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Tree lily – the perfect performers for time-strapped gardeners

What a difference two years can make! Back in spring 2012, I planted five Tree Lily ‘Pink Explosion’ bulbs deep into a large, glazed patio pot filled with a 50/50 mix of multi-purpose and loam-based compost. I then stood back expecting big things.Big things I got! Come mid-summer, thick…

Top tips for Instagram-ready gardens

Get your garden grid-ready with these top tipsImage: leungchopan Instagram gardening is huge these days. This social media app is a great virtual place to make friends with like-minded growers, swap advice and grow an online audience as you grow your own. But if you're not sure how to get started,…

Carole Patilla

Guest blogger Carole Patilla writes about her love of all things artichoke!Giants of the gardenStunning foliage“What’s that huge, gorgeous silver-leafed thing?” is one of the most frequently asked questions by visitors to my garden. The answer, surprisingly for many, is a globe…

Lemons masterclass: best expert content

Lemons make an attractive patio plantImage: Mediterranean Fruit Collection from Thompson & Morgan Whether you want a twist of lemon in your gin and tonic or something to squeeze over your paella, planting a lemon tree is a great way to make sure you have an easy supply of zesty fruits within…

Rise of the bedding plants

Fill your beds and borders with show stopping bedding plantsImage: Begonia semperflorens 'Organdy Mixed' F1 Hybrid from Thompson & MorganBedding plants became incredibly popular in the Victorian era, when specialist plant hunters were dispatched to find new and unique specimens to add colour…

Wild flowers – all you need to know

Wildflower (or Wild Flower) simply means that the plant was not intentially planted or seeded.Wild flowers are important in supporting our native insects and animals. Not only do they encourage high biodiversity, they also make a pretty and colourful addition to the garden. A quintessential part of…

Prepare your garden for winter

Winter is coming and autumn is the perfect time to start preparing your garden for winter weather. Your garden doesn’t need to be dull and colourless just because the weather is kicking up a fuss. There are many jobs for you to do in the garden in October to prepare your winter garden, so…

Clematis masterclass: best expert content

Clematis 'Elizabeth' brings colour and scent to your gardenImage: Clematis 'Elizabeth' from Thompson & Morgan Find all you need to grow spectacular clematis plants here. Whether you love rambling evergreens or compact types for patio containers, these independent articles, videos and Instagram…

A Summer of new plants at Driftwood

As what would have been my open garden season, draws to a close, I can look back on a very different summer here at Driftwood. Considering the diversity of the weather we've experienced here in Seaford, ranging from extreme heat, gale-force winds through to torrential rain, I am quite amazed that…

12 Instagram feeds for flower lovers

This collection's all about the flowers Image: shutterstock Breathtaking blooms, inspirational arrangements and expert growing advice are yours at the swipe of a screen on Instagram. Here you'll find growers, stylists, artists and farmers, all sharing images of their common passion - British-grown…

Cauliflower – the comeback

Is the cauliflower, the most under-appreciated member of the brassica family, making a comeback?After a number of sightings in the national press recently, we thought we’d cast a spotlight on this often overlooked – and overcooked – traditional British vegetable.In The Times…

July - Anyone for Blackberry Jam?

So here we are in early August, it's 33c outside, and I'm making blackberry jam! What on earth is going on? No sooner had the strawberries finished fruiting than the blackberries were ripe for picking! Is it me or has there been a worldwide conspiracy perpetuating the mysteries of jam making? 10…

Spring-summer customer trials update – Caroline Broome

Caroline Broome has been busy growing dahlias, petunias, fuchsias and many other plants as part of our customer trial panel. Read on for her latest update.In an email to Thompson & Morgan’s customer trials co-ordinator, she wrote “I know I keep on about the dahlias from 2012 but…

Overwintering Edibles

As I write this first post we're entering Autumn. There is a noticeable shift in the seasons as the mornings are a little nippy now but, thankfully, we still have some bright days to enjoy working outside. Things are still battling on outside including my dwarf beans, variety Ferrari, swede even…

Top gardening trends

2014 is all about big planting schemes, perennials doubling up as annuals and falling in love with shrubs again. Here are our top gardening trends…Begonia ‘Lotto Mixed’BIG plantingLots of gardeners are starting to get wise with their planting schemes and choosing plants that give…

The Best Plants for June

Image: Canva In June the garden bursts into an extravagance of flowers and it's almost impossible to choose amongst them, but here are five of my perennial favourites. Peony Pastel Splendour'Peony Pastel Splendor' Image: Thompson & Morgan Surrounded by the devastating aftermath of the Second…

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Calabrese Broccoli

Calabrese broccoli is known for being rich in nutrients and what can be better than home-grown broccoli that you can be proud of. Many people love it fresh, whereas some prefer to stir fry their broccoli before consuming this nutrient-rich delight. It is not as hard to grow broccoli as many people…

Autumn Plants Teaser

Our autumn plants range boasts spectacular spring bedding plants, shrubs and perennial plants and with such a huge variety available you will be spoilt for choice. We asked our gardening guru Michael Perry for his top 10 plants from our autumn range, so that we can bring you our autumn plants…

Summer 2018 - From Pembrokeshire with Love

Editor's Note : Many of our customers are familiar with Amanda, one of our bloggers who has been writing for us for some years now. Here's her latest post. Unfortunately, Amanda has some health and family issues which she quite rightly needs to concentrate on, and so she is going to be taking a…

Wisteria masterclass: best expert content

Wisteria flowers are highly scented and look fantastic trailing en masseImage: Wisteria floribunda Domino' from Thompson & Morgan Find everything you need to grow fabulous wisteria here. From troubleshooting flowering issues to keeping these vigorous climbers under control with correct pruning…

Garden pests and other wildlife!

[et_pb_section bb_built="1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4″][et_pb_text] Early summer is the perfect time to step out in the garden with a nice cuppa, and bathe in the satisfaction that all of that hard work this spring was worth the effort. And so it was that whilst surveying my…

Was buying a house called ‘Brambles’ an omen? (Part three)

Was buying a house called “Brambles” an omen? (Part three)“Every snow drift has a silver lining?” or “Is it true that gardeners are the world’s greatest optimists?”If you are inclined to classify yourself as British on those forms we all have to complete…

A new season at my allotment

A new season in a new growing year. Spring, my favourite time of year.This will be my sixth season at my allotment in Southampton. It is eleven rods long, quite a big plot. I decided to section everything up with raised beds; it has no grass but wood chip paths. After the storms and wet weather the…

Top 5 daffodils ready for planting now

Daffodils growing in masses are a delightful sight and, with colours ranging from white, yellow and pink, there’s a daffodil for every garden. Plant them in pots or grow them in bold drifts naturalised in grass for maximum effect. Watch our video on how to grow bulbs for the best results. You…

How I got into gardening, part 1

Michael Perry, New Product ManagerEveryone always asks me what got me into gardening… and the answer is my grandparents!My first bleary memories are of my grandparents’ vast greenhouses, their endless complex of sheds filled with garden tools and, of course, pots and borders lovingly…

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…

The difference between onions and shallots

Shallots are an underappreciated cousin of the onionImage: Shallot 'Griselle' from Thompson & Morgan. If you normally grow onions, have you considered planting shallots alongside them? These oval alliums offer a unique flavour profile, prized in French and Asian cuisine. Here we explain the…

Grow your own summer drinks recipes

Enjoy sharing homegrown food and drinks this summer Image: Jack Frog There's nothing more satisfying than sharing fresh, homegrown produce with friends and family on a warm summer evening. Except, perhaps, relaxing with a cool sundowner to properly enjoy the garden you've spent all year working on!…

Top 10 Houseplants : The Best of the Bunch and How to Grow Them

Image: Shutterstock From Monkey Leaves to Mother-in-Law's Tongue, houseplants offer a dazzling variety of leaf shapes, forms, and colours. And from bright, warm window sills, to cool humid bathrooms, they each have their own preferences for where and how they like to live. In case you are feeling…

Light up your garden with yellow: the colour of the year

Add a sunny pop of colour to your garden with yellow flowers Image: Arum Gold Label' from T&MThe colour of 2021, Pantone 'Illuminating' is a warm and vibrant yellow that brings with it the promise of better times. And what better way to celebrate our hope and optimism for the future than by…

Choosing hedge plants to save funds!

Bare root hedge plants are a cost-effective way to create a boundaryImage: Thompson & Morgan Bare root plants are often far cheaper than potted plants. These young 'whips' establish quicker than more mature specimens and will soon catch up in size. Given the quantity of plants that are normally…

Garden design tricks that make a big statement

Garden lighting can transform an ordinary garden into something extraordinaryImage: welcomia If you're dreaming up big plans for your garden in the New Year and you're looking for clever ways to create dramatic impact, we can help. We asked our favourite British garden designers for their top tips…

Dazzling new plants with a twist

Following on from my post last week, here are two more dazzling new plants, each with an interesting twist…Rose ‘Waterfall Collection’Rose ‘Waterfall Collection’The hanging basket rose idea has been bouncing around our plant-soaked heads for the last few seasons, but…

New Christmas gifts range now online

Our new Christmas gifts range is now online!Rose ‘Infinity’We’ve given our Christmas gifts website a revamp and now you’ll find a wide range of gifts at www.thompson-morgan.com/gifts-for-christmasEach gift is beautifully presented and packed by hand to arrive fresh and…

Dreaming of a green Christmas

Simplify the season of goodwillImage source: Galina Grebenyuk Christmas is the season of goodwill. A time for giving, and enjoying festivities with family. But all too often it becomes the season of 'stuff' - unwanted presents, plastic packaging and reams of wrapping paper - symptoms of the…

Inspiring indoor gardening blogs

Take advice from these expert houseplant bloggersImage: Houseplant 'Urban Jungle' Collection from T&M Growing indoor plants is fun, rewarding and even good for your health. House plants purify the air, help counteract mould and fungi, and the sight of foliage and flowers in the midst of winter…

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