Growing 1 July 2026 13 min read
Grow Potatoes in Buckets and Containers
How to grow potatoes in buckets and containers in the UK. Drainage holes, 30-40L buckets, chitting, earthing up and watering for 1-1.5kg per bucket.
Growing Veg
Practical vegetable growing guides written for British soil, weather, and growing seasons.
Growing 1 July 2026 13 min read
Free Tomato Plants From Sideshoot Cuttings
Take tomato cuttings from pinched-out sideshoots for free plants. Root them in water in 7-10 days, but take them by mid-July in the UK to get fruit.
Pests & Problems 24 June 2026 11 min read
Leek Rust: Spot It, Stop It and Still Eat It
Leek rust streaks UK leeks with orange pustules from midsummer. Spot it early, stop it spreading, pick resistant varieties, and still eat the crop.
Growing 24 June 2026 12 min read
Jar Grown Sprouts: A UK Windowsill Guide
Grow sprouts on a windowsill the jar way: alfalfa, mung and lentil, rinse twice daily, harvest in 3 to 6 days. Tested in a Staffordshire kitchen.
Growing 23 June 2026 9 min read
Stop Onions Bolting: UK Prevention Guide
Stop onions bolting: a Staffordshire grower's prevention plan. Set size, planting timing, bolt-resistant varieties, and what to do the moment one flowers.
Pests & Problems 22 June 2026 12 min read
Pear Midge: Save Your Pear Crop
Pear midge control for UK gardens: spot blackened, distorted fruitlets, break the soil pupation stage and protect your Conference and Williams pears.
Pests & Problems 22 June 2026 12 min read
Pollen Beetle: Harmful or Harmless?
Pollen beetle control made simple: why these tiny black beetles are harmless in UK gardens, plus the dark-room trick to clear cut flowers.
Design 19 June 2026 12 min read
Railway Sleeper Garden Edging Ideas UK
Railway sleeper edging ideas for beds, paths and lawns. Oak vs softwood vs reclaimed, real UK costs, pinning, and a clear creosote safety warning.
Growing 19 June 2026 13 min read
Winter Vegetables to Grow Indoors UK
Which vegetables to grow indoors in winter in the UK. Microgreens, salad leaves and herbs that crop on a windowsill from November to February.
How To 18 June 2026 13 min read
Peat-Free Potting Compost Recipes
Make your own peat-free potting compost. Exact ratio recipes for seed, potting-on and ericaceous mixes, John Innes formulas, and home-blend trial results.
Growing 18 June 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Yacon in the UK
Grow yacon in the UK for 2-4kg of sweet, crunchy tubers per plant. Planting, lifting before frost, curing to boost sweetness, plus crown sources.
Growing 16 June 2026 13 min read
Autumn Sowing Sweet Peas UK for Earlier Flowers
Autumn sowing sweet peas in the UK: sow in October in root trainers, overwinter in a cold frame, and pick scented stems two to three weeks early.
How To 16 June 2026 13 min read
Community Composting: How to Start a Scheme
Community composting in the UK: how to set up a shared scheme on an allotment or estate, choose a system, handle the rules, and make compost together.
Pests & Problems 15 June 2026 12 min read
Pea and Bean Weevil: How to Stop the Damage
Those U-shaped notches on your pea and broad bean leaves are pea and bean weevil. Here is how to protect seedlings and when the damage does not matter.
Pests & Problems 15 June 2026 12 min read
Potato Blackleg: How to Spot and Stop It
Potato blackleg is a bacterial rot that blackens stems and turns tubers to slime. Learn to spot it early, stop it spreading, and prevent it next season.
How To 13 June 2026 12 min read
How to Cut a Flower Bed Into a Lawn
Cut a flower bed into an existing lawn with the fast dig-out method or the no-dig cardboard smother. UK timings, depths, and edging.
How To 11 June 2026 10 min read
Garden Fleece: Grades, Timing and How to Use
Garden fleece explained: 17g and 30g grades, the frost protection each gives, month-by-month timing and securing methods that survive a gale.
Growing 11 June 2026 12 min read
Grow Quinoa in the UK: Sowing to Saponin Rinse
How to grow quinoa in the UK: northern-bred varieties, April sowing, September harvest, threshing, winnowing and the saponin rinse explained.
Growing 11 June 2026 10 min read
Seed Tapes: How to Use Them and Make Your Own
Seed tapes cut carrot thinning from 25 minutes a row to 4. Sowing depths, a 71% germination trial and a DIY loo-roll method costing 30p per 3m.
Growing 10 June 2026 12 min read
Biennial Bearing: Why Fruit Trees Skip a Year
Apple or pear tree cropping heavily one year, barely the next? Biennial bearing is the cause. How to break the cycle with thinning in UK gardens.
Design 10 June 2026 12 min read
Eco-Friendly Garden Design That Works
Practical eco-friendly garden design for UK gardens. Sustainable materials, permeable surfaces, rainwater, peat-free soil and planting for wildlife.
Design 8 June 2026 11 min read
Garden Tips to Sell Your Home Faster
Garden tips to sell your home: kerb appeal, quick clean-up wins, staging the back garden, and where not to overspend. Boost buyer appeal in a weekend.
How To 8 June 2026 12 min read
How to Earth Up Potatoes UK
Earth up potatoes the right way. When to start, how high to mound, and why it stops green tubers. UK timings for earlies, seconds, and maincrop.
Growing 8 June 2026 13 min read
How to Grow Purple Sprouting Broccoli
Grow purple sprouting broccoli for the hungry gap. Sowing in April, 60cm spacing in firm soil, and harvesting purple spears from February to April.
Growing 8 June 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Long Parsnips for Show
Grow long show parsnips with the bore-hole method. Boring, sifted media, sowing and lifting metre-long roots unbroken. UK exhibition parsnip guide.
Growing 8 June 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Pot Leeks for Show
Grow pot leeks for the show bench. Pods and grass propagation, heavy feeding, blanching and judging by volume to the button. North-east UK leek guide.
Growing 8 June 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Trench Celery for Show
Grow trench celery for the show bench. Trench prep, collaring, blanching and staging to win the class. UK exhibition celery guide from seed to bench.
Pests & Problems 6 June 2026 12 min read
Why Do My Apples & Pears Taste Bitter or Off?
Stored apples and pears tasting bitter, mealy or off? Diagnose bitter pit, sleepy pears and bad picking, and store fruit so it keeps and tastes good.
Design 6 June 2026 12 min read
Garden Obelisk Ideas UK: 10 Practical Designs
Ten practical garden obelisk ideas for UK gardens, from sweet pea towers to runner bean wigwams, with the best climbers, materials and training tips.
Pests & Problems 6 June 2026 12 min read
Tomato Diseases in Polytunnels: UK ID Guide
Humid polytunnel air drives tomato diseases like leaf mould and grey mould. Spot each by sight and use the airflow and watering fixes that stop them.
Pests & Problems 6 June 2026 10 min read
Why Have My Onions Bolted? UK Causes & Fixes
Onions bolt when a cold spell is followed by warmth. Learn the UK causes of bolting onions, what to do with a flowered bulb, and how to stop it next year.
Growing 4 June 2026 13 min read
Growing Vegetables in Hanging Baskets
Growing vegetables in hanging baskets: best crops, basket size, watering, feeding and a UK sowing calendar from Lawrie Ashfield in Staffordshire.
Growing 4 June 2026 13 min read
Small Veg Garden Layout: 5 Plans That Fit
Small vegetable garden design for UK plots: 5 bed layout plans, 1.2m bed widths, crop rotation and yields tested on a Staffordshire garden.
Growing 4 June 2026 13 min read
Which Vegetables Need a Trellis?
Which vegetables need a trellis and when to add support: runner beans, peas, cucumbers, cordon tomatoes, squash and melons, with load and timing data.
Growing 3 June 2026 15 min read
Best Companion Flowers for UK Veg Beds
Companion flowers for vegetables: a crop-by-crop matrix of marigolds, nasturtiums, calendula and more, with trialled UK pest reduction figures.
Growing 3 June 2026 14 min read
Growing Dwarf French Beans in the UK
Grow dwarf French beans in the UK with no canes. Sowing temperatures, 15cm spacing, variety trial yields, container growing, and a month-by-month plan.
How To 3 June 2026 16 min read
July Garden Jobs: Peak-Season UK Checklist
July garden jobs for UK plots: water deeply in heat, deadhead, summer-prune lavender and wisteria, feed tomatoes, watch for blight and start harvesting.
Growing 3 June 2026 15 min read
Pro Grower Tips for Better UK Tomatoes
Advanced tips for growing tomatoes in the UK. High-potash feeding, deep planting, de-leafing and pollination methods that lift yield 20 to 40 percent.
Growing 3 June 2026 15 min read
Spinach All Year: UK Succession Sowing
Grow spinach year round in the UK with succession sowing and the right cultivars. True spinach, perpetual spinach and New Zealand spinach for every season.
Pests & Problems 27 May 2026 9 min read
Brown Rot UK: Stone Fruit Control Guide
Brown rot on UK stone fruit: identify Monilinia laxa and fructigena, sanitation, pruning for airflow, copper sprays and the disposal of mummified fruit.
Growing 27 May 2026 16 min read
Drought-Tolerant Vegetables UK: 12 Edibles
12 drought-tolerant vegetables for UK gardens. Includes watering ratios, mulch depths, drip irrigation costs, and 2018 and 2022 heatwave data.
Growing 27 May 2026 14 min read
Edible Garden Weeds UK: 10 Plants You Can Forage
Identify 10 edible weeds you can forage from a UK garden. Includes ID features, look-alikes, harvest months, taste notes, and Wildlife Act rules.
How To 27 May 2026 8 min read
Hoeing Borders UK: When, How Often, Which Hoe
Hoeing borders UK: when to hoe, how often, the best UK hoes, dry-weather rule, and the 5-minute weekly habit that keeps beds clean.
How To 27 May 2026 13 min read
How to Grow Daucus Dara UK
How to grow Daucus carota 'Dara' in UK gardens. Sowing, height, vase life, cut-flower yields, hoverfly companion planting, and self-seeding tips.
Pests & Problems 27 May 2026 11 min read
Three-Cornered Garlic UK: ID and Legal Removal
Three-cornered garlic UK: identify Allium triquetrum, the Schedule 9 listing, why it's not wild garlic, and the bulb-pull method that clears it.
Pests & Problems 26 May 2026 11 min read
Apple and Pear Scab UK: ID and Control
Apple and pear scab UK identification and control: Venturia inaequalis lifecycle, resistant varieties, copper sprays, sanitation and spring timing.
How To 26 May 2026 12 min read
Cardboard and Grass Mulch UK: The No-Dig Layer
Cardboard and grass clipping mulch UK guide: 4-week weed kill, lasagne layer order, ink risk, slug trap fix, allotment-scale costings and timings.
Growing 26 May 2026 11 min read
Show Runner Beans UK: The 12-Inch Pod Class
Show runner beans UK guide: Stenner, Enorma, Liberty varieties, hand-pollination, vertical training, lifting for 12-inch pods and NVS staging.
Pests & Problems 26 May 2026 11 min read
Couch Grass UK: How to Beat the Worst Weed
How to get rid of couch grass UK: rhizome removal method, fork-and-sieve, why glyphosate alone fails, smother sheets, 3-season clearance plan.
How To 26 May 2026 11 min read
Harvesting Potatoes UK: Earlies to Maincrop
When to harvest potatoes UK: first earlies, second earlies, maincrop timings, signs of readiness, lifting technique and how to cure for storage.
How To 26 May 2026 9 min read
Pinch Out Tomato Sideshoots UK: When and How
How to pinch out tomato sideshoots UK: cordon vs bush varieties, identifying sideshoots, the right pinching technique and weekly inspection routine.
How To 26 May 2026 11 min read
Storing Potatoes UK: Hessian, Paper, Clamp
Storing potatoes UK: hessian sacks, paper-lined boxes, traditional clamps. Temperature, humidity, sprouting and rot prevention through to spring.
Growing 26 May 2026 11 min read
Show Stump Carrots UK: Prep, Lift and Stage
Show stump carrots UK guide: best varieties, sand-filled drums, smooth lifting, washing without scuffing, and the NVS staging that wins.
How To 26 May 2026 11 min read
3-Year Crop Rotation Plan UK: Simple Plot Design
3-year crop rotation plan UK: simple 3-bed plot design, what each bed grows, when to lime, when to manure and how to handle potatoes outside the cycle.
Growing 23 May 2026 11 min read
Show-Winning Peas UK: Hurst Greenshaft Method
How to grow show-winning exhibition peas UK: Hurst Greenshaft and Show Perfection varieties, long pod selection, dish presentation, judging criteria.
Pests & Problems 23 May 2026 13 min read
DIY Pesticides UK: 8 Legal Recipes That Work
Homemade pesticides UK guide: which recipes are legal, soap spray, garlic, neem oil, plus the unlicensed pesticide law warning every gardener needs.
How To 23 May 2026 12 min read
Horse vs Cow Manure: The UK Garden Verdict
Horse vs cow manure UK comparison: NPK values, application rates, weed seed risk, rotting time, and which one suits clay, sand and brassicas.
Plants 20 May 2026 14 min read
Best UK Sweet Potato Varieties Compared
Seven UK-trialled sweet potato varieties compared on yield, days to harvest, sweetness, and storage. Five years of Staffordshire polytunnel trial data.
How To 20 May 2026 11 min read
Build a Raised Bed for Under £10 UK
Build a 1m x 2m raised bed for under £10 using scaffold boards or pallet wood. Full UK build, materials list, and 6-year durability test.
How To 20 May 2026 12 min read
Companion Planting Myths: What Works
Companion planting myths debunked. Which pairings work, which fail, and what UK trials actually prove about marigolds, basil, carrots, onions and more.
How To 20 May 2026 16 min read
Drying Onions: Curing, Plaiting and UK Storage
Drying onions in the UK: when to lift, cure outdoors or in a shed, plait soft-necked varieties, plus the best UK keepers and how to stop sprouting.
How To 20 May 2026 15 min read
Hand Pollinate Tomatoes, Squash and Fruit UK
Hand pollination UK guide for tomatoes, squash and fruit trees in 2026. When to do it, the tuning-fork method, dawn timing and yield gains.
Growing 20 May 2026 13 min read
Grow Edamame in the UK: A Greenhouse Crop
How to grow edamame soybeans in UK conditions. Cultivars, sowing dates, inoculant, polytunnel spacing and the yield expected per plant under glass.
Growing 20 May 2026 14 min read
Grow Wasabi UK: Real Wasabi in 18 Months
How to grow real wasabi (Wasabia japonica) in the UK: oka soil and sawa water methods, climate, plug sources, 18-24 month harvest, trial data.
Growing 20 May 2026 14 min read
Long Show Carrots: Grow 1-Metre Roots UK
Grow long carrots for show UK: bore tubes, liner mix, varieties, sowing, lifting, washing. Tested over 9 seasons at Penkridge and Stafford shows.
How To 20 May 2026 14 min read
Pinch Out Cut Flowers: Single vs Branching UK
Which UK cut flowers to pinch and which to leave alone. Heights, leaf pair counts and timing for 14 crops, plus single-stem species that fail.
How To 20 May 2026 11 min read
Polytunnel Planning Permission UK Rules
Do you need planning permission for a polytunnel in the UK? Full rules on permitted development, height, conservation areas, allotments and Article 4.
Plants 20 May 2026 14 min read
Tulips That Return: 12 Perennialising UK Picks
Twelve tulip species and cultivars that return year after year in UK gardens. Planting depth, drainage and a no-lift method that lasts five seasons.
How To 20 May 2026 16 min read
Storing Root Veg UK: Clamps, Sand and Net
Store root crops UK winter: sand boxes, clamps, hessian sacks, net bags. Carrots 24 weeks, potatoes 20, squash 28. Staffordshire allotment data.
How To 20 May 2026 17 min read
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: A No-Sun UK Recipe
Sun-dried tomatoes in the UK without the sun: oven at 70C, dehydrator at 60C, or greenhouse rack method, plus best varieties and safe oil packing.
How To 20 May 2026 14 min read
3-Year Crop Rotation: Simple UK Plot Plan
A simple 3-year crop rotation plan for small UK plots and allotments. Three beds, three groups, tested over 6 years in Staffordshire with sample plot maps.
How To 19 May 2026 11 min read
Drying Beans and Peas: UK Soup Bean Guide
Drying borlotti, cannellini, marrowfat peas and other UK pulses on the vine and indoors. Soup beans, storage life and cooking from a Staffordshire harvest.
How To 19 May 2026 11 min read
Drying Vegetables UK: Soup Mix and Crisps
Drying tomatoes, courgettes, onions, peppers and root veg for soup mixes, crisps and long-term storage. UK dehydrator times and air-drying method.
Growing 19 May 2026 11 min read
Exhibition Onions UK: Grow a 250g Kelsae
Growing prize-winning exhibition onions in UK gardens. Kelsae, Robinson's Mammoth, Showmaster - varieties, sowing dates, feeding and show prep.
Growing 19 May 2026 11 min read
4-Year Crop Rotation: UK Allotment Plan
The classic UK 4-year crop rotation plan. Bed-by-bed planting plan, why each family follows the next, and how to lay it out on a Staffordshire allotment.
Growing 19 May 2026 14 min read
Grow Indian and Eastern Spices in the UK
How to grow Indian and Eastern spices in the UK. Chillies, turmeric, ginger, coriander, fenugreek, curry leaf and more. Tested yields and heat data.
How To 19 May 2026 13 min read
May Sowing: 6 UK Seeds to Start Now
Six high-value vegetable seeds to sow in May in the UK. Direct sow vs module raise, spacing, depth, support, and late-sowing catch-up window.
How To 19 May 2026 9 min read
Reusing Spent Compost: When, How, What For
Spent container compost is too valuable to bin. UK gardener's guide to revitalising old compost, what to grow next year, and when to discard.
Pests & Problems 19 May 2026 14 min read
Tomatoes Splitting on the Vine: UK Fix
Tomatoes splitting UK guide: concentric vs radial cracks, the watering routine that prevents it, susceptible varieties, and what to do with split fruit.
Growing 18 May 2026 12 min read
Show Potatoes UK: Win the Village Hall Cup
Growing prize-winning show potatoes in the UK. Winston, Kestrel, Vales Sovereign and the cultivation tricks judges look for at UK shows.
Growing 16 May 2026 12 min read
20 Vegetables That Thrive in Pots: UK Guide
The definitive UK list of vegetables for container growing - minimum pot size, depth, sun and watering needs for each crop, tested on a Staffs patio.
How To 16 May 2026 10 min read
Chest or Upright Freezer? UK Gardener's Guide
Chest vs upright freezer for UK gardeners. Capacity, running costs, organisation, recovery from power cuts. Tested in a Staffordshire utility room.
Design 16 May 2026 11 min read
Growing Tables UK: Vegtrug-Style Raised Beds
VegTrug, Greena, Forest Garden growing tables compared for UK patio growing. Capacity, build quality, what fits in each. Tested over 2024-2025.
How To 16 May 2026 11 min read
Seed Germination Temperatures UK: Sower's Table
Optimum soil temperatures for germinating 40+ UK garden vegetables, flowers and herbs. The reference table every grower needs by the propagator.
How To 15 May 2026 17 min read
Bocking 14 Comfrey: Propagation Guide
Propagate Bocking 14 comfrey the right way. Root cuttings, crown division and stem-base offsets compared, with take rates from five UK propagation cycles.
How To 15 May 2026 17 min read
Comfrey Liquid Feed Recipe UK
Make comfrey liquid feed at home: 3 recipes, dilution rates by crop, and timing from a UK gardener after 4 seasons of weighed trials.
How To 15 May 2026 11 min read
Day Length and Plant Growth UK: Photoperiod
How day length controls UK vegetable growth - onions, brassicas, lettuce. Long-day vs short-day varieties and when crops bolt or bulb.
How To 15 May 2026 16 min read
Drying Apples and Pears UK: 3 Methods
Drying apples and pears in the UK: air dry, oven and dehydrator methods compared on time, energy and shelf life, with prep, conditioning and storage.
How To 15 May 2026 17 min read
Drying Stone Fruit UK: A Practical Guide
Dry UK plums, damsons, greengages, apricots and peaches at home with tested oven and dehydrator methods, blanch timings, yields and shelf-life data.
How To 15 May 2026 22 min read
Freezing Vegetables UK: Blanching Times
Freeze UK garden vegetables the right way: blanching times for 25+ crops, ice-bath method, freezer storage rules and 12-month shelf life data.
Growing 15 May 2026 22 min read
Growing and Using Comfrey UK: Pillar Guide
The UK gardener's complete guide to growing comfrey: Bocking 14 root cuttings, 4-5 cuts a year, liquid feed, mulch, and 10 proven garden uses.
How To 15 May 2026 17 min read
Storing Onions, Garlic and Shallots UK
Cure and store onions, garlic and shallots the right way: lift timing, curing test, larder temperatures, plaits, nets and 8-month-plus keepers.
Pests & Problems 14 May 2026 14 min read
Black Bean Aphid Identification and Control
Identify and control black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) on UK broad beans and runner beans with cultural, biological and soft-soap methods that actually work.
How To 14 May 2026 17 min read
Rockdust Soil Improvers UK Guide
Rockdust soil improvers compared for UK gardens: SEER Centre, Volcanic Rock Dust and Sea Gold, with rates and 10-year allotment yield data.
How To 14 May 2026 17 min read
How to Share or Rent Out Your Garden UK
Share or rent out your UK garden with AllotMe, Lend & Tend or a private agreement. Setup steps, money rules, sample contract and two-season field notes.
Pests & Problems 14 May 2026 15 min read
Wireworm Identification and Control UK
Wireworm UK guide: identify Agriotes click beetle larvae, prevent crop damage, control with Steinernema nematodes from a Staffordshire grower.
How To 14 May 2026 17 min read
Wood Ash and Soot in the Garden UK
How to use wood ash and soot in the UK garden: potash dose rates, soil pH limits, what wood to avoid, and the Clean Air Act rules on bonfires.
How To 13 May 2026 11 min read
Plant Families for Crop Rotation UK
Plant families explained for UK crop rotation - botanical groupings, family-specific pests and diseases, and which crops belong together.
Design 12 May 2026 12 min read
Choosing an Allotment Shed UK
How to choose an allotment shed in the UK. Materials, size limits, council permission, security and base preparation from years of plot experience.
How To 12 May 2026 12 min read
Fluid Sowing and Pre-Germination UK
Fluid drilling and pre-chitting parsnips, carrots and slow-germinating UK seeds. Step-by-step method with wallpaper paste, paper towel and timing.
Design 12 May 2026 13 min read
Steel and Corten in UK Garden Design
How to use Corten and mild steel in UK gardens. Costs, lifespan, patina timing for edging, raised beds, water features and screens.
How To 11 May 2026 13 min read
Allotment Show Judging: How UK Veg Is Scored
How UK allotment shows judge vegetables: NVS points scoring, condition, uniformity, staging rules, common faults that cost prizes, and how to win.
How To 11 May 2026 12 min read
Kitchen Scraps: 10 UK Veg You Can Regrow
Ten kitchen scraps UK gardeners can regrow on a windowsill or balcony, plus four scrap-regrow myths that do not work and the botany behind why.
Design 11 May 2026 11 min read
An Edible Herb Bed for Your UK Allotment
Plan a productive herb bed on a UK allotment. Layout, perennial herb choice, succession sowing, and a 2x2 metre plot plan that crops year-round.
Growing 11 May 2026 11 min read
Calabrese: Italian Broccoli for UK Plots
Calabrese growing UK. Sowing dates, spacing, head harvest, side spear yield and 6-week harvest window. The Italian broccoli most UK growers underuse.
Growing 11 May 2026 11 min read
Landcress: Winter Salad No Greenhouse
Landcress growing in UK plots. Peppery winter salad, hardy to -10C, sows August to March, harvests October to April outdoors with no protection.
How To 11 May 2026 12 min read
Polytunnel Calendar UK: 12 Monthly Jobs
Month-by-month polytunnel calendar for UK growers. Succession sowing, harvest windows, pest control, and cover maintenance across 12 months.
How To 7 May 2026 12 min read
Allotment Path Construction UK Guide
Allotment path construction in UK plots. Materials ranked by cost, correct widths for wheelbarrows, and the mowing strip detail nobody draws.
How To 7 May 2026 11 min read
Bonfires on Allotments UK Rules
Bonfires on UK allotments. Council rules, when you can burn, smoke nuisance law, and 5 alternatives that handle hedge cuttings without the smoke.
Pests & Problems 7 May 2026 12 min read
Pea Moth UK Prevention Guide
Pea moth UK identification, lifecycle and prevention. Sowing dates, fleece netting and pheromone traps to stop maggots in peas, ranked by effectiveness.
How To 6 May 2026 12 min read
Choosing a Rotavator UK: Petrol vs Electric
Petrol vs electric rotavators for UK allotments. Engine size, weight, depth and price compared with field tests from a 16-year allotment hand.
How To 6 May 2026 11 min read
Half Plots and Plot-Sharing UK Allotments
Half plots and plot-sharing on UK council allotments. Splitting rules, cropping plans, neighbour agreements and the formal sub-letting process explained.
Design 6 May 2026 13 min read
Sustainable Planting Trends for UK Gardens
Sustainable UK garden trends in 2026: drought-tolerant Mediterranean planting, prairie style, peat-free supply, climate-adaptive design and rain gardens.
How To 5 May 2026 13 min read
Allotment Gardening as You Age: UK Adapt Plan
Adapting a UK allotment for older gardeners: raised path widths, no-bend beds, lighter tools, plot splitting and a 5-rod conversion plan.
Growing 5 May 2026 13 min read
Best Vegetables to Grow in Shade UK: 10 Crops
Best vegetables to grow in shade UK gardens. Ten crops that thrive in north-facing plots with under 4 hours of daily sun, with yields and timings.
Pests & Problems 5 May 2026 12 min read
Cutworm UK ID: How to Save Your Seedlings
Cutworm identification and control on UK plots. Lifecycle, the four moth species, six prevention and treatment methods ranked by trial results.
How To 5 May 2026 14 min read
Dig for Victory: 7 Wartime Lessons for UK Plots
Dig for Victory wartime allotment lessons for UK growers today: crop choices, rotation, storage and seven techniques from 1940s plots that still work.
How To 5 May 2026 13 min read
Inherited an Allotment Plot? UK Tenant's Guide
Inherited a vacant allotment plot in the UK? Tenancy transfer rules, ownership of structures, neighbour disputes and a step-by-step first 30 days plan.
Pests & Problems 5 May 2026 12 min read
Onion Root Fly UK: 5 Defences That Work
Onion root fly UK prevention and control. Lifecycle, mesh barriers, planting tricks and five defences ranked from a 4-year Staffordshire trial.
Pests & Problems 30 April 2026 11 min read
Asparagus Beetle UK: Spot, Stop, Save the Crop
Identify UK asparagus beetles, eggs, and larvae. Daily inspection routine, hand-picking, biological control, and why summer fern matters more than spears.
Pests & Problems 30 April 2026 11 min read
Fusarium Wilt on Tomatoes: UK ID and Recovery
Spot Fusarium wilt on UK tomato plants from the asymmetric yellowing. Stem cross-section test, resistant varieties, soil rotation, and recovery timeline.
Growing 30 April 2026 14 min read
Best UK Pear Trees: 12 Varieties Worth Growing
12 UK pear cultivars compared on pollination groups, ripening dates, eating versus cooking, disease resistance and how they cropped on a clay garden plot.
How To 30 April 2026 13 min read
Flooded Allotment: UK Drainage and Recovery
Practical UK guide to draining a flooded allotment plot, building flood-resilient raised beds, and recovering soil and crops after winter floods.
How To 30 April 2026 13 min read
UK Allotments: A History from 1809 to Today
From Enclosure Acts to Dig for Victory and the 2020 plot boom. The full history of the UK allotment movement, the 1908 Act, and what comes next.
Growing 30 April 2026 12 min read
Giant Vegetables UK: How Growers Break Records
How UK growers break world records with 600kg pumpkins, 8kg onions, and 6m carrots. Methods, varieties, and where to see giant vegetables in 2026.
How To 29 April 2026 13 min read
Allotment Security: Stop Theft and Vandalism
Protect your UK allotment from theft and vandalism. Locks, fencing, deterrents, tool marking, insurance, and committee strategies that actually work.
How To 29 April 2026 14 min read
How to Clear an Overgrown Allotment Plot UK
Step-by-step UK guide to clearing brambles, couch grass, bindweed, and mare's tail from an overgrown allotment without exhausting yourself in week one.
Growing 29 April 2026 14 min read
Best UK Onion Varieties: Sets vs Seed Tested
Best UK onion varieties compared from a 4-year trial of 18 cultivars. Sets vs seed yields, keeping quality, taste ratings and bolt resistance.
Design 29 April 2026 13 min read
Bulbs in Perennial Borders: A UK Layering Guide
Plant bulbs in perennial borders for nine months of UK colour. Layering depths, succession order, and how to hide dying bulb foliage in herbaceous beds.
Pests & Problems 29 April 2026 12 min read
Diamondback Moth: 4 UK Brassica Defences
Diamondback moth identification and control on UK brassicas. Larva damage, lifecycle, migration timing, and 4 defences ranked by 3-year trial.
How To 29 April 2026 14 min read
No-Dig Heavy Clay Soil: 5-Year UK Trial
No-dig on heavy clay soil in UK gardens: 5-year Staffordshire trial results, compost depths, drainage fixes, year-by-year structure rebuild.
Pests & Problems 28 April 2026 17 min read
Cabbage Moth UK: Identification and Control
Cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) ID and control for UK growers. Lifecycle, damage signs, BT, netting, traps, and a tested month-by-month plan.
Design 27 April 2026 14 min read
Edimentals: Plants That Look Good and Feed You
Edimentals 2026 UK trend guide. Sea kale, artichokes, ornamental kale, samphire, rainbow chard, edible flowers. Border layouts and 12-plant starter list.
How To 27 April 2026 14 min read
Hazel Pea Sticks: Free DIY Plant Supports
DIY plant supports from hazel and birch. UK cutting season, weaving wigwams and twiggy frames, costed against bought metal supports, plus 5-year longevity.
Pests & Problems 15 April 2026 14 min read
Bean Rust: Orange Spots Ruining Harvests
Bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) causes orange pustules on runner, French, and dwarf beans. UK identification, organic treatments, resistant varieties.
Pests & Problems 15 April 2026 14 min read
Lettuce Downy Mildew: Save Your Salads
Lettuce downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) causes angular yellow patches and white growth underneath. UK prevention, resistant varieties, and growing tips.
Pests & Problems 15 April 2026 14 min read
Tomato Early Blight: Spot and Stop It
Identify and treat tomato early blight (Alternaria solani) in UK gardens. Concentric ring lesions, copper fungicides, resistant varieties, and prevention.
Pests & Problems 14 April 2026 14 min read
Onion Downy Mildew: The Wet Weather Destroyer
Onion downy mildew causes pale leaf patches and collapsed foliage in wet UK summers. Prevention, resistant varieties, and storage advice from growers.
Growing 14 April 2026 15 min read
Show Growing: Win at Your Village Veg Show
How to grow vegetables for showing in the UK. Covers NVS judging criteria, top show crops, bench presentation, timing harvest, and transport tips.
Pests & Problems 13 April 2026 14 min read
Allium White Rot: The 20-Year Soil Problem
Allium white rot UK identification and prevention. Sclerotia persist 20+ years. Covers symptoms, spread, decoy planting, and raised bed workarounds.
Pests & Problems 13 April 2026 14 min read
Onion Diseases UK: Identify and Treat Fast
Six onion diseases UK growers must recognise. White rot, downy mildew, neck rot, rust, smut, and fusarium with prevention and treatment.
How To 13 April 2026 15 min read
Drying Garden Produce: Herbs, Fruit & Veg
Practical UK guide to drying herbs, fruit, and vegetables at home. Air drying, oven drying, and electric dehydrators compared with times and temperatures.
How To 13 April 2026 15 min read
Fan Training Fruit Trees: The UK Wall Guide
Step-by-step guide to fan training peach, cherry, plum, and apricot trees against UK walls. Covers pruning, wire setup, wall aspect, and training steps.
Wildlife 13 April 2026 14 min read
Wildlife-Friendly Allotments: Grow & Help
Turn your allotment into a wildlife haven without losing harvests. Pollinator strips, hedgehog highways, log piles, and no-dig methods that boost yields.
Pests & Problems 13 April 2026 14 min read
Verticillium Wilt: The Silent Plant Killer
Verticillium wilt UK identification and management. Symptoms, affected plants, soil persistence, and resistant alternatives for acers and strawberries.
Pests & Problems 13 April 2026 15 min read
Squash and Courgette Diseases UK: What's Wrong?
Identify and treat 6 common squash and courgette diseases in UK gardens. Covers powdery mildew, mosaic virus, botrytis, blossom end rot, and fruit rot.
How To 13 April 2026 15 min read
Community Gardens UK: How to Start or Join
How to find, join, or start a community garden in the UK. Covers land access, insurance, legal structures, funding sources, and practical setup advice.
Pests & Problems 13 April 2026 14 min read
Flea Beetle: Tiny Holes, Big Damage
Flea beetle identification and control for UK brassicas and salads. Covers species, damage, enviromesh barriers, trap crops, and watering strategies.
Growing 13 April 2026 13 min read
Borlotti Beans: Grow Italian Dried Beans
Grow borlotti beans in UK gardens for fresh shell beans or dried winter stores. Covers varieties, sowing, supports, harvesting, drying, and storage.
Growing 13 April 2026 12 min read
Corn Salad: Winter Salad That Survives Frost
Grow corn salad in UK gardens for fresh winter salad leaves. Covers varieties, sowing times, shade tolerance, self-seeding, and cut-and-come-again harvest.
Growing 13 April 2026 14 min read
Mangetout and Sugar Snaps: Sow to Harvest
Grow mangetout and sugar snap peas in UK gardens. Covers the key differences, best varieties, sowing times, supports, pea moth timing, and picking tips.
How To 9 April 2026 16 min read
Bottling and Canning Your Garden Harvest
UK guide to bottling and canning fruit and vegetables at home. Water bath method, pressure canning, Kilner jars, seal testing, and botulism safety.
Growing 9 April 2026 18 min read
Perennial Veg: Plant Once, Pick for Years
Grow 14 perennial vegetables in UK gardens. Asparagus, rhubarb, sea kale, sorrel and more that crop year after year with less work than annuals.
How To 9 April 2026 18 min read
Grow Soil, Not Just Plants
How regenerative gardening rebuilds soil biology, stores carbon, and grows stronger crops. Practical UK methods from cover crops to mycorrhizal networks.
Pests & Problems 8 April 2026 13 min read
Brassica Downy Mildew: UK Guide
Identify and control brassica downy mildew in UK gardens. Yellow leaf patches, white fuzzy growth, prevention through spacing, and resistant varieties.
Pests & Problems 8 April 2026 14 min read
Cabbage Root Fly: How to Protect Brassicas
Cabbage root fly identification and protection for UK brassicas. Covers lifecycle, enviromesh timing, brassica collars, nematodes, and a monthly calendar.
Pests & Problems 8 April 2026 15 min read
Codling Moth: Protecting Apple Trees
Codling moth identification and control for UK apple and pear trees. Pheromone traps, nematodes, granulovirus spray timing, and corrugated bands.
Growing 8 April 2026 13 min read
How to Grow Salsify and Scorzonera
How to grow salsify and scorzonera in UK gardens. Covers sowing, deep soil prep, harvesting after frost, cooking, and eating the spring chards.
Growing 8 April 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Sorrel in the UK
How to grow sorrel in UK gardens. Covers common and French sorrel, sowing, shade tolerance, harvesting, cooking uses, and managing oxalic acid content.
Pests & Problems 8 April 2026 15 min read
Common Bean Diseases: UK Guide
Identify and treat common bean diseases in UK gardens. Covers chocolate spot, halo blight, rust, white mould, mosaic virus, and prevention tips.
How To 8 April 2026 11 min read
How to Deadhead Flowers
Learn how to deadhead flowers correctly for longer blooming. Covers roses, dahlias, sweet peas, perennials, and plants to leave for seed heads.
How To 8 April 2026 18 min read
How to Get an Allotment in the UK
How to get an allotment in the UK. Covers council applications, waiting lists, costs, what to look for when viewing, and what to grow while you wait.
Growing 8 April 2026 10 min read
How to Grow Cucamelon in the UK
Grow cucamelons (mouse melons) in UK gardens. Covers sowing, support, harvest timing, pickling, tuber storage, and companion planting for this fun crop.
Growing 8 April 2026 13 min read
How to Grow Peach Trees in the UK
Grow peach trees successfully in the UK. Covers fan training, peach leaf curl prevention, hand pollination, UK-hardy varieties, and container growing.
Growing 8 April 2026 10 min read
How to Grow Tomatillo in the UK
Grow tomatillos in UK gardens with this guide to sowing, cross-pollination, greenhouse growing, harvesting when the husk splits, and salsa verde recipes.
Pests & Problems 7 April 2026 11 min read
Greenhouse Whitefly: Identify and Control
Identify and control greenhouse whitefly in the UK. Covers lifecycle, Encarsia formosa biological control, sticky traps, and a monthly action calendar.
Growing 7 April 2026 10 min read
Dwarf Vegetables for Small Spaces
Best dwarf and compact vegetable varieties for UK patio pots, window boxes, and balconies. Named varieties, pot sizes, yields, and sowing dates.
How To 4 April 2026 10 min read
How to Grow Mizuna in the UK
How to grow mizuna in the UK from seed. Covers varieties, sowing times, cut-and-come-again harvest, winter growing, pests, and month-by-month care.
How To 4 April 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Nectarine Trees in the UK
Expert UK guide to growing nectarine trees. Covers best varieties, fan training, peach leaf curl prevention, pruning, and month-by-month care.
How To 4 April 2026 10 min read
How to Grow Tatsoi in the UK
Learn how to grow tatsoi in the UK from seed. Covers sowing times, soil, winter hardiness to -10C, pests, and harvest in as few as 21 days.
How To 4 April 2026 14 min read
How to Store Root Vegetables Over Winter
How to store root vegetables over winter in the UK. Covers sand storage, clamping, shed methods, and which roots keep longest from harvest to spring.
How To 4 April 2026 12 min read
How to Use Up a Garden Glut
What to do with a garden glut. 15 tested ways to use, preserve, and share surplus courgettes, tomatoes, beans, and other UK-grown vegetables.
Pests & Problems 3 April 2026 12 min read
Allium Leaf Miner Control Guide UK
How to identify, prevent, and control allium leaf miner in UK gardens. Covers lifecycle, netting timing, crop rotation, and organic treatments.
Pests & Problems 3 April 2026 12 min read
Cucumber Mosaic Virus Guide UK
Cucumber mosaic virus affects 1,200+ plant species in UK gardens. Identification, treatment, aphid control and prevention from tested field trials.
Growing 3 April 2026 12 min read
Forcing Crops for Earlier Harvests
UK guide to forcing crops for earlier harvests. Covers rhubarb, chicory, seakale, and early potatoes with timing, methods, and field-tested results.
How To 3 April 2026 9 min read
How to Grow Kohlrabi in the UK
UK guide to growing kohlrabi from seed. Covers green and purple varieties, sowing times, spacing, pest control, and harvesting crisp bulbs.
Pests & Problems 3 April 2026 12 min read
How to Use Neem Oil in the Garden
UK guide to using neem oil as an organic pest control spray. Covers dilution rates, application timing, target pests, safety, and when to avoid it.
Pests & Problems 3 April 2026 12 min read
Late Blight on Potatoes and Tomatoes
Late blight destroys potato and tomato crops across the UK each summer. Identify symptoms, prevent outbreaks, and choose resistant varieties.
Pests & Problems 2 April 2026 11 min read
Carrot Root Fly: Prevention and Control UK
Carrot root fly prevention for UK gardens. Two generations yearly, 60cm barriers block 95% of attacks. Resistant varieties and sowing timing tested.
Growing 2 April 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Romanesco in the UK
UK guide to growing romanesco broccoli from seed. Covers sowing, transplanting, feeding, brassica pest control, varieties, and harvesting tips.
How To 2 April 2026 12 min read
Staking and Supporting Garden Plants UK
How to stake and support garden plants in the UK. Six methods compared with costs, timing guide, and plant-by-plant advice from 12 years of trials.
Pests & Problems 1 April 2026 12 min read
Carrot Leaf Blight: UK Control Guide
Identify and treat carrot leaf blight in UK gardens. Covers Alternaria dauci symptoms, resistant varieties, and organic control methods.
Growing 1 April 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Endive in the UK
Learn how to grow endive in the UK. Covers curly frisee and broad-leaved escarole types, blanching for milder flavour, sowing times, and winter harvests.
Growing 1 April 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Marrow in the UK
How to grow marrow in the UK from seed to harvest. Covers sowing, spacing, feeding, giant marrow growing for shows, and storing marrows over winter.
Growing 1 April 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Shallots in the UK
Learn how to grow shallots in the UK from sets or seed. Covers varieties, planting, spacing, harvesting, curing, and storage for British gardens.
How To 31 March 2026 16 min read
Allotment Water Supply Solutions UK
Allotment water supply solutions for UK plots. Rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, water butt sizing, and hosepipe ban rules from tested experience.
Growing 31 March 2026 16 min read
Best Potato Varieties for UK Gardens
Best potato varieties for UK gardens ranked by yield, flavour, and blight resistance. First earlies, second earlies, and maincrops tested over 8 seasons.
Pests & Problems 31 March 2026 14 min read
Cabbage White Butterfly: ID and Control
Identify cabbage white butterflies, eggs, and caterpillars. Organic control methods, netting guides, and companion planting for UK brassica crops.
Plants 31 March 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Amaryllis in the UK
Grow amaryllis in the UK with this expert guide covering planting, outdoor growing, varieties, care calendar, and reblooming tips from 7 years of trials.
Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Sweet Peppers in the UK
UK guide to growing sweet peppers from seed. Covers best varieties, sowing with heat, greenhouse and outdoor growing, feeding, ripening, and harvesting.
Growing 31 March 2026 11 min read
How to Grow Wild Garlic in the UK
Grow wild garlic (ramsons) in UK gardens from bulbs or seed. Planting guide, foraging rules, safe identification, and recipes from 6 years of trials.
Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read
Hungry Gap: What to Grow in Spring
Hungry gap crops to grow in spring for UK gardens. 15 vegetables and salads that produce from March to May, with sowing dates and yields.
Growing 31 March 2026 11 min read
Windowsill Sprouts and Microgreens UK
Grow sprouts and microgreens on a UK windowsill year-round. Covers best varieties, step-by-step method, nutrition facts, and common mistakes.
Growing 31 March 2026 11 min read
How to Grow Garlic Chives in the UK
Grow garlic chives in UK gardens with our guide to sowing seed, dividing clumps, container growing, harvesting leaves and edible flowers.
Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Globe Artichokes UK
Learn how to grow globe artichokes in the UK. Covers best varieties, planting from seed and offsets, soil prep, harvest timing, and overwintering.
Growing 31 March 2026 15 min read
How to Grow Jerusalem Artichokes UK
Practical guide to growing Jerusalem artichokes in UK gardens. Covers varieties, planting tubers, containment, harvesting through winter, and cooking tips.
Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Okra in a UK Greenhouse
Grow okra in a UK greenhouse with this expert guide. Covers varieties, sowing at 20-25C, pollination, pest control, and harvesting pods young.
Growing 31 March 2026 16 min read
How to Grow Pak Choi & Asian Greens UK
UK guide to growing pak choi, mizuna, tatsoi, and Asian greens. Covers sowing, bolt prevention, containers, greenhouse growing, and year-round harvests.
Growing 31 March 2026 13 min read
How to Grow Rocket in the UK
Grow rocket in the UK from seed with this practical guide. Covers salad and wild varieties, sowing, bolt prevention, flea beetle control, and harvesting.
Growing 31 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Swiss Chard in the UK
Swiss chard growing guide for UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing times, cut-and-come-again harvesting, overwintering, containers, and cooking tips.
Pests & Problems 30 March 2026 14 min read
Club Root: Identification and Treatment
Identify and manage club root in brassicas. Causes, symptoms, resistant varieties, and practical UK allotment prevention strategies.
Pests & Problems 30 March 2026 14 min read
Common Tomato Diseases: UK ID Guide
Identify and treat common tomato diseases in UK gardens. Blight, blossom end rot, leaf mould, and 8 more with photos and fixes.
Growing 30 March 2026 14 min read
Growing Wedding Flowers in Your Garden
Grow your own wedding flowers in a UK garden. Covers best varieties, sowing times, conditioning tips, and a month-by-month cutting guide.
Design 30 March 2026 12 min read
How to Create a Gravel Garden UK
Learn how to create a gravel garden in the UK with drought-tolerant plant choices, design tips, and step-by-step guidance from real clay-soil trials.
Growing 30 March 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Horseradish in the UK
How to grow horseradish in UK gardens. Planting thongs, containing spread, harvesting roots, and making fresh horseradish sauce.
Growing 30 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in the UK
Practical guide to growing sweet potatoes in UK gardens. Covers variety choices, starting slips indoors, and harvest timing from trial data.
Growing 30 March 2026 12 min read
Multi-Sowing Vegetables: UK Guide
Guide to multi-sowing vegetables in the UK. Save time and space by sowing clusters of seeds in modules then planting out as clumps.
How To 30 March 2026 12 min read
Allotment Planner: Month-by-Month
Month-by-month allotment planner for UK growers. Sowing, planting, harvesting and maintenance tasks for every month, tested on heavy clay over 7 seasons.
Growing 30 March 2026 12 min read
Best Garlic Varieties to Grow in the UK
Best garlic varieties for UK gardens ranked by yield, flavour, and storage. Hardneck and softneck types compared from 5 seasons of allotment trials.
How To 30 March 2026 12 min read
Biochar for Gardens UK
How to use biochar in UK gardens. Covers charging, application rates, soil benefits, DIY vs commercial sources, and when not to use it.
How To 30 March 2026 12 min read
Condition Cut Flowers for Longer Vase Life
How to condition cut flowers for vase life lasting 10-14 days. Expert UK methods for stem cutting, water prep, and flower food from 4 seasons of testing.
Growing 30 March 2026 15 min read
How to Grow Celery in the UK
Practical guide to growing celery in UK gardens. Covers self-blanching and trench types, sowing, watering, blanching methods, best varieties, and problems.
Growing 30 March 2026 12 min read
How to Grow French Beans in the UK
A practical guide to growing French beans in UK gardens. Covers best varieties, sowing dates, supports, succession planting, and harvesting tips.
Design 30 March 2026 12 min read
School Garden Ideas UK
Practical school garden ideas for UK primary schools. Raised beds, wildlife areas, sensory gardens and seasonal projects tested in Staffordshire.
How To 30 March 2026 12 min read
Soil Drainage and Structure Guide
How to test and improve soil drainage in UK gardens. Covers percolation tests, jar tests, clay and sandy soil fixes, and organic amendments.
Design 27 March 2026 12 min read
Allotment Shed Ideas and Storage
Allotment shed ideas and storage solutions from 30 years on UK plots. Covers size rules, tool racks, seed storage, potting benches, and security.
Growing 27 March 2026 12 min read
How to Grow Chicory and Radicchio UK
UK guide to growing chicory and radicchio. Covers forcing chicons, radicchio varieties, sowing times, winter hardiness to -10C, and harvesting methods.
Design 27 March 2026 16 min read
The Potager Garden: Edibles Meets Design
Plan a potager garden mixing vegetables, herbs and flowers in one beautiful UK plot. Layout tips, plant combos and seasonal plans from 8 years of trials.
Growing 27 March 2026 14 min read
Unusual Crops to Grow in the UK
20 unusual crops that thrive in UK gardens. From oca and yacon to cape gooseberries and shiso, tested growing advice from a Staffordshire grower.
Design 26 March 2026 14 min read
Allotment Layout Ideas and Plans UK
Allotment layout plans for 5-rod to full UK plots. Exact bed dimensions, path widths, crop rotation zones, and shed placement from an experienced grower.
How To 25 March 2026 15 min read
Accessible Gardening for Disabilities
Accessible gardening with disabilities — raised beds at 60-75cm, ergonomic tools, and wide paths. UK guide from a grower with 30 years experience.
How To 25 March 2026 15 min read
Allotment Rules UK: What You Can Do
UK allotment rules explained. What you can and cannot do, council tenancy rules, structures allowed and keeping animals. From an allotment holder.
Growing 25 March 2026 16 min read
Blight-Resistant Tomato Varieties for UK
Best blight-resistant tomato varieties for UK gardens. 11 tested cultivars with resistance ratings, yield data, and growing calendar.
Growing 22 March 2026 18 min read
Best Tomato Varieties to Grow in the UK
Best tomato varieties UK: cherry, beefsteak, heritage, bush and cordon tested. Yield data and outdoor vs greenhouse advice from a Staffordshire grower.
Growing 22 March 2026 15 min read
Growing Vegetables on a Windowsill UK
Growing vegetables on a windowsill in the UK works year-round. 12 crops suit indoor light levels, from herbs and salad leaves to chillies and microgreens.
Pests & Problems 20 March 2026 12 min read
Blossom End Rot: Causes and Prevention
Blossom end rot causes, prevention and treatment for UK tomatoes, peppers and courgettes. Watering schedules, calcium science, and variety data.
Growing 16 March 2026 15 min read
Grow Winter Salad Leaves in the UK
Grow fresh salad leaves all winter with a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Frost-hardy varieties, sowing schedules, and harvesting tips for UK gardens.
Growing 13 March 2026 13 min read
How to Grow Sprouts and Shoots at Home
Grow sprouts and shoots at home year-round. Mung beans ready in 3 days, pea shoots in 10. Tested methods, nutrition facts and troubleshooting.
Plants 10 March 2026 16 min read
Best Climbing Roses for UK Gardens
Best climbing roses for UK gardens chosen after 12 years of trials. Varieties for north walls, scent, repeat flowering, and disease resistance rated.
Growing 8 March 2026 15 min read
How to Grow Carrots in the UK
Practical guide to growing carrots in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing times, soil prep, carrot fly prevention, containers, and storing your harvest.
Growing 8 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Cucumbers in the UK
Practical guide to growing cucumbers in the UK. Covers indoor and outdoor varieties, sowing times, training, feeding, watering, and common problems.
Growing 7 March 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Potatoes in the UK
Practical guide to growing potatoes in British gardens. Covers seed selection, chitting, planting times, earthing up, harvesting, and storage.
How To 6 March 2026 14 min read
Bulb Lasagne Planting for Year-Round Colour
Bulb lasagne planting layers different bulbs at staggered depths for months of colour. UK tested method with exact depths, costs, and variety picks.
Design 6 March 2026 13 min read
Front Garden Ideas UK
Improve your UK front garden with practical ideas for kerb appeal. Covers planting, paving, paths, boundaries, bins, and low-maintenance designs.
How To 5 March 2026 18 min read
Carbon-Friendly Gardening: Cut Your Footprint
Carbon-friendly gardening cuts your footprint via composting, no-dig beds, rainwater harvesting, and native planting. UK data, costs, and real results.
Growing 4 March 2026 14 min read
Cloches and Low Tunnels: UK Guide
How to use cloches and low tunnels to extend your UK growing season by 6-8 weeks. Materials, sizing, crops and month-by-month planting from field trials.
Growing 3 March 2026 14 min read
Easy Recipes with Home-Grown Vegetables
Simple seasonal recipes using UK-grown vegetables. Courgette fritters, runner bean chutney, beetroot soup and tomato sauce from your garden.
Growing 3 March 2026 16 min read
How to Grow Brussels Sprouts in the UK
Practical guide to growing Brussels sprouts in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing, firm planting, staking, pest control, and frost harvesting.
Growing 1 March 2026 15 min read
Easy Vegetables for Kids to Grow UK
Best easy vegetables for kids to grow in UK gardens. Covers 12 crops ranked by speed, fun factor, sowing times, and common mistakes parents make.
Growing 1 March 2026 14 min read
Growing Tomatoes in the UK: A Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to grow tomatoes in a British garden. Covers sowing times, variety selection, feeding, watering, and common problems for UK conditions.
Growing 27 February 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Onions in the UK
Practical guide to growing onions in UK gardens. Covers sets vs seed, varieties, planting times, spacing, feeding, harvesting, curing, and storage.
Growing 27 February 2026 11 min read
When to Plant Tomatoes UK: 2026 Date Guide
Exact UK tomato planting dates for 2026: sow indoors late Feb-mid March, greenhouse from late April, outdoors 15-25 May south. Region-by-region timing.
Growing 26 February 2026 12 min read
When to Plant Sweet Peas in the UK
Complete UK sweet pea planting guide covering autumn and spring sowing, best varieties for scent and colour, and month-by-month growing calendar.
Growing 22 February 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Microgreens UK: Beginners
Grow microgreens at home in the UK. Best varieties, growing method, harvesting times and nutrition data from 4 years of indoor growing trials.
Growing 20 February 2026 15 min read
Crop Rotation Planner for UK Gardens
Plan crop rotation for your UK vegetable garden or allotment. Covers four-bed and three-bed systems, plant families, green manures, and record keeping.
Growing 20 February 2026 12 min read
What to Plant in June in the UK
Everything to sow and plant in June across UK gardens. Covers successional vegetables, winter brassicas, flowers, herbs, and late-season crops.
Design 16 February 2026 18 min read
Kitchen Garden Design and Layout UK
Plan your kitchen garden with expert UK layout advice. Sizes from 3x3m to 10x6m, four-bed rotation, paths, and what to grow first. Tested in clay soil.
Growing 14 February 2026 14 min read
How to Freeze Garden Produce
Complete UK guide to freezing garden fruit and vegetables. Blanching times, open-tray method, syrup packs, storage times, and defrosting safely.
How To 14 February 2026 14 min read
How to Prevent Weeds Without Chemicals
Prevent weeds without chemicals using mulch, no-dig, ground cover, and hoeing. Tested UK methods with costs, timing, and suppression rates.
Growing 13 February 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Peas in the UK
Practical guide to growing peas in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing times, supporting plants, pea moth prevention, harvesting, and saving seed.
Design 13 February 2026 15 min read
Raised Bed Garden Design Ideas UK
Raised bed design ideas for UK gardens with sizing, materials, layout plans and planting schemes. Tested builds in clay soil over 9 years.
Growing 12 February 2026 13 min read
What to Plant in August in the UK
Everything to sow, plant, and harvest in August across UK gardens. Covers late vegetables, spring bulbs, fruit tasks, lawn prep, and peak harvest crops.
Growing 10 February 2026 14 min read
Square Foot Gardening UK Guide
Learn square foot gardening for UK gardens with Mel's Mix adapted for British soil and climate. Covers grid spacing, costs, yields, and planting plans.
Growing 5 February 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Pumpkins and Squash in the UK
Practical guide to growing pumpkins and squash in UK gardens. Covers sowing, planting out, pollination, feeding, curing, and winter storage.
Growing 4 February 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Lettuce and Salad Leaves in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing lettuce and salad leaves. Covers varieties, sowing, cut-and-come-again, succession planting, slug control, and winter crops.
Growing 1 February 2026 15 min read
How to Grow Spinach in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing spinach. Covers true spinach, perpetual spinach, varieties, succession sowing, bolting prevention, and container growing.
How To 1 February 2026 16 min read
UK Soil Types: Identify Yours in Minutes
UK soil types explained with hand tests, pH ranges, and regional maps. Identify clay, sand, silt, loam, chalk, and peat in your garden.
Growing 30 January 2026 18 min read
Green Manures: UK Cover Crops Guide
How to use green manures and cover crops in UK gardens. Sowing times, nitrogen fixation rates, and which species suit your soil type and season.
Growing 30 January 2026 16 min read
How to Start an Allotment in the UK
How to get an allotment in the UK, from council waiting lists to first-year planting. Covers plot sizes, costs, tools, layout, and what to grow first.
How To 28 January 2026 18 min read
How to Prune Fruit Trees UK
UK guide to pruning fruit trees by type and season. Covers apple, pear, plum, cherry, and fig with timing, tools, and techniques from 10 years' experience.
How To 27 January 2026 15 min read
How to Start a Vegetable Garden in the UK
Beginner's guide to starting a vegetable garden in the UK. Covers soil prep, easy first crops, raised beds, tools, and seasonal planting tips.
Growing 26 January 2026 16 min read
How to Grow Celeriac in the UK
Practical guide to growing celeriac in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing indoors, transplanting, watering, side shoot removal, and winter storage.
Growing 25 January 2026 10 min read
Do You Need a Greenhouse?
Find out whether a greenhouse is worth it for your garden. Covers what grows better under glass, season extension, and cheaper alternatives for UK growers.
Pests & Problems 25 January 2026 16 min read
Rust Disease in Plants: UK Treatment
Rust disease identification and treatment for UK gardens. Covers 8 host plants, fungal lifecycle, cultural controls, and proven fungicide options.
How To 21 January 2026 15 min read
How to Make Comfrey and Nettle Feed
How to make comfrey and nettle feed at home. NPK ratios, fermentation stages, dilution rates, and a month-by-month UK harvest calendar.
Growing 15 January 2026 15 min read
How to Grow Chilli Peppers in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing chilli peppers from seed. Covers varieties by heat level, sowing with heat mats, feeding, ripening, and overwintering.
Growing 14 January 2026 15 min read
Grow Your Own Vegetables: UK Guide
Beginner guide to growing your own vegetables in the UK. Covers what to grow first, when to plant, soil prep, raised beds, and a month-by-month calendar.
Growing 13 January 2026 14 min read
How to Grow Rhubarb in the UK
Complete guide to growing rhubarb in UK gardens. Covers varieties, planting crowns, forcing for early stems, harvesting, dividing, and common mistakes.
Growing 13 January 2026 16 min read
How to Grow Turnips and Swede in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing turnips and swede. Covers varieties, sowing times, soil preparation, pest prevention, harvesting, and storing root crops.
Pests & Problems 13 January 2026 18 min read
Vegetable Pests and Diseases UK Guide
Vegetable pests and diseases UK visual guide covering 10 common pests and 8 diseases with organic treatments, lifecycle science, and a monthly calendar.
Plants 12 January 2026 11 min read
How to Grow Asparagus Fern Indoors
Asparagus fern care guide for UK homes covering light, humidity, watering, and toxicity warnings. With species comparison and monthly calendar.
Design 11 January 2026 12 min read
How to Create a Herb Garden in the UK
Plan and build a herb garden that suits your space and budget. Covers raised beds, containers, formal designs, and the best herbs for every UK position.
Growing 10 January 2026 13 min read
What to Plant in July in the UK
Everything to sow and plant in July in UK gardens. Covers succession vegetables, autumn prep, biennial flowers, fruit care, and summer jobs.
Growing 9 January 2026 10 min read
Best Greenhouse Tomato Varieties UK
The best tomato varieties for UK greenhouses. Covers cherry, beefsteak, and plum types with yield data, growing tips, and feeding advice.
Plants 8 January 2026 14 min read
How to Grow a Peace Lily in the UK
How to grow a peace lily in the UK. Covers light, watering, humidity, and troubleshooting for Spathiphyllum in British homes with hard water.
Growing 7 January 2026 12 min read
When to Plant Potatoes in the UK
When to plant potatoes across every UK region. Covers chitting dates, first earlies, second earlies, maincrops, and container timelines.
Growing 4 January 2026 14 min read
How to Preserve Fruit and Vegetables
UK guide to preserving fruit and vegetables at home. Covers bottling, dehydrating, salting, oil preserving, vacuum packing, and safety rules.
Growing 3 January 2026 14 min read
What to Plant in September in the UK
Everything to sow, plant, and harvest in September across UK gardens. Covers spring bulbs, overwintering vegetables, lawn renovation, and autumn fruit.
Growing 1 January 2026 13 min read
Container Vegetable Gardening UK
How to grow vegetables in pots and containers in the UK. Covers best crops, pot sizes, compost, watering, feeding, and balcony and patio growing.
Growing 1 January 2026 14 min read
Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners
How to build and plant a raised bed garden in the UK. Covers materials, sizes, soil mix, what to grow, crop rotation, and year-round maintenance.
Growing 31 December 2025 13 min read
Garden to Table: Growing Food at Home
Grow food at home in the UK from garden to table. Covers easy crops, small-space growing, seasonal planning, cooking what you harvest, and saving money.
Growing 28 December 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Broad Beans in the UK
Practical guide to growing broad beans in UK gardens. Covers autumn and spring sowing, varieties, pinching out tips, blackfly control, and harvesting.
Growing 27 December 2025 14 min read
What to Plant in October in the UK
Everything to plant and sow in October across UK gardens. Covers garlic, tulips, bare-root trees, lawn care, and essential autumn jobs.
Growing 24 December 2025 15 min read
Succession Planting Guide for the UK
Plan succession sowing for a continuous harvest from March to October. Covers best crops, sowing intervals, and month-by-month UK schedules.
Growing 21 December 2025 13 min read
What to Plant in April in the UK
Everything to sow and plant in April across UK gardens. Covers vegetables, flowers, herbs, and fruit for indoor and outdoor growing.
Growing 20 December 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Runner Beans in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing runner beans. Covers best varieties, sowing indoors and out, building bean frames, watering for pod set, and harvesting tips.
Growing 18 December 2025 14 min read
When to Plant Broad Beans in the UK
Discover exactly when to plant broad beans across the UK. Covers autumn and spring sowing, best varieties, spacing, and regional timing advice.
Growing 12 December 2025 14 min read
Allotment for Beginners
Practical beginner's guide to allotment gardening in the UK. Crop rotation, soil improvement, best crops for yield, and how to get the most from your plot.
How To 11 December 2025 16 min read
No-Dig Gardening: The UK Guide
Learn how to start a no-dig garden in the UK. Covers the Charles Dowding method, cardboard layering, compost types, best crops, and year-by-year results.
Growing 9 December 2025 14 min read
Companion Planting Guide UK
Companion planting guide for UK gardens. Covers the best plant pairings, what to avoid, pest control combos, and a planting chart for vegetables.
Growing 9 December 2025 18 min read
How to Grow Fruit Trees in the UK
UK guide to growing fruit trees from apple and pear to plum, cherry, and fig. Rootstock choices, pruning, and the best varieties for British gardens.
Growing 8 December 2025 14 min read
Best Vegetables to Grow at Home UK
The most productive vegetables to grow at home in the UK. Covers yield per square metre, beginner crops, containers, and a seasonal sowing plan.
Growing 7 December 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Radishes in the UK
Practical guide to growing radishes in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing times, succession planting, intercropping, containers, and winter types.
Growing 3 December 2025 13 min read
What to Plant in May in the UK
What to sow and plant in May across UK gardens. Vegetables, flowers, herbs, and fruit for greenhouse and outdoor beds, with regional timing.
Growing 30 November 2025 14 min read
How to Store Apples and Pears at Home
UK guide to storing apples and pears long-term. Covers picking, wrapping, storage conditions, variety shelf life, rot prevention and ripening pears.
Growing 29 November 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Courgettes in the UK
Complete guide to growing courgettes in the UK. Covers varieties, sowing, planting out, spacing, feeding, pollination, harvesting, and powdery mildew.
Growing 29 November 2025 15 min read
What to Harvest This Month UK
Month-by-month UK harvest calendar covering vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Know exactly when to pick each crop for the best flavour and yield.
How To 28 November 2025 18 min read
How to Graft Fruit Trees UK
Learn how to graft fruit trees at home in the UK. Covers rootstock selection, whip and tongue, cleft graft, budding, scion wood, and aftercare.
Growing 28 November 2025 16 min read
How to Grow Parsnips in the UK
Practical guide to growing parsnips in UK gardens. Covers varieties, seed viability, sowing times, soil prep, canker prevention, and frost harvesting.
Plants 24 November 2025 13 min read
How to Grow Sweet Peas from Seed
Step-by-step guide to growing sweet peas from seed in the UK. Covers autumn and spring sowing, pinching out, support, and regular picking.
Growing 22 November 2025 12 min read
Best Greenhouse Plants Month by Month
Month-by-month greenhouse planting guide for UK gardeners. Covers what to sow, grow, and harvest in every month from January to December.
Growing 22 November 2025 14 min read
Chutney Recipes from the Garden
Six UK garden chutney recipes with exact measurements. Green tomato, apple, runner bean, courgette, plum, and beetroot chutneys from home-grown produce.
Growing 19 November 2025 14 min read
UK Vegetable Planting Calendar
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for UK gardens. Sow, plant out, and harvest times for 26 common vegetables with regional adjustments.
Growing 18 November 2025 13 min read
How to Grow Spring Onions in the UK
Complete guide to growing spring onions in UK gardens. Covers varieties, succession sowing, overwintering, containers, intercropping, and harvesting.
Growing 15 November 2025 17 min read
Growing in Grow Bags UK
Complete guide to growing vegetables in grow bags in the UK. Covers setup, best crops, watering, feeding, ring culture and grow bags vs raised beds.
Plants 12 November 2025 12 min read
How to Grow Alliums in the UK
Plant ornamental alliums October-November in full sun, 3x bulb depth. Hardy to -15°C, flowers May-July, seedheads last all winter. Expert UK growing guide.
Growing 9 November 2025 15 min read
How to Grow Asparagus in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing asparagus. Covers best varieties, planting crowns, harvest timing, beetle control, and beds that crop for 20 years.
Growing 9 November 2025 15 min read
How to Grow Leeks in the UK
Practical guide to growing leeks in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing in modules, the dibber transplant method, earthing up, pests, and harvesting.
Growing 7 November 2025 12 min read
What to Plant in January in the UK
What to sow indoors, plant outdoors, and plan in January across UK gardens. Covers vegetables, flowers, bare-root trees, and essential winter jobs.
Growing 7 November 2025 14 min read
When to Plant Garlic in the UK
Learn exactly when to plant garlic across the UK. Covers autumn and spring timing, softneck and hardneck varieties, and regional planting windows.
Growing 6 November 2025 15 min read
How to Grow Garlic in the UK
A practical guide to growing garlic in British gardens. Covers softneck and hardneck types, autumn and spring planting, harvesting, curing, and storing.
Growing 5 November 2025 14 min read
Pickling and Fermenting Garden Produce
UK guide to pickling and fermenting home-grown vegetables. Covers vinegar pickling, lacto-fermentation, salt ratios, equipment, and storage times.
How To 4 November 2025 15 min read
Seed Saving for Beginners UK
A practical seed saving guide for UK gardens. Covers easy crops, wet and dry extraction methods, storage, viability testing, and legal basics.
Growing 4 November 2025 12 min read
What to Plant in February in the UK
What to sow, plant, and prune in February across UK gardens. Covers indoor sowings, outdoor crops, potato chitting, bare-root planting, and pruning tasks.
Growing 3 November 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Sweetcorn in the UK
UK guide to growing sweetcorn. Covers varieties, block planting for pollination, sowing indoors, spacing, the shake test, and peak-sweetness harvesting.
Pests & Problems 28 October 2025 14 min read
Powdery Mildew Treatment for Plants
How to identify and treat powdery mildew on UK garden plants. Covers roses, courgettes, apples, peas, and cucumbers with organic and chemical options.
Growing 25 October 2025 13 min read
What to Plant in March in the UK
What to sow and plant in March across UK gardens. Vegetables, flowers, herbs, and fruit for greenhouse and outdoor beds.
Growing 20 October 2025 12 min read
Greenhouse Growing Calendar UK
Month-by-month greenhouse growing calendar for UK gardeners. What to sow, grow, and harvest under glass every month from January to December.
How To 18 October 2025 12 min read
Peat-Free Compost Guide UK
Complete guide to peat-free compost for UK gardeners. Covers types, best brands, mixing your own, and how to get the same results without peat.
Growing 17 October 2025 15 min read
How to Grow Pear Trees in the UK
Complete guide to growing pear trees in UK gardens. Covers rootstocks, varieties, planting, pruning, pollination groups, and harvesting tips.
Growing 16 October 2025 16 min read
How to Train Fruit Trees: Espalier
Learn how to train fruit trees using espalier, fan, cordon, and step-over forms. UK pruning guide with rootstock advice, wire setup, and seasonal calendar.
Growing 15 October 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Beetroot in the UK: A Complete Guide
Practical guide to growing beetroot in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing, spacing, succession planting, harvesting, storing, and eating the leaves.
Pests & Problems 15 October 2025 14 min read
Tomato Blight: Prevention and Treatment
UK guide to preventing and treating tomato blight. Covers late and early blight, resistant varieties, fungicide timing, and greenhouse vs outdoor growing.
Growing 12 October 2025 15 min read
How to Grow Kale in the UK
Practical guide to growing kale in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing times, transplanting, pest netting, cut-and-come-again harvesting, and winter use.
Growing 11 October 2025 16 min read
How to Grow Cauliflower in the UK
Complete guide to growing cauliflower in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing times, soil prep, blanching curds, clubroot prevention, and harvesting.
Growing 9 October 2025 14 min read
How to Grow Aubergines in the UK
Complete UK guide to growing aubergines from seed. Covers varieties, sowing with heat, greenhouse and container growing, feeding, and harvesting.
Growing 9 October 2025 16 min read
How to Grow Broccoli and Calabrese in the UK
Practical guide to growing broccoli and calabrese in UK gardens. Covers varieties, sowing, transplanting, netting, clubroot, and side shoots.
Growing 6 October 2025 15 min read
Seed Sowing Calendar UK
Month-by-month seed sowing calendar for UK gardens. Covers vegetables, flowers, and herbs with indoor and outdoor timings for every month.