Blog

10795 products, 807 articles, 680 blogs

Formative Winter Pruning on Mature Apples and Pears

Hi all, If you read my last blog you'll know I was talking about the different types of gardeners we all are. Since then I've been doing some thinking and I've had my performance review at work and I'm now working towards becoming a fruit loop! I'd like to learn more about fruit growing, training…

How to encourage bees into your garden

How to encourage bees into your gardenSedumBees play a key role in pollinating many fruits and vegetables. 35 per cent of our diet depends on pollination of crops by bees! Bees are active between February and October and it is crucial they have enough food during this time to help them through the…

Thompson & Morgan Launches New 2019/20 Retail Seed Range

Zinnia Queeny Mixed', Watermelon Mini Love F1, Cosmos Apricot Lemonade' and Tomato Gourmandia F1 We're delighted to announce the launch of our new retail seed range for 2019/20 which will be available in garden centres from early July 2019. With continued focus on innovation and exciting new…

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…

Dahlias masterclass: best expert content

Dahlias come in a range of colours and stylesImage: Dahlia 'Sunset Shades' from Thompson & Morgan Here's a masterclass on growing dahlias courtesy of some of our favourite gardening bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagrammers. When it comes to dahlias, not only do these growers know their stuff, but…

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…

My visit to Chelsea Flower Show

It’s the day after my visit to Chelsea Flower Show! My feet are still aching, and my mind is still spinning with new plants and fresh garden designs. The whole of the gardening world tends to be at Chelsea too, so it can be difficult to walk a few feet without seeing someone you know! I think…

How to Overwinter Geraniums

Overwintered geraniums will provide colourful displays again come summerImage: Geranium 'Jackpot Mixed' F1 Hybrid from Thompson & MorganIf you want to know how to overwinter your favourite tender geraniums (more correctly called pelargoniums) to enjoy the following year, we've got you covered.…

Houseplant Doctor : Answers to Top Houseplant Questions

Image: Shutterstock From crispy leaves to soggy succulents, our Houseplant Doctor gives expert answers to your top houseplant questions. How often should I water my houseplant? Image: Thompson & Morgan There is no fixed rule because how often you need to water your houseplant depends on a host…

Different uses for a hedge

Hedges – they’re not just for protection and privacy! Read Catharine Howard’s guest blog on the best uses for the humble hedge.Different uses for a hedgeWHY does the word hedge always make me glaze over? Hedge, bush, shrub. There now, the awful trilogy of boredom has been spat…

Plants on trial at Driftwood

Since writing my last blog for Thompson & Morgan about the plants on trial at driftwood earlier in the year, the garden has moved on at a pace and a half! We have already had 2 public open days, one for the National Gardens Scheme and one for a local trail which I organise for the local Mayor.…

New flower and vegetable seed range available online

Our new 2013 seed range is now available and we’ve added more than 140 new seed varieties!Sweet Pea PromiseSweet Pea ‘Promise’With its unique red and white bicolour blooms, this fragrant beauty is perfect not only in exhibitions, but also as a cut flower. It was bred by Roger…

How many plants do I need in a hanging basket or container?

How many plants do I need in a hanging basket or container?It’s often difficult to judge how many plants to use per hanging basket or container. We’ve put together a table of our most popular bedding plants, showing how many you’ll need for the best display!Planting up a hanging…

Winter Wildlife Garden

Guest blogger Michelle Storm writes a regular blog on increasing wild flower meadows in UK gardens and public spaces.A winter wildlife gardenIn mid November a carpet of leaves covered the garden. The stalks of summer perennials were brown and shriveled and the seed heads of Hollyhocks, Lavender and…

Safety Precautions for Kids in Your Garden

Gardening is a useful and relaxing practice that most people enjoy doing. Not only is it fun and creative pastime activity, but it is also very educational for kids, so make sure you include your children and teach them about gardening as well. By joining you in nurturing and growing plants or…

Variegation across the nation…

Guest blogger Jane Scorer has gardened the same half acre plot for over 30 years and has opened her garden for the NGS (Yellow Book) scheme. She has an RHS qualification, but feels that her main qualification is the years she has spent with her hands in the soil.Variegation across the…

Bramley Apple Pie Week

Bramley Apple Pie Week (14th-20th October)Bramley apples – perfect for pies, crumbles and apple sauceDespite the slow start to spring, fruit harvests have been surprisingly good this year. Those of you with a glut of fruit will be in the throes of jam and chutney making sessions and…

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…

Tulip bulbs – Never too late for Tulips!

Some garden centres will try and sell you tulip bulbs in August, because they soon want to make space for the (too early) sales of Christmas decorations. That’s way too early for tulips though! You should reserve your bulbs by mail order, to ensure later delivery, to coincide with the best…

Seed and seedling tips from the experts

Give your seeds the best start with these great tips!Image: Marie C Fields/Shutterstock Get your seeds and seedlings off to a great start by taking a look at our top tips. These handy hints come courtesy of some of our favourite gardening bloggers - advice from experienced growers and bloggers who…

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…

GYO & BYO: Grow Your Own & Blitz Your Own

Green smoothies are packed with leafy greens that offer a range of health benefits, including being full of antioxidants and vitamins, boosting your immune system and helping to improve digestion. Many of the most popular ingredients of healthy green smoothies are vegetables and herbs that can be…

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…

Thompson & Morgan Announces RHS Chelsea Flower Show Entries

Following our success at RHS Chelsea Flower Show last year, we are proud to present our entries for Plant of the Year 2019. Clematis Kokonoe', Nepeta Neptune' and Ajuga Princess Nadia' Clematis 'Kokonoe' - Uniquely changing flower shape; flowers open as single blooms and develop into flamboyant…

Plan your garden for a stunning display

Don’t get caught out with a dull garden next spring… just a bit of planning now could mean you have a display to be proud of!Pansy ‘Matrix Mixed’We offer a huge range of young plants which can’t be found elsewhere; selected for garden performance, and unique and often…

Drought-proofing my garden

The recent dry spell has really made me think about the plants I am growing. The drought has taken its toll on a favourite tree in my garden. In truth, it has been many years since it performed at its best. This year, I'll be lucky if there are any leaves left come autumn! I'm blaming my thin,…

Climbing fuchsias

Pop along to any garden centre and you’ll probably see the same few climbers; there’ll be some straggly honeysuckle, quite a few large-flowered, dull clematis, thugs like Virginia Creeper, and so on… Surely it’s about time there was a plant that’s a bit classier, a…

The minty fresh taste of summer

Chocolate Mint is one of the more interesting varietiesImage source: Nic Wilson Mint is the most versatile of herbs - it adds zest to summer desserts and savoury dishes, and flavours herbal teas and cocktails. It thrives in semi-shade where other Mediterranean herbs like thyme and rosemary might…

Lorraine Pullen – The Good Life – Well Maybe!

Read Lorraine Pullen’s post about her first year of blogging.I became a blogger just over 12 months ago when I started my own blog entitledThe Good Life – Well Maybe!The “Well Maybe” was added as I was a recently retired public servant, with little experience of growing…

Expert garden upcycling tips

Waste not, want not - the frugal gardener's mantra. Image source: Ondacaracola Savvy gardeners are frugal gardeners for whom 'waste' is a dirty word. Here we present some top tips from growers with a passion for repurposing, reusing, and recycling - ways to save money and the environment while…

A great way to grow herbs – the windowsill gardener

Now I’m not a drinking person. But the people I live with do like the occasional bottle of wine, so when I went outside the other day and found the glass recycling box was rather full, I decided to do some recycling of my own.I wanted something that would look neat and tidy but at the same…

Flowers You Should Avoid Planting Near One Another

There's certainly an art to orchestrating your garden. Learning about which flowering plants work well together or which are incompatible due to their unique growth conditions is the key to creating gorgeous and harmonious combinations in your yard. Below are several examples of flowers you should…

SowStrong® – A Natural Way to Growing Success

SowStrong® – A Natural Way to Growing SuccessThe coloured coating allows a precise sowingNew and exclusive to Thompson & Morgan in 2013 is the new SowStrong® range. Featured in the 12th January issue of Amateur Gardening, these vegetable seeds have been coated with 100% natural and…

Happy New Year

Back in January 2017, I had this crazy idea to photograph the back garden from the same point, on the same date, each month! Some might think I'm mad, I probably did myself back then, but it is interesting, even for me, to take a look at the 12 images as a picture diary of what happened in the…

Edible Flowers – useful in any garden

Edible flowers can make a useful and delightful addition to any garden – whether big, small and practical or pretty – they can help boost any garden in question. Edible flowers can be used in a variety of ways and grow easily and quickly for a fast harvest.I decided to use an old tin…

Gardening news – time to start gardening

Read our selection of the week’s gardening news here.Time to start gardening!Time to start gardeningIt’s time to get your gardening gloves on and brave the cold! Spring is late this year, but the RHS has advised gardeners to get on with vital gardening jobs, otherwise they risk getting…

RedEye

Sign up for exclusive offers!