It looks like the drought has been averted for much of the country thanks to the copious amounts of rain we’ve had in the last few weeks.
Just in case it comes back though, think carefully about the plants you buy.
This lovely tree is more drought tolerant than many so a good choice in the South East of England perhaps.
Lovely tree at Thompson & Morgan
Honey Locust Tree – Part of the Alan Titchmarsh Collection – 1 bareroot £19.99
Small trees are useful in the garden, so add structure to your border with this handsome, yet manageable beauty. As the foliage emerges during spring, it’s the most intense golden colour. It changes to lime green as the season progresses, but keeps on glowing right through the summer. Thanks to its Australian origins, it’s drought resistant, thrives in sun and is very hardy too.
The fruit of the Honey locust is a flat legume (pod) that matures in early autumn. The pods are generally between 15–20 cm. The pulp on the insides of the pods is edible
There are lots of things that gardeners need that some people throw away!
Jam jars are really useful in the jamming season and when it’s time to pickle your veggies or make chutney. You can never have too many jars!
Even if you don’t grow fruit yourself why not ask the gardeners you know who do if they’d like you to save the jars.
If you store them up and find none of the gardeners you know want them, then why not try offering them on freecycle! There’s loads of jam makers who faced with a glut of fruit would love the jars.
Just wash them and leave them to dry properly before putting the lids on.
You should also compost all your vegetable peelings and lawn clippings. If you don’t want to have a compost heap why not ask a neighbour if they have one, and if they want your vegetable waste! It’s a shame to throw it away – even if it is recycled at the tip!
Valid From: 12th April 2012
Expiry Date: 30th April 2012
Voucher can be used on all Trimetals metal sheds and storage units purchased
on www.trimetals.co.uk
Voucher code can not be used when purchasing Hercules Steps and/or all already
discounted products.
Garden Storage : Sentinel Storage Unit £259.00
The two-tone green Sentinel storage unit is manufactured from PVC-coated galvanised steel which is maintenance-free, fire-resistant and guaranteed for 25 years against corrosion. The door has a spring-assisted opening mechanism and the unique design allows walk-in access.
Thompson & Morgan have these nuts trees that would be a great addition to any garden
Walnut ‘Lara’ – 1 tree £39.99
Walnut trees make a magnificent feature for the larger garden. French Walnut ‘Lara’ is a spur bearing variety and slightly more compact than others, although it will still make spectacular proportions. This early bearing walnut produces excellent quality nuts with a unique creamy flavour from September. Walnut ‘Lara’ is propagated onto ‘Juglans regia’ rootstock. It is self-fertile and therefore does not require a pollination companion. Walnut trees may be slow to establish but will begin to produce nuts after about four years. Height: 12m (39’). Spread: 9m (29’).
Try in pots in the greenhouse or cold frame or try a few out in the garden.
Chard is known by several different names – Swiss chard, silverbeet, perpetual spinach, spinach beet, crab beet, bright lights due to it’s bright colours.
Swiss chard is high in vitamins A, K and C.
Chard is less hardy than perpetual spinach so if you only grow one of them, grow the spinach
Eat young leaves as salad and eat mature leaves steamed as a hot vegetable.
Chard White Silver 2 Seeds from Plant Me Now £1.49
Chard White Silver is a very versatile vegetable with edible stems and leaves. The baby leaves can be used in salads while cooked leaves are like spinach. Excellent source of Vitamin C.
Marigolds are quite the chirpiest plants you can have in your garden. They’re great bright colours – gold, yellow to orange which are just so cheerful to look at.
Jersey Plants Direct have some great options for buying marigolds.
MARIGOLDS: (Calendula):
These are used frequently for companian planting. They are believed to keep
the soil free of bad nematodes; supposed to discourage many bad insects. Plant
freely throughout the garden. The marigolds you choose must be a scented variety
for them to work.
French Marigold (T. patula) has roots that exude a substance which spreads
in their immediate vicinity killing nematodes. For nematode control you want
to plant dense areas of them. The effect has been shown in some studies to last
for several years after the plants died back. They help deter whiteflies when
planted around tomatoes and can be used in greenhouses – grow them in pots so
you can arrange them around the greenhouse. Whiteflies hate the smell of marigolds.
However they may stop your beans doing as well.
Mexican marigold (T. minuta) is the most powerful of the insect repelling
marigolds and may also overwhelm weed roots such as bind weed! It is said to
repel the Mexican bean beetle and wild bunnies! Can have a bad effect on some
plants like beans and cabbage.
Marigold Melody Patchwork 50 Plants + 20 FREE £11.99
All weather tolerant and early floweringAttracts Wildlife: These plants are great for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden. These early order Patchwork Collections are made up of 6 separately sown and labelled colours giving you the opportunity to create your own uniquely designed planting scheme. Limited Availability.Marigolds (or Calendula) have beautiful large full flowers that last well once cut so are great for picking and bringing indoors to brighten up your home. Marigold Melody has traditional bright yellow and orange flowers and good all weather tolerance. Will flower all summer long.
I’ve seen loads of people’s runner beans and some have been at the top of the poles and some covered in flowers. Mine are about half way up!
Claire’s video about planting them is interesting.
Remember to put the canes in first!
Beans like lots of good stuff in the soil – work in as much compost as possible.
I like the way she starts them off with a tie to the stick so they get started. Perhaps that steadies them and helps them get a good start?
I always put two seeds per pot. I don’t think it hurts and then if one does get eaten then it’s not a huge problem.
Thompson & Morgan just added these new products
Runner Bean ‘Desiree’ – 1 packet (50 seeds) £3.69
In recent years we have introduced and developed vegetables that have achieved real steps forward in yield, flavour, space saving, disease tolerance; etc. This bean fits into this category and is outstanding in every way. Almost foolproof, it attains huge crops from a small area. Long, broad, completely stringless, very fleshy 25-30cm (10-12in) pods. Very heavy cropping, often averages 40 pods per plant. As it is a shy seeder there is more juicy fleshy edible area, which accounts for the exceptional flavour. Compared with other runner beans it is much more productive under dry weather conditions. White flowered.
Rolawn voucher code is available offering a 10% discount on all orders at Rolawn
Direct. The code is rolawntv and is valid until 26/4/2011.
Rolawn Lawn Top Dressing (0.73m³ Bulk Bag – 730 litres approx volume when packed) £117.98
Rolawn Lawn Topdressing is a high quality, sand based, multi-purpose lawn dressing, designed for use on Rolawn lawns. It can also be used to improve any utility lawn. It will enhance a lawn’s appearance, stimulate new grass growth, level an uneven lawn, improve drainage and tolerance to wear and tear and reduce thatch. Top dressing can be applied anytime, when the grass is actively growing.
If you’ve got a birthday present for someone who loves being out in the garden then look at this selection of gifts that can help them enjoy the garden more after the hard work is done! A pretty garden can be enjoyed long into the evenings in the summer.
Firebox just added these new products ideal for gardener’s birthday presents! Some nice little treats for making the garden pretty!
Solar Lanterns (6 Pack) £29.99
Add a touch of glimmer-glamour to garden soirees and wave goodbye to candles and cables with these solar-powered lanterns. Featuring concertina-style nylon shades and automatic dusk sensors, Solar Lanterns are like mini Tinkerbells minus the annoying smirk.
