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Pruning and planting soft fruit

Nic grows soft fruit in a cageImage: Nic Wilson of dogwooddays Never grown fruit plants before? Not sure what to do with your rapidly growing berry bush? We asked experienced gardener Nic Wilson how she grows such bumper crops. Her generously shared tips make growing some of the most expensive…

Jobs to do in the garden in June

In June the garden is at its freshest. It's time to sit back and enjoy long summer evenings surrounded by abundant flowers and lush foliage whilst surveying the results of all your work earlier in the year. If you worked hard in May, you should already have crossed many of June's jobs off your…

Four New Flowers Shortlisted

For Plant Of The Year 2022 at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 We are delighted to announce that all four of our new flower plant nominees for the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2022 award have been shortlisted for judging at the event: - Azalea Starstyle Pink'- Salvia A Little Bit'- Weigela Magic…

All is growing in the garden

Because March was so mild everything in the garden is moving on at long last, but because the soil is still quite wet and cold below, night frosts are still around so it is important to take great care.So far on my allotment I have direct sowed onion sets, making sure I sow them into the driest…

Steve’s Derbyshire Allotment

I can’t say I like anything at all about the dark drab dull winter months, I am very much a summer person and absolutely love the sunshine on my face while gardening, however having said that! it is now well over a month from the shortest day and each day has a little more light to it so I…

Roses masterclass: best expert content

Roses are quintessential English country garden plants Image: Rose 'Belle du Jour' from Thompson & Morgan Delve into these gems of expert knowledge to help you grow fabulous roses in your garden. We've scoured the internet to find the best planting, propagating and pruning advice from a wide…

Easy crops to grow for beginners

Being a beginner gardener is exciting and refreshing, and there will always be something for you to do and learn about your garden. But where do you start? Which soil do you use? How to prune? When to Sow? How do you grow plants? The questions are endless! We have collated 10 easy crops to grow for…

Plug plants – which size is best for you?

Plug plants – which size is best for you?It’s all-go in the garden now that the sun has finally decided to make an appearance, but knowing which plug plants to buy can be a bit confusing. They all need different levels of care and, if you’re not sure what you’re buying, you…

Beautiful botanical crafts on Instagram

Check out these crafty creatives inspired by mother natureImage: Marisa Morton / Unsplash Nature has always provided inspiration to artists - whether writers or musicians, poets or makers. If an afternoon in your garden or a walk in the woods leaves you energised and buzzing with creativity, why…

Getting more from your garden!

Getting more from your garden!By ‘getting more’ I mean multiplying up your favourite plants the cheap and easy way — by taking cuttings. Although September is thought to be late for taking cuttings, it is in fact my chosen moment. The busy spring and summer seasons of the…

Best plants for shady gardens

Brighten up dark corners with shade-loving plantsImage: Elena Elisseeva Does your garden have a Cinderella spot? A part that doesn't get the same love and attention as the rest? Chances are, says Mandy Bradshaw of The Chatty Gardener, it's a shady area. Sunny borders might seem more interesting and…

How to Plant a Bareroot Hedge

Now is the time to plant your bareroot hedge. Don't leave it too late! The bareroot planting season is from November to March, when plants are dormant, and the sooner you get them in before bud burst the better. Getting out into the garden in the winter can be a challenge but planting a hedge is a…

A Life in the Garden of....Suffolk businessman, Jeremy Scowsill

Ipswich-based property developer doubles as self-sufficient organic gardener Isn't it funny how, at a certain age, you realise that many of the people you've known for years have apparently 'suddenly' got into gardening? I'm not sure if it's actually an age thing - it clearly isn't as the growing…

Dahlia Dreaming

Dahlias blaze into colour just as other flowers are going over. Image source: Shutterstock After weeks of hot summer days, the grass is brown and withered, the summer raspberries have shrivelled into dessicated husks and the roses have gone over, but my dahlias are only just beginning. We've had…

How to store vegetables

Which vegetables will store and how long will they keep? This is an annual dilemma faced by many gardeners. Often the need for storage is caused by gardeners being too generous in their sowings and planting and creating their own ‘gluts’ and ‘surpluses’. Why plant 200 onion…

Garden Retail ‘Best New Plant’ 2012 Award goes to

It’s a Hat trick for ‘Illumination Pink’.Thompson & Morgan is thrilled to have won the 2012 Garden Retail ‘Best New Plant’ award for its exclusive and unique foxglove, ‘Illumination Pink’.This highly-regarded award is now the third prestigious accolade…

BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT... GOOD NEWS FOR GARDENERS!

We are in the midst of somewhat dark and difficult times. Newspapers, social media and television constantly reminding us of the troubles that loom uneasily around us. Every day seems like a battle. And yet, there is one battle that continues to fly beneath the radars of far too many of us; let…

Rainbow vegetables – the latest trend on the veg patch!

There has been a lot of chatter about purple carrots in recent years, as chefs and cooks have wanted to jazz up their dishes, I blame Master Chef! But, Thompson & Morgan have just released the BEST purple carrot- ‘Purple Sun’- which is purple right through to the core!Purple carrots…

Bedding plant masterclass: best expert content

Plant Petunia 'Easy Wave Ultimate Mixed' for bright splashes of colourImage: Petunia 'Easy Wave Ultimate Mixed' from Thompson & MorganDo you want a spectacular display of bedding plants in your garden, pots and hanging baskets? We've searched the internet to find the best independent expert…

Amaryllis – flamboyant and never understated

Commonly known as amaryllis, hippeastrum bulbs are hugely popular gifts for Christmas. There really is no question as to why increasing numbers are choosing the amaryllis as a Christmas gift, as their magnificent and showy blooms flower year after year, making fantastic houseplants.Growing…

An update from the Greenhouse

Hello everyone!Firstly can I please say a big “Thank you” to everyone who has read my blog and given feedback. I must say I was really worried that no one apart from my mum would read my blog so it’s really nice to hear from everyone.In this month’s blog, I am enclosing some…

Raspberry masterclass: best expert content

Grow raspberries in beds or containersImage: Raspberry 'Polka' from Thompson & Morgan If you want to grow your own raspberry plants, take a look through this selection of the best independent articles and videos from the internet. These garden bloggers, YouTubers and Instagrammers show you how…

The Best Hedges for Chalky Soil

Chalky soil can be tricky to work withImage: Shutterstock Chalky soils can be challenging. But, with the correct soil preparation and care, there are a host of suitable hedging plants which will happily cope with these conditions. Here is an introduction to some of the best, plus an A-Z list of…

Gardening is a waiting game

Gardening isn’t one of those hobbies that we can just roll out of bed and do such as running or dancing. It requires a considerable amount of time to carefully plan what to sow and when. Therefore, gardening is a bit of a waiting game, and sometimes our patience is put to the test, but the…

Pollinator Plants

Bees, birds and butterflies are reducing in numbers and whilst the cold weather is contributing to their reduction, there are so many things we can do to help increase their numbers.By growing more pollinator friendly plants, you can provide food for our pollinating insects. Simple right? However,…

The Rough Guide to Beans by Real Men Sow

The Rough Guide to BeansAre you an allotment beginner, getting ready for your first season as a veg grower?Well, let me recommend starting with beans. Beans were the biggest success of my first season, and I’ve loved growing them ever since.They’re easy to grow, very healthy and one of…

Our top 10 Christmas plant gifts

Christmas shopping can be stressful, so we’ve put together a list of our top 10 best-selling Christmas plant gifts for you! Whether you’re looking for presents for Mum, Christmas flowers, hyacinths or indoor bulbs for Christmas, you’ll find a range of great gardening Christmas…

Christmas Colour: The 10 Best Plants for Christmas Gifts and Decorations

Add some festive colour to the dark winter months this Christmas. Our winter-flowering houseplants make growing gifts which everyone will love. A gift of brightly coloured flowers raises Christmas spirits and what's more, green gifts are not just for Christmas, but continue to give pleasure through…

Christmas gifts for her

Finding the perfect Christmas gifts for her is easy with Thompson & Morgan’s  new Christmas gifts range for 2014. There is a great selection of gardening gifts, indoor plant gifts, outdoor plant gifts and gardening hampers to make her Christmas special.My favourite is the Amaryllis…

How to improve clay or sandy soils with leafmould

How to improve clay or sandy soils with leafmouldLeafmould is the black gold of gardening. Ten or more years back, I worked in nursery on a rare hill on the Suffolk Essex border. We are talking small scale, husband and wife team, working all hours of day and days of year. The only time off was to…

Gardening with children

Gardening with childrenFrom a small seed a mighty trunk may grow. Aeschylus.Working in horticulture brings with it a certain responsibility – that of everyone else’s gardens! Friends, family, passing acquaintances and even complete strangers will freely ask your horticultural advice at…

Snowdrops

What is it about snowdrops?I’ve always been in love with snowdrops. For as long as I can remember. It might have something to do with the fact that they are the harbinger of spring. The first signs that the sleeping garden is starting to wake again from its winter slumber. After several…

The 10 Best Plants for April

Chaenomeles x superba 'Pink Lady' Image: Canva April is an exciting time and there is plenty to do in borders:As perennials emerge, look out for losses and gaps and plan how you are going to fill them. Get new perennials in as soon as you can and sow drifts of hardy annuals into warm soil. Hoick…

Pond plants masterclass: best expert content

Water lilies are quintessential deep water pond plantsImage: Water Lily (White) from Thompson & Morgan Whether you want to attract wildlife to your garden or create a unique focal point, a pond is a great way to introduce a whole new range of plants to your outdoor space. Here are some of the…

Best flowering hedges

Guelder Rose hedging has beautiful flowers in the spring, and vibrant red berries in the autumn Image: Guelder Rose (Hedging) from Thompson & Morgan Hedges are generally viewed as practical but dull garden workhorses, marking boundaries and screening ugly vistas or providing a plain backdrop to…

....And It Was All Going Snow Well!

So I wasn't far out about snowfall on Feb 20th, wasn't I? I had a bad feeling.... . BUT NOT THIS BAD! Would you believe it, yesterday I was on the allotment pruning the blackberry hedge in my shirt sleeves and today I'm back in my thermals! I'm not sure my nerves can stand it! During the first…

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