Crocus just added these new products

Magnolia Fairy Cream ‘MicJur02’ (PBR) (fairy magnolia) £17.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: any moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average to fast Flowering period: March to May, then off and on until September Hardiness: fully hardy Raised by the New Zealand breeder Mark Jury (who also brought us Magnolia Black Tulip), this wonderful new magnolia produces an abundance of cream flowers along the length of its stems in spring. Unlike many of the other spring-flowering types, the foliage of this magnolia is mainly evergreen, although it may shed its leaves in colder winters. It makes a fine stand-alone specimen, especially in smaller gardens where its compact form will not dominate, while its naturally bushy habit makes it ideal for creating an informal screen. A stunning new addition that is easy to care for, reasonably fast growing and will start to produce its lightly scented flowers on young plants. Garden care: Plant in a sheltered spot, away from strong winds. Requires minimal pruning. Remove any broken, diseased or crossing branches in spring. Mulch in spring with manure or leafmould, especially on dry soils.

Read the rest of this entry »

Price reduction at John Lewis

Thermos Eclipse Flask, 1.0L, Black was £15.00 now £12.00
 This sleek, matte black Thermos flask is glass vacuum insulated, making it possible to keep the contents hot for up to 12 hours, and cold for up to 24. It has a twist and pour stopper mechanism, which allows you to pour out liquids without removing the stopper completely. Includes two interlocking cups, so that you can serve and share beverages wherever you are. The flask is perfect for long walks, picnics, or even for use while at work These products are special because we negotiate exclusive discounts with our suppliers and pass the savings on to you. They’re limited, either in quantity or for a period of time, but they’ll always give you excellent quality at an exceptional price.

New product at John Lewis

Gentlemen’s Hardware Flask, Black £20.00
Perfect for the gentleman on the move, this black flask with stainless steel lid keeps beverages both hot and cold to make morning commutes more bearable

Gardening Direct has these new lines today

Strawberries Elsanta 20 Runners plus 4 Planters £20.99
Mouth watering satisfying tasteElsanta has been the most popular strawberry variety for top quality fruit production in the UK for many years. It’s a heavy cropper with a superb sweet taste and is equally good growing in the garden as well on Pick Your Own" and commercial farms."

Read the rest of this entry »

Jersey Plants Direct just added these new items

Strawberries Elsanta 20 Runners plus 4 Planters £20.99
Mouth watering satisfying tasteElsanta has been the most popular strawberry variety for top quality fruit production in the UK for many years. It’s a heavy cropper with a superb sweet taste and is equally good growing in the garden as well on Pick Your Own" and commercial farms."

Read the rest of this entry »

Loads of price reductions today at GreenFingers

3 Piece Stainless Steel Camping Cutlery Set was £1.49 now £0.74
Ideal for camping or going on holiday this Stainless Steel Cutlery Set comprises a fold-out knife fork and spoon. It is just perfect for eating meals on your outdoor adventures! Extremely lightweight durable and rust-proof it has a high heat-resistance and the knife handily features a bottle opener! This great value camping set cutlery set also comes with a ring clip for easy storage. It is a really nifty accessory when going camping or caravanning or for picnics and BBQs. Dont leave home without it!Dimensions: L16 x W3.5 x D1cm

Read the rest of this entry »

Sign up for yougov and start taking surveys. You’ll have seen opinion polls mentioned on the news from YouGov. So why not be part of it?
Earn points for surveys. Each point can be spent on one entry into the monthly cash prize draw or wait until you reach 5000 points to redeem a £50 cheque.

I’m about half way to my £50 voucher! I’ve been a member for a few months and it’s fun answering the surveys. They quite often ask what you’ve watched on TV.

The Big allotment challenge starts tonight at 9pm on BBC2.
The new series sees nine talented allotmenteers compete to be crowned this year’s Champion but who will dig their way to victory?

Series 2 (2015)
Gardener
Alan
Alexandra
Jo Jo
Lena
Matt
Rekha
Rob
Sandra
Tony

Presented by Fern Britton
Judges Jim Buttress
Jonathan Moseley
Thane Prince

I’ve put together some slideshows of photos from my allotment site.
They’re on The Garden and Gardener youtube channel.

What most people call raised beds, aren’t really very raised. It would be more accurate to call them edged beds.

What are the advantages of raised beds?

They look very neat. They instantly make a vegetable plot look tidy.
Beds are defined which mean you can see where not to step or walk.
It is an edge to strim to.
When made from different materials they can actually allow you to garden without bending.
It is easy to set out to tackle one raised bed at a time when you’re weeding and you can have a great sense of accomplishment by completely weeding one bed.
You can enrich or sieve soil in a small raised bed to help grow carrots and other root vegetables on stony or poor soil.
You tend only the growing space on your vegetable beds and not the pathed areas.
Pathed areas being more clearly defined means you can deal with these more efficiently by mowing or strimming.
Enrichment of soil takes place only in defined growing areas.
Soil can be better than in the ground as it can be easily amended.
Soil is not walked on which is beneficial for the plant roots and soil structure.
Preparation of raised beds means they may be more weed free.
You can harvest more easily in wet weather as you have paths to stand on whilst you pick crops.
Because of the additional soil enrichment you may be able to crop closer.
Soil should drain better as it is above the ground level. This can help on poor soils.
It can be easier to attach netted covers to raised beds.

Weed suppressant covers can be cut to size and placed in beds at the end of the season.

What are the disadvantages of raised beds?

They require materials (usually wood) to make them, this has a cost.
They take time to make.
Wood rots, especially when it’s in contact with soil.
It is a great place for slugs to hide down the side or as the wood helps keep soil damp and if grass is growing on one side this will trap moisture along the wood too, making it a home for slugs to hide during the day.
They will not last for very long and will need replacing every few years.
Any wood treatment to make them last longer is in contact with the soil which can cause contamination issues.
Preparing area for raised beds needs to be thorough else weeds like couch grass can easily get into the raised bed structure.
Weeds still grow in raised beds.