Tulips have long held a deep fascination for mankind. Originating in the mountains of central Asia, where Tibet meets Russia and China, they were first cultivated on a large scale by the the Ottomans, dominating the Sultans' gardens and becoming an important motif in Ottoman culture (see Anna Pavord's wonderful book 'Tulip' for the full history). Subsequently, the … [Read more...] about How to plant tulips: a complete tulip growing guide
New Garden by the Sea – First Summer
As I outlined in this post, I had a new garden to work on this year - my new garden by the sea. I had quite a late start in planting up the garden, because there was a lot of preparation work to do, including the creation of a whole new garden bed along one side of the garden. This I did by covering the turf with compost and then a weed suppressing fabric for about 12 … [Read more...] about New Garden by the Sea – First Summer
Tomatoes not ripening? Here is what to do
What do you do when your tomatoes are not ripening? Here I set out 5 easy techniques to help you bring your tomato growing efforts to fruition. https://youtu.be/UxA66_Gvc3E You've spent all summer carefully nurturing your tomatoes. You've sown the seeds early in Spring, dreaming of eating juicy ripe tomatoes with fresh bread, mozarella and your lovely home grown … [Read more...] about Tomatoes not ripening? Here is what to do
How to grow Basil to get the best out of your plants
If herbs were a royal family, rather than (a) savoury or fragrant plants used for flavouring food, or (b) characters in an early 70s TV programme for kids then, in my opinion, Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) would be king. But sometimes Basil doesn't get treated like a king, and we don't get to see and taste it in its full regal splendour. In this video, with a couple of simple … [Read more...] about How to grow Basil to get the best out of your plants
The September Garden: Six on Saturday
https://youtu.be/Kt1IPzFKQBo I've done a short video for this week's Six on Saturday, giving you a quick look at what's catching my eye on a blustery September day in the garden in Scotland. Featuring wind, rain and: Hylotelephium Herbstfreude Autumn JoyRudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'Achillea Cerise QueenA fimbriated DahliaVerbena … [Read more...] about The September Garden: Six on Saturday