Blog

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…

A day’s filming with Richard Jackson

A day’s filming with Richard JacksonI live in Bournemouth which is quite a mild gardening climate, although of course we have had some really bad winters over the last three years with well below temperatures and snow – not usually associated with the south of England. I am just…

6 Lawn Care Jobs To Do This Spring

Spring is an important time in the lawn care calendar. In order to help your lawn recover from the stresses of winter you'll need to give it a bit of TLC. If you get your lawn care jobs done in spring, it'll look fantastic heading into the summer. When to Start Spring Lawn Care For most of us in…

Thompson & Morgan trials team member wins gold!

Jean Willis’ Container GardenJean Willis, a dedicated and valued member of Thompson & Morgan’s trials team, recently won Gold Award First in the Best Container Garden category of Bournemouth in Bloom 2012.It all started in 2006, when the Bournemouth in Bloom committee was judging…

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…

Win plants in our new prize draw

Win Petunia ‘Purple Tower’ plants and a climbing frame worth £20.98 in our new prize draw!Win Petunia ‘Purple Tower’ plants in our new prize drawThis competition is now closed. Please visit our main competitions page for more chances to win prizes.This week we’re…

Watering, watering, watering

So, with the recent heat wave (when I say 'heat wave' it felt more like someone was blow-torching the back of my neck - through the factor 50) and with all the watering I had to do. Not only my own garden by the way, but also for friend who is away in the south of France for a month - for some…

Body, Hive and Soul.

I was never really sure when "spring" is meant to start, having just some lumpen idea of it being to do with daffodils generally being around and not needing to put on your big coat as much. Turns out the cats, yes the cats, are well ahead of us. Come spring, and I'm being quite serious you…

Thompson & Morgan gives RHS Young School Gardener the gardening bug

Lucas Hatch with his runner bean crops11-year old Lucas Hatch from Woodbridge in Suffolk first got into gardening 4 years ago after writing to Thompson & Morgan asking for a donation of seeds for his primary school.This year he won the RHS Young School Gardener of the Year 2012 after wowing the…

Grilled lemon and garlic courgette

Grilled lemon and garlic courgetteThompson & MorganA superb side dish that can be paired with almost any meal! Grilling courgettes gives them a great depth of flavour. Grill with fresh lemon and garlic for a delicious, flavourful dish. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 10 minsCook Time 10…

We've teamed up with SmartPlantÔäó to provide customers with online expert advice

Have you ever been left puzzled for days on end, trying to remember the name of that plant in your border? We've all been there - racking our memory for an elusive plant name! What if you could catalogue your plants online so that their names were all there at your fingertips? Even better, if you…

The Big Allotment Challenge – What do you think?

The Big Allotment Challenge – what do you think? Now the series has come to an end we’d like to know what our gardeners thought. We have been watching week in week out and have really enjoyed it, and we have to give a massive congratulations to Alex and Ed who were crowned the best…

T&M raises over £1000 for EACH charity

During November and December 2013 and January 2014, staff at Thompson & Morgan took part in the EACH £50 challenge – and raised over £1000!Julie Rush receives a £50 note from Vanessa Bell, Suffolk Fundraiser for EACHThe challenge itself was to turn £50 into as much money for the EACH…

Growing vertically

Growing verticallyBoth of us were staring at the same wall mounted moss collage in a corner of the Grand Marquee at the Chelsea Flower Show. We got chatting and I found that my new acquaintance was no less than Sue Fisher, the author of ‘Growing up the Wall’.Moss wallGreen walls have…

Do you grow your own? BBC Two needs you!

Do you grow your own fruit, veg and flowers and do you know what to do with them?Are you the complete kitchen gardener?Do you grow your own? BBC Two needs you!Producers at BBC Two are creating a brand new show to find the nation’s best kitchen gardener. With food prices on the increase,…

Thompson & Morgan and RHS Garden Hyde Hall team up for a ÔÇÿFloral Fantasia' this summer

We're teaming up with RHS Garden Hyde Hall to create a fabulous garden for an event this summer, aptly named Floral Fantasia. We're transforming an area of the well-known RHS site near Chelmsford in Essex into a magnificent floral exhibition, showcasing many varieties of bedding plants. Over four…

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch – join in and do your bit!

RSPB Big Garden BirdwatchRSPB Big Garden Birdwatch – join in and do your bit!The annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch is taking place this weekend, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th January, to monitor bird species visiting Britain’s parks and gardens.It’s really easy to join in –…

Japanese garden adventure

We have all seen Japanese gardens in the UK, haven’t we? They were all the rage back in the early 90′s!But, have you seen the other way around, an English garden in Japan? Well, Barakura was the brainchild of fashion designer, Kay Yamada, and after 20 years, represents the most…

First Year On the Job

It has been just over a year ago that I was elected to become the Show Secretary of my local horticultural society. At the age of 22, I believe I may be one of the youngest Show Secretary's ever! Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year in the role. The first job of the year is to compile…

Vegan raspberry mousse

Vegan Raspberry MousseThompson & MorganFruity, light and really perfect as a summer dessert. Bursting with fresh raspberrys and coconut. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 15 minsTotal Time 15 mins Course Dessert Servings 4 Ingredients 1x2x3x80 ml aquafaba150 g coconut cream1 tsp lemon juice50 g…

Blueberry surprise

Hey, look what I grew! Ok, so it doesn’t look like much, but these are the first few blueberries from my blueberry plant. I had them on my cereal and although they weren’t huge, they were really sweet and all the more delicious because I grew them myself! And frankly, if I can grow…

Young plants – taking the fuss out of gardening

Geranium ‘T&M’s Choice Mixed’Young plants – what’s all the fuss about?The world has changed so much over the last 20 years and we seem to have less and less leisure time. Thankfully, the gardening world has changed as well. And, now, customers looking for a…

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’)…

Strawberry mojito

Strawberry mojitoThompson & MorganCreate a refreshing strawberry mojito to enjoy in your own garden paradise. This fruity cocktail is perfect for barbecues, parties with friends or as a summer treat for yourself. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 5 minsTotal Time 5 mins Course Drinks Servings…

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…

Strawberry Cupcakes

Strawberry cupcakesThompson & MorganBeautiful vanilla cupakes topped with vibrant pink icing and fresh strawberries picked from your allotment. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 20 minsCook Time 30 minsTotal Time 50 mins Course Dessert Servings 12 cupcakesCalories 387 kcal Ingredients 1x2x3x120…

Making a willow dome seating area

On a resent visit to Foxton Locks near Market Harborough, I saw a dome made up of willow with a seat. I was so impressed with it, I thought it would be nice to make a willow dome for the green belt park area where we live. I am involved in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood and Loughborough in…

Heavenly Hydrangeas!

If there's one genus that I am utterly in love with then it's Hydrangeas! Every year as we head into 'Hydrangea season' I begin muttering eulogies to these beauties... 'What a stunner!' 'Isn't it gorgeous?' 'Wow, look at the flowers on that!!!' I don't really know when my love for Hydrangeas began.…

Gardening talk at The Roof Gardens

On one of the first real days of spring, I was extremely lucky to be giving my ‘New, different and unusual plants’ gardening talk to a garden club set in a very unusual location.The Roof Gardens, LondonStunning viewsLocated one hundred feet above Kensington High Street in central…

Greenfingers Charity – T&M £50,000 donation

Thompson & Morgan are extremely proud to announce that they have raised over £50,000 for the Greenfingers charity.Their customers and staff rose to the challenge to raise £50,000 through numerous sponsored events such as cake sales and donations through plant sales. This has not been an easy…

August Flowers in Bloom

Win prizes in our Big Spring Giveaway

Every day in February we’re offering you the chance to win some fabulous prizes in the Big Spring Giveaway!Prizes include a backstage experience at Gardeners’ Question Time, membership to the RHS for a year, a place on a ‘Grow your own cut flowers course’ and many more.For…

RHS Chelsea Flower Show – 100-year gnome ban lifted

The RHS has announced that its 100-year ban on garden gnomes is to be lifted!Gnomes welcome at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show… but only this yearTo mark the centenary of the Chelsea Flower Show, celebrities have been invited to decorate and paint gnomes, which will feature in the show before…

Pumpkin Pressure- another record breaker?

The pressure is on as we are set for another world record breaker! Each year we have the pleasure of sponsoring Autumn Pumpkin Festival taking place in Southampton on 11th October 2014. If the UK world record is broken, we offer the winning grower a £1,000 award! But, if they break a World record,…

More Awards for T&M's Sunflower SunBelievableÔäó ÔÇÿBrown Eyed Girl'

Following its success at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, our fantastic in-house-bred sunflower, SunBelievable™ 'Brown Eyed Girl' has won even more awards and accolades. Proving hugely popular in the US, the new sunflower was awarded the Retailers' Choice Award at the FARWEST Show in Portland,…

Strawberry smoothie

Strawberry smoothieThompson & MorganA very quick, healthy smoothie that utilises your strawberry crops. Find out how to get bumper crops from your home grown strawberries at our strawberry hub page. Gluten free and vegan friendly too. A perfect morning drink to get you off to a great start to…