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NVS Judging Blog
It was June and I was preparing for my first major show as Show Secretary of my local horticultural society. Our judge for our Summer Show was Peter Cranfield. Over lunch I told Peter that I was in training to be a judge with the Essex Guild of Horticultural Judges. He suggested that I should enter…
History of fuchsias
Charles Plumier (1646-1704), a French monk & botanist, discovered and named many plants in honour of fellow botanists during his 3 plant hunting trips to the Caribbean’s and South America. Some of his most famous discoveries are Begonia, Fuchsia, Lobelia and Magnolia. In 1695, during his…
New plants arrived, but the weather’s too bad to plant them up!
My new strawberry runners (Flamenco, chosen by my 7-year old daughter) arrived at the end of last week and I had hoped to get out into the garden to plant them. Ha! No such luck – a few inches of snow put paid to that idea. We got off quite lightly snow-wise compared to other parts of the…
8 great gardening podcasts
Get inspiration in the garden with these eight horticultural podcastsImage: PavelKant Gardening podcasts are a fabulous source of horticultural entertainment and inspiration. They make perfect rainy-day listening and can also get you through the most mundane of gardening tasks. So pop in your…
Sweet Pea tops the Best Seller list
New seed varieties proving popular with T&M customers.Thompson & Morgan is pleased to announce the top 3 best-sellers from its list of newly-launched seed varieties.Bestselling Sweet Pea ‘Erewhon’Sweet Pea ‘Erewhon’ along with Nasturtium ‘Crimson Emperor’…
Expert gardening tips for beginners
Gardening is a lifelong learning curve based on shared knowledge, trial and error. Image source: Rawpixel. com If you're just getting into gardening and could do with some help and advice to set you on your way, we've got just what you need: handy tips from gardeners from across the blogosphere.…
Pea Alexandra – huge plants, bumper crops!
Hello all you happy gardeners!Well we’ve all had some fab weather and doesn’t it show in the gardens? The flowers and veg like to feel the warmth on them.I just had to tell you all about the pea Alexandra I have grown as part of the Thompson & Morgan trials.I only have a small…
Grafted veg - The advantages of going that extra step
Freshly grafted plants Last year we at Thompson & Morgan started to sell grafted vegetable plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers; this year we have extended the range to include melons and watermelons too! Too much trouble? So why graft a plant that's only going to be around for a season or two…
Thompson & Morgan donates plants to local schools
Left: Children from Chelmondiston Primary School holding plants donated by Thompson & Morgan. Right: Children from Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy with a trolley of donated plants. Photo credits: Thompson & Morgan Last week we donated over 1,500 plants to two local schools. The PTA of…
You say potato, we definitely said TomTato®
No doubt you’ve seen Thompson & Morgan’s latest news on the TomTato®; a unique grafted plant, which combines an extra sweet tomato with a delicious white potato!Now, the concept isn’t new and the phenomenon of grafting these 2 plants together has been known for almost 100…
Make a change to your plant choices – 3
Next in my ‘Make a change to your plant choices’ theme are some hard-working plants for beds, baskets and borders.Laurentia ‘Indigo Stars’If your bedding and basket plants don’t usually last beyond August, then try this…Laurentia ‘Indigo Stars’This…
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…
Geraniums masterclass: best expert content
Ideal for borders, pots, baskets and window boxes, geraniums fill your garden with colourImage: Geranium 'Tall Dark and Handsome Hot Pink' from Thompson & MorganIf you love geraniums (pelargoniums) and want to grow your own from seed, cuttings or plug plants, we've scoured the internet to find…
Potatoes – does size matter?
If you have grown potatoes before you will know the feeling of disappointment when you harvest your potatoes and what you have in front of you is a poor specimen of potato.Why not switch to planting one tuber per 8 litre potato growing bag, and not only will you be stunned by the yields, you…
Gardening memories of 2012
Gardening memories of 20122012 was full of gardening memories, not least because of the almost never-ending rain and lack of sunshine. A while ago we asked our Twitter followers and Facebook fans to tweet and post their most memorable moments and got some great comments. We thought we’d turn…
Top soil care tips from the experts
Look after your soil and reap good quality produce. Image source: LedyX Take care of your soil as though your yield depends on it - because it does. To help you keep your garden hale and hearty, here we bring you some of our favourite gardening bloggers' tips for keeping your soil in top condition.…
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…
Another Plant of the Year award for T&M?
Chelsea Flower Show entries – another Plant of the Year award for Thompson & Morgan?After last year’s exciting win at RHS Chelsea Flower Show with the spectacular foxglove ‘Illumination Pink’, Thompson & Morgan announces its contenders for this year’s Plant of…
Is it ripe yet?
Growing your own crops is so satisfying, not forgetting about all the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables too. We spend a lot of time caring for our crops, protecting them from frosts, fighting off pests and disease and generally nurturing them until they are ready to harvest. However,…
Primrose – the queen of spring!
Primrose ‘Husky’ MixedHello,Just a few minutes planning now can make your outdoor space the envy of all once spring arrives! And this is all thanks to the queen of spring, the primrose!When you think the garden has given up the ghost and you’re cranking up the central heating…
DIY Dahlia Festival
It always intrigues me how different plants come in and out of fashion. Dahlias are one such plant that has ridden the roller coaster of popularity over the last century - but right now, they are definitely on the up! ®Sue Sanderson, Thompson & Morgan - Dahlias at Anglesey Abbey,…
The secret life of plants
The root structure of the date palm is a thing of beauty. Image source: The Hidden Half project, University of Nottingham Gardening could be described as bending nature to our will. It's the selection, planting, shaping, pruning, training, pollinating, pinching, grafting, thinning out and…
What to do in the garden in August
There are always things to do in the garden whether it is planting, pruning or watering. So we have highlighted some what to do in the garden in august guidance to help you.In the flower gardenDead-head lilies for a better flower display next year.Mow meadows now to help scatter wild flower…
What to plant in 2014
What to plant in 2014 – Thompson & Morgan’s New Year’s Honours ListWith Christmas over and a new year beginning, Thompson & Morgan is looking forward to a bumper year in gardens up and down the country. So what are the hot tips for 2014 in the plant world?TomTato™In…
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…
Plants on trial – a sneaky peak
I have always been a fan of over the top, in your face bedding displays and every year I plant out hundreds of plants in beds, pots and baskets. Over the last few years, due to work commitments, I have been finding the up keep a bit difficult.Alstroemeria ‘Planet Mix’Last year I planted…
News update from Thompson & Morgan
Alstromeria Holiday Valley, Alstromeria Spring Valley' and Alstromeria Times Valley' Further 'reveals' from our new Spring RangeWe've just released details and images of a number of new products that will feature in our Spring 2020 range. All three of the striking varieties in the new Summer…
Hydrangea Glam Rock – colour changes in different soils
Hydrangea ‘Glam Rock’ – colour changes in different soilsThe ever-changing colours of hydrangea ‘Glam Rock’One of our fastest selling shrubs ever, hydrangea ‘Glam Rock’ (sometimes also known by the tongue-twister name of ‘Schloss Wackerbarth’)…
Spread The Love
I'm really not a fan of the aforementioned festive season, but I've suddenly realised that I lurve January! The inclement weather gives me the perfect excuse to be bone idle guilt free. Mind you, some things can't wait, especially when you are up against the horticultural prowess of Diane, she of…
From Rake To Bake - Leek Muffins
Welcome to February's Baking Blog. Each month will feature an in-season fruit or vegetable dish to make with a little bit of grow-your-own information on the side. February is perfect for making Leek Muffins. Have you ever wondered why Welsh fans carry inflatable leeks to Rugby or Football matches?…
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…
Shrubs masterclass: best expert content
Award-winning Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride' is the perfect flowering shrub for a containerImage: Hydrangea 'Runaway Bride' from Thompson & Morgan If you're looking for ways to add low-maintenance interest to your garden, shrubs are ideal. Brimming with expert advice, we've brought together this…
Top 10 best-selling plants of 2018
This pretty hydrangea won the nation's hearts and Chelsea's Plant of the Year 2018Image: Hydrangea Runaway Bride' by Thompson & Morgan Are you looking for some garden inspiration? Or just curious about which plants were gardeners' favourites last year? Here are our ten best-selling plants of…
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…
Courgetti with tomatoes, grilled corn and herb dressing
Courgetti with tomatoes, grilled corn and herb dressingThompson & MorganA fresh take on a summer salad which makes the most of your allotment crops. Beautiful, Piccolo tomatoes, paired with sweetcorn and an innovative way to use up your masses of courgette by making 'courgetti'. Print Recipe…
Are you feeling the Love yet?
I'm just not feeling the love! Apart from sloping off to the greenhouse every few days to check on the cuttings (progress not great. ) I've done nothing NOTHING, I TELL YOU! Oh the guilt! I've come up with every excuse: it's too wet, too cold, too early, too late. Apart from one manic flurry of…
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