chinese cabbages
With their mild flavour and crisp texture, these are excellent in salads, or lightly cooked. Prepare the soil in the normal way, and apply h...
-
9th October 2017 Oriental mustard
Like other oriental brassicas, these are fast-growing, so prepare the ground prior to planting adding lots of organic matter and a high gene...
-
9th October 2017 Chinese broccoli
Plant these in a prepared site, in a cool but moist spot, with high organic and nitrogen levels. Apply a general fertiliser prior to planti...