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Fuchsia masterclass: best expert content

Standards like Fuchsia 'Angela' make a striking feature on doorsteps and patios. Image: NEW Fuchsia 'Angela' (Hardy) from Thompson & MorganIf you love fuchsias and want to fill your borders, hanging baskets, and patio containers with elegant flowers, we've scoured the internet to find the most…

How to grow Hyacinth bulbs in water

Hyacinths such as Berries and Cream Mixture can be grown in water to enjoy throughout the depths of winterCopyright: Dutch Gardens Growing hyacinths in water gives you the chance to enjoy vibrant and beautifully scented spring bulbs in the depths of winter. In fact, with a little bit of planning,…

10 awesome allotment blogs

Check out these awesome allotmenteersImage: shutterstock There's an allotment revival going on at the moment. And it's no wonder. Growing your own helps you eat better and cheaper, get fit, and spend quality time outdoors with friends and family. If you fancy grabbing a piece of the 'good life' for…

Plants for Pets: A Guide to Pet-Friendly Houseplants

Pets and plants don't always go together. My 'Border Terrorists', Ogmore and Dylan, are notorious for chomping foliage. Whilst they mainly graze on Dog Mercury and other outdoor weeds, they have also unleashed their rasping tongues on my once elegant Bamboo Palm ( Dypsis lutescens),leaving it…

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…

Taking Geranium & Pelargonium Cuttings

Pelargonium cuttings are easy to take and don't require special equipment Image: 682A IA/Shutterstock Taking cuttings is an easy way to get more of your favourite pelargoniums. Try propagating one of your own special plants or ask a friend if you can take a cutting from theirs, if they have a…

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,…

Thompson & Morgan donates flower seeds to local charities

We've just donated 100s of packets of flower seeds to local charities, ActivLives and St Elizabeth Hospice. The seeds were left over from a promotion that we ran in conjunction with Garden Answers and Garden News, two magazines published by Bauer Media, who were more than happy for the surplus…

Yacón – makes sugar-free sweetener!

Yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius) aka Peruvian ground apple, Bolivian sunrootYacon – makes sugar-free sweetener!Sweet-tasting tuber makes ‘no-sugar’ syrup suitable for diabeticsHere’s an interesting tuber with the texture of water chestnuts and a sweet taste of pear with a…

Houseplant Watering Guide

Image: ShutterstockTo water or not to water? That is the question asked by many a gardener, their watering can hovering over a stubbornly mute Aspidistra which refuses to reveal whether it's thirsty or not! 'When did I last water it?' you ask yourself. 'Last week? Last month? .... Last year?' At…

It’s your neighbourhood – community gardening

My wife Pat and I are involved in ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ along with 37 other groups, we are known as Forest Road Greenbelt Garden’s. This competition was set up to encourage the improvement of our community gardening through innovative use of trees, plants and shrubs.Our…

Katsura tree and clematis repens

Katsura tree and clematis repens – an updateLeaves turning from green to pinkKatsura TreeTwo katsura trees 20″ tall arrived last August. I potted them up in 50% ericaceous and 50% multi-purpose compost and kept them in the shade in the greenhouse to give the roots a chance to…

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…

Make a change to your plant choices

Make a positive change to your plant choices this spring – new from Michael PerryPerhaps you’ve become used to growing the same plants each year, regardless of whether they perform well for you or not! You may even doubt your own gardening skills when those plants fail or succumb to…

Why is Sustainable Gardening so Important These Days?

In essence, sustainable gardening is not a new term, but the practice has started gaining traction recently. What gardening sustainably means, what does the process involve, and what makes it so important today? What is Sustainable Gardening? It is vital to make one crucial distinction. Cultivating…

Garden past its best, time for composting

Some things in the garden are now past their best and will need composting or cutting back if I don’t need the seed heads.I normally have the greenhouses empty by now, but this year the tomatoes are still going strong, so leaving them a little longer.The patioThe other greenhouse is full of…

What's new in the garden?

Are you stepping out of your comfort zone this year to try something new?Image source: Tom Gowanlock Are you looking for fresh inspiration? It's easy to get stuck in the trap of repeating successful plants, flowers and crops year after year, rather than trying new things. We caught up with a few…

Not just any pumpkin seed – this is world record-breaking pumpkin seed

Thompson & Morgan’s giant pumpkin seed compared to a regular-sized pumpkin seedNot just any pumpkin seed – this is world record-breaking pumpkin seed!Update – February 19th, 2013Michael Perry, new product development manager, was interviewed on Anglia News last night about the…

Diary one – Sweet pea: the ‘root’ of success

As we gardeners know, there are many correct ways to do almost everything.  However, whether experienced or amateur, we are guilty of carrying on unquestioningly, just because that’s how we’ve always done it. We all get into habits over the years, but it often pays to question why we…

The Delights of Dahlias

After languishing for a while outside garden fashion, dahlias are suddenly being recognised again for their very many useful attributes. Long in flower (June to early December in a sheltered spot), easy to grow, invaluable in the summer border, a desirable cut flower ' the list goes on! They offer…

Gardening news – autumn planting, bees and butterflies

Autumn planting is the big topic in this week’s gardening news!Autumn is the best time to plant many bulbs including tulipsPlan it, plant it this autumnThe ‘Plan it, plant it this autumn’ campaign run by the Horticultural Trade Association is now in its second year. The campaign…

Amaranthus – the jungle plant

Love lies Bleeding originates in Jamaica, where it is also eaten.  I might throw some leaves into a green risotto and see what happens.  What it has done for me though is to bring a jungle effect into my garden.  Pink monkey tails and greenery gently waving in the breeze.I sowed my amaranthus seeds…

Bumper crops and fabulous flowers

What a fabulous year I’ve had with T&M plants, as you might be aware we open for the National Garden Scheme and by appointment anytime between May and September, which keeps us on our toes, meeting likewise gardeners and having time for tea and cake.A lot of the visitors have commented on…

Lessons learnt from a beginner gardener – 18 months on

In December 2012 I wrote my first blog for Thompson & Morgan, all about my first year as a grower of vegetables. Time has passed by rapidly and I have learnt so much in the past 18 months as a beginner gardener. I thought it was time to tell you more about what I have been up too.Season two…

Ten Wonderful Wildlife Blogs

Feel inspired - and grab your binoculars - for a chance to spot these elusive little creatures this summer Image:Shutterstock If you love nothing better than to 'stand and stare' in the hope of spotting some of the UK's phenomenal, but rather shy, wildlife, have we got a treat for you. Here's our…

Fruit masterclass: best expert content

Try growing Raspberry 'Little Sweet Sister' in containers on the balcony for early crops of deliciously sweet fruitImage: Raspberry Little Sweet Sister' from Thompson & MorganDo you want to grow fresh fruit in your garden, allotment or balcony? We've brought together a wealth of expert videos…

Small garden? Dont panic!

If the plant bug has bitten you, and you’ve filled your garden already, then you need to think; ‘what do cities do when they run of space..?’ Answer: they build upwards! You can use this same concept in your own garden to great effect. There’s no excuse to have bare fences…

Preparing for 2014 – potato blight

We are in an area which suffers yearly with potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) and once you have had this terrible potato disease in your allotment or garden then it seems like it is with you permanently! There are still some copper based products that haven’t been taken off the market…

Garden ready trio

Our new garden ready trio consists of our three customer favourites, Sweet William Mixed, Polyanthus Most Scented Mixed and Primrose Husky Mixed. There is no need to wait, our garden ready trio can be planted straight into your garden – it couldn’t be easier! Our garden ready plants…

How To Grow Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables to grow in your garden. You can grow potatoes either in the ground or you can grow them in potato bags or containers and it really couldn’t be easier with our expert advice on how to grow potatoes.How to Plant Potatoes in the Ground?Potato…

T&M wins Grow Your Own magazine awards

We’re thrilled to have been voted the winner in FOUR categories of the Grow Your Own magazine awards for 2013. We’re particularly proud to have won Best Online Retailer. Knowing that we’re up against some pretty serious competition in the horticultural online marketplace, it…

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…

How to grow hyacinths

Hyacinths are a popular spring bulb grown for their showy, colourful and highly fragrant flowers. Hyacinth bulbs can be planted in borders, containers and window boxes, looking most impressive when planted in groups. They naturally flower in the spring but they can also be forced indoors for a…

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…

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…

Courgette & double cheese quiche

Courgette & double cheese quicheThompson & MorganAdd a mass of flavour to your courgettes, in a quiche that is packed with cheese and wrapped in pastry. An excellent summer favourite. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 25 minsCook Time 1 hrTotal Time 1 hr 25 mins Servings 8Calories 330 kcal…

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