New products at John Lewis

John Lewis Tahiti Lounger Cushion, Natural £88.00
Get comfortable on your Tahiti lounger with this padded mat.

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I’m not an expert on tomatoes. This is my first time growing them – I have seen them grown when I was a kid at my gran’s greenhouse and have fond memories of the hours spent messing in there with the plants, but I wasn’t allowed to touch the tomatoes.

I got 4 plants off Frank at the allotment and went wild and planted a few seeds at home too. I’ve reared 7 plants myself and these are in big tubs too at the allotment now. The ones from Frank though are getting quite tall and one has started setting fruit.

There it is! The tomatoes are tiny and green at the moment but I hope they’ll soon be red and delicious!

The mess in the background is the anti-rock measure we need on our allotment site due to youths loving the sound of breaking glass.

Most of my tomatoes are gardener’s delight – a favourite amongst everyone on the allotment plot apart from Hazel who loves to grow heritage tomatoes for something a bit different!

I think there’s a lot to be said for buying different seeds from what you normally eat – for instance – it’s not too late to buy some of these tomatoes Tomato Tomazing™ at Thompson and Morgan

They’re deliciously sweet cherry tomatoes – now I adore cherry toms but they’re usually quite dear, especially if you’re making a big salad with them, so it is a good plan to think about what things you’d appreciate in the kitchen!

I know our tomatoes are going to be enjoyed – but what if you don’t have a greenhouse – buying the plants now and perhaps having a hanging basket with some of these in would do the trick! Tomato Tasty Tumbler

Think how little space a couple of hanging baskets take up – and how almost everyone has room for some!

Tomatoes seem to be fairly easy up til now – water regularly, pot up into either large pots or directly into the border of the greenhouse and from now on feed once a week. And pinch out the side shoots. If you miss them when they’re tiny then cut them off. You can do it with your thumbnail when they’re tiny but if they’ve got too big you’ll have to cut them with a knife or cutters.

Not experienced any pests or problems yet, but I’ll be having a read up on this this week to see what I should be looking out for!

We didn’t put our carrots in tubs. But maybe we should have done. It appears an awful lot of people on our allotment site plant their carrots in containers. There’s someone with three huge dustbins packed full of them. I’m not sure how big they get – but I’m going to be there when he pulls them up!

Here’s some in a washing up bowl! It’s not a hugely deep container – but they’ve certainly done better than our carrots which seem to be buried in the chickweed!

At least I think they’re carrots! They certainly look like them to me!  If they’re not – then please get in touch and tell me what they are!

Allotment was damp and cold this morning but busy. Our weeds are causing a nusiance and my other half has finally ordered a petrol strimmer which should be here on Wednesday – so he’ll be reviewing it then! And I’ll also show you some photos hopefully of our tidier plot!

We’ve got plenty of pea flowers, broad beans flowering nicely and the runner beans have started budding their pretty red flowers too!

The tomatoes are swelling gently in the relative warmth of the greenhouse and they got fed again today.

The basil is looking more promising and I have stuck some vine stems in a pot of soil in the hope of getting some to root so I can inflict them on friends and family!

The butternut squash at the allotment looks suitable blown about, but the ones at home are looking much better – they’ve been a bit more sheltered from the last days weather and were a bit bigger too. June should be ok for putting everything out, but it’s a bit cold and bleak today.

The onions look great – will definately be doing some different types next year, so maybe two beds of them!

Looking green and healthy – and we weeded this entire bed before we came home – we could sense the rain was coming in and we did get back just in time.

So much chickweed this year it’s quite shocking. Even the tray of plants a friend gave me had some in! So it’s not confined to the allotment plot! I was given some chinese vegetables which I put in the bed with the broadbeans, leeks and a new row of carrots. It’s a very mixed bed – which might or might not be a bad idea yet.

Lots of new lines at Garden Buildings Direct

Security Anchor and Padlock Security Alarms, Locks and Lighting £19.95
BillyOh Security Anchor and Padlock

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Lots of new items at Suttons Seeds

Polytunnel £299.95
This sturdy polytunnel is made by the same British company that manufactures much larger units for professional growers and will last for many years. It’s a practical and economical alternative to a greenhouse and can be used to raise bumper crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. As well as for sowing and hardening off other plants for the garden. Dimensions: 2.44m (8′) wide x 3.05m (10′) long x 2m (6′) high door opening which allows easy access and ventilation.

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Reduced price on items today at Crocus

dancook-1800-charcoal-barbecue was £229.99 now £189.99
This Dancook barbecue is manufactured in a one piece frame which promises optimal stability and cooking ergonomics. The barbecue is "floating" in a ring of stainless steel. The barbecue can be extended with side table in massive aluminium.Measurements:Diameter: 58cmminimum width of side table: 31cmlength of side table: 56cm

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New items at Crocus

common box – ball £49.99
Position: partial shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: slow-growingOther features: contact with the sap may cause skin irritationHardiness: fully hardyA pair of these tightly rounded box spheres is excellent for flanking a set of steps, doorway or path. One of our recommended plants, they're perfect for planting in a large, well-drained, terracotta pot in a partially shady site, where the glossy, dark-green leaves provide all year foliage interest and structure.Box are happy growing in a sunny spot but the combination of dry soil and full sun may encourage poor growth and leaf scorching. If you have sandy soil it is best to keep them in a partially shady spot in the garden.Garden care: Ensure that the soil or compost is never allowed to dry out. Carefully cut back plants grown as hedges or topiary in mid- or late summer. Carry out rejuvenative pruning in late spring. After pruning apply a top-dressing of a balanced slow-release fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone (organic) or Osmacote (inorganic) around the base of the plant, ensuring that none touches the leaves or stems.Plants are supplied in black plastic pots not the terracota coloured plastic in the photograph.

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Price reduction on this item at PondKeeper

Vorton 18000 was £109.99 now £69.99
One of the most advanced UVC’s available. The Vorton incorporates a special turbulator that forces the water to flow round the UV in a corkscrew like motion

New lines added today at John Lewis

Dorset Garden Bench Cushion, Champagne £35.00
100% cotton cushion for the Dorset bench, in an off-white colour. Sponge clean. Made in the UK.

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New item today at Focus DIY

Garden Store-It-Out £119.00
The perfect storage solution for those who want to store items outiside without wishing to buy a shed or garage. This compact and stylish storage unit is made from low-maintenance polypropylene.Its double door along with lid access provides easy access to items and the lid can be padlocked for optimum security (padlock not provided).Waterproof base includedCan hold 2 x 240 litre refuse bins. Also perfect for barbecues outdoor chairs lawnmowers and other garden equipment.Easy assemblyHeight:118cm Width:160cm Depth:90cm