Watering Your Garden Is Still Headline News ...

I can’t remember when gardening has been in the news for so long. I’ve been abroad for two weeks, yet headlines are still appearing about how we’ll cope with hosepipe bans in place! This is especially ironic when I’ve just followed a massive water leak along the road in a local village ... the amount of water simply running down the road I’m sure would have kept my garden in water for the weekend!

Anyway, if you can get past your anger at water companies letting water simply drain away, the HTA is offering some straight forward advice to help you ‘water wisely’ ...

I’ll not send you to their website as when you try to get hold of the information it’s a bit of a mind field of IT popup boxes, but here’s a brief summary:

Water Less Often
Reduce the number of times you’ll need to water by using the following:

Water-retaining gel ... this may look strange when it’s in your compost but it’s really useful (I always use it in my hanging baskets to keep the compost damp)

Manual watering systems ... I’m guessing here they mean systems that you have to fill up, so control the amount of water you give your plants so water isn’t being supplied constantly

Soil reservoirs

Break the crust ... I’ve read that if you dampen the top of the soil first, then come back after about half an hour and then water it soaks in better

Add organic matter

Mulch ... helps stop the soil drying out

Let the grass grow longer ... and don’t cut it as short

Provide shelter for your plants ... so they’re not in full sun (OK, one has to say not everything can be in the shade can it?)

Bigger pots ... so more compost, so it doesn’t dry out as quickly

There’s lots more advice out there so I’m sure our gardens won’t turn in to barren deserts if we’re careful and spend a little more time planning our watering ...

The Apprentice Shows Off The Nucan ...

Finally, ‘The Apprentice’ on BBC2 is worthwhile (I say this as it makes me cringe to watch it so I hardly ever do ... watching people embarrass themselves is about as scary as the Cybermen from Dr Who) ...

Being on my hols at the time I haven’t actually seen the episode but I’m reliably informed that they featured the Nucan petrol canister … related (of course) to the Nucan Watering Can with its’ unique push-button control system ... which ensures there are no spills as you water.

Although you won’t believe it ... and you can’t tell from the picture, but this can actually does deliver. Unlike most watering cans, where you can loose half the contents as you carry it down the garden, a simply little ‘button’ in the handle stops water leaking from the spout ... so simple it’s almost unbelievable no one invented it earlier!

Newly Trimmed ...

Thanks guys ... what a lovely surprise to come back to my front lawn trimmed to perfection ... maybe I should holiday more often?? (answers on a postcard please...)

Flying Back Towards The Weeds ...

There is one thing you can guarantee when you go away on holiday ... basically the weeds in your garden never do!

As I head back towards Manchester airport I know that I’m simply getting closer to the jungle of a garden which has been left un supervised for two weeks ... where’s the machete when you need it?

P.S. Swiss advertising let me down ... but the Swiss Chocolate mountain made up for it (especially as most of it is packed in my suitcase!)

Serious Gardeners Are Swiss?

We sometimes think that the English invented gardening ... we think back to our parents or grandparents gardens and remember typical English gardens ... roses ... perfectly green lawns ... vegetable plots …

But wherever you go in the world, you’ll always find dedicated gardeners ... each with their own distinctive style ...

In Switzerland gardens seem to be crammed full of plants ...

I don’t think I’ve every seen a ‘minimalist’ garden, where gravel often predominates over greenery. Rather, most seem to be typical ‘country’ gardens that appear to have simply appeared over time but have really been cultivated by dedicated gardens, cleverly selecting plants, shrubs and trees to provide year round interest.

At this time of year gardens sport splashes of bright yellow daffodils and vibrant red tulips contrasting well with pastel patches of primroses. Brilliant white magnolia blooms provide perfect backdrops to all the evergreens that give structure to the gardens all year round.

Most Swiss gardeners also seems to be thinking of their taste buds as they plan their gardens ... in many gardens you’ll find a corner dedicated to raising fresh, tasty vegetables ... it makes me look forward to returning to my garden, even with the weeds that await me ...

P.S. Still no sign of the gorgeous Swiss guys I was promised ...

A Virtue Or Vice?

I have two passions in life ...

Gardening
Of course, this is a passion otherwise I wouldn’t spend my working life selling gardening equipment and then the weekend in the garden! Now, enjoying working in the garden could be classed as a virtue, I think? It keeps me healthy (or relatively so) and I feel good as I pull out all the weeds ... I’m one with nature ... hom ...

So now I think I can counter this virtue with a vice ...

Chocolate
I admit it, I’m a chocoholic. I don’t think I can go a day without indulging in at least one piece of chocolate ... so should I be going to chocoholics anonymous I wonder?? No ... I don’t think so ... I certainly need that rush of sugar at least once a day just to keep me sane…

So, all I need now is a way of combining both ... does anyone know if Willy Wonka needs a new worker in his factory? I could mow the sugar lawn or trim the chocolate trees ... mmm

It’s A Long Way To Go For A Good Garden Centre ...

A few weeks ago I was bemoaning the fact that the garden centres near my home were becoming more like shopping centres ... cards ... toys ... pet food ... café’s were leaving very little room for plants ...

In Switzerland it’s like a gardener’s paradise. Garden centres which actually sell plants! It’s almost unbelievable ... what a shame I can’t stuff my suitcase full of all the plant’s I’ve been unable to find locally.

Could I suggest that some of the UK garden centre owners look abroad for inspiration ... I’d be happy to do a bit of market research ... just tell me where to go (but please be polite).

I’m Running Away To Join The Circus ...

I’ve spent the afternoon at the circus ... acrobats, performing horses, elephants that can sit on command and lamas that can race at the speed of light ...

Now, I’ve seen tubs of specialist ‘organic’ fertiliser from the Zoo or ‘Zoo Poo’. An expensive way of helping my plants to grow and I’m not convinced it works any better than good, old fashioned horse manure. Does anyone know?

But I’ve never seen ‘Circus Poo’ ... I think I’ve spotted a gap in the market ...
I’m sure the circus would be glad to hand it over for free ... my potatoes might grow enormous with some ‘organic’ fertiliser from an elephant ... what do you think?

Away From It All ...

Yes, you’ll be pleased to know I’m off on my hols ... goodbye work … goodbye garden ... goodbye weeds ...

And I’ve picked the best place to go for a single woman ... the place being advertised as being full of hunky, gorgeous men ... Switzerland!

Yes, hard to believe isn’t it? Switzerland brings to mind Heidi ... cheese ... chocolate ... but certainly not, I think, gorgeous young men? But, I am assured by recent Swiss advertising, that this is what I’ll find ...

I’ll report back later (but don’t hold your breath!) ...

Be Prepared ... place your order now

As every gardener knows, it’s best to be prepared. We plan our sowing, buying our seeds months in advance, we dig fertilisers into our soil to prepare the ground; we install automatic openers on our windows so our plants don’t fry in the heat of the summer ...

As news of the hosepipe bans continue, it seems like every gardener is preparing now so their plants don’t have to suffer in the summer months ... and that means getting a water butt or two into the garden.

With sales soaring, manufacturers are telling us they are working flat out to keep up with the massive increase in demand. Delivery lead times have had to be extended – with orders taking 2-3 weeks to arrive from manufacturers.

So, my advice is, get your order in now and be patient ... Even if you have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery, you’ll still have time to get it fitted and collecting rainwater before you’ll need to use the water in your garden.

The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit Is Real!

So, what’s next … King Kong sat on top of the houses of parliament (actually, not a bad idea) ...

It’s hard to believe the story that’s making headlines at the moment ... at least news didn’t break on 1st April! I’ve pulled together a few of the facts as they’ve been reported ... and I’ll let you make your own mind up.

Fact One – it can be found
In Felton, near Morpeth ... or vegetable growers wish it could be found but it’s proving illusive.

Fact Two – it can be identified by
Oversized paws ... grower Geoff Smith says "It is absolutely massive. I have seen its prints and they are huge, bigger than a deer. It is a brute of a thing."
One ear larger than the other
A cross between a rabbit and a hare

Fact Three – its’ favoured diet includes
Cabbages, carrots, turnips ... basically anything it can take a huge bite out of!

So, what do you think ...

Get your copy now ...

We’ll after I’ve got mine anyway! Get your hands on a copy of Garden News this week and you’ll get two packets of seeds FREE.

Solid Gold In the Garden
For those of you who like to fill your garden with colour there’s a pack of Tagetes ‘Instant Gold’. Tagetes are so...o.o easy to grow that you’re virtually guaranteed success – but you’ll need to sow them as soon as you get your hands on the seeds ‘cause they should be planted by the end of April at the latest. When they’re ready to plant out into your garden, my advice is to plant them in large groups – the flowers on them are fairly small so I think they look best in groups to provide solid patches of colour ...

One For The Taste Buds
And if flowers aren’t your thing, Garden News are also giving away Aubergine seeds. I’ve got to admit that I’ve never grown aubergines, so now I’ve got free seeds I’ll certainly have a go. Now, I assume Garden News know what they’re doing – the seed packet says sow between January-March but I’m hoping sowing them in April shouldn’t be a problem. I’m planning to grow them in a grow bag – just like I grow my tomatoes, using grow pots to give them extra compost and making it easier for me to water them.
But if you’ve grown aubergines before and can offer me any advice please do ...

I Have A Cunning Plan ...
The hosepipe ban is still big news, so I’ve come up with a few suggestions as to how we could alleviate the lack of water in the south of England and at the same time reduce the amount of water we have here in the north ...

Plan A - Sponsored Siphoning
As I drive into work I go over the river Ouse – which at the moment is hard to distinguish amongst the flooded fields on either side of it. So my suggestion is we get a massive length of hosepipe and run it from the flood water by the side of the Ouse down to the south of England. Then I just need a volunteer to start the siphoning process off ... I suggest someone with very strong lungs ...

Plan B - Bucket Brigade
Now, slightly more complicated and requires a huge mountain of buckets, a lot of volunteer bucket passes and a good sprinter who could run from the south up to the north with the empty buckets …
I’m not as struck on this plan, ‘cause we only need a Henry in the line with a hole in his bucket and the water will get wasted in the Midlands!

Plan C
I’m working on it at the moment ... could involve rolling a huge snowball down from Scotland and letting it melt over the south east ...

So, if you’ve got a better plan please send me the details ...

Just returned from a very unsuccessful trip to one of my local garden centres. You may ask, why unsuccessful? Hadn’t they got the seeds I needed or the plant I wanted to buy? Well, I’d not planned my trip around either of these purchases ... my sole purpose in this venture out was to purchase a christening present.

And hence my question, Garden Centre or Gift Shop?

So many of the garden centres today give so much space to coffee shops, birthday cards, books, soft toys, pet food (and if you’re really lucky the animals themselves!) that they have little space ... or it appears time to sell any of the things you’d expect to find – seeds, plants, shrubs, trees, compost but to name a few.

I’m all for a nice day out and adding a coffee shop is all well and good – I like to have a sit down and a huge slab of chocolate cake to take away the pain of parting with so much money on plants I often could have grown from seed – but some garden centres have now gone so far down the line of selling other things that it’s hard to find any plants at all!

However, I did try to take advantage of this trend towards less gardening products and more gifts by going to a specific garden centre which I knew stocked a massive range of expensive children’s gifts – definite christening gift fodder. But, on arrival I found that the range had been reduced – had they introduced more plants? Extended their range of seeds? Oh no, too sensible ... they’d simply replaced the children’s toys with Easter trinkets ... fine if I needed an egg shaped glass but no good for my needs.

So I’m now searching the World Wide Web for a suitable gift ...
And my question to you is are there any good garden centres left where you can buy healthy plants or get the seeds you need for your vegetable plot? Or do you prefer to buy your gifts at garden centres and your plants from supermarkets?

As you get to know me you’ll realise that I’m one for the bargains! If I go in a shop and they’ve got a reduced section I’m there first. That’s not to say I’m mean ... if there’s something I need I’ll pay any money to get it. But I certainly like a bargain ...

Buying plants doesn’t escape my bargain buying bug and today I managed to spot a good deal. Doing my weekly shop in Sainsburys and meandering around their flowers and plants section, they’d got some reduced climbing roses ... just £1.99!

Having been stung with poor plants from supermarkets before, I then stood and unwrapped the rose from its packaging to find healthy new growth on a fairly sturdy stem.
So into the trolley it went and I’m now the proud owner of a new, white climbing rose...Oh, the joys of a successful bargain!

Yes, it’s official, ugly is good according to the National Trust. Although most garden shows focus on growing the biggest and best looking vegetables, the National Trust has launched ‘The Ugly Veg Competition’. A year-long opportunity for all of us – especially those frustrated by never winning at our local garden show...
So I’m off to dig out my packet of carrot seeds and get growing!