Gardeners' Heaven

The Autumn colours herald the arrival in supermarkets and farm shops of one of my favourite vegetables – the pumpkin. They are fairly easy to grow in the garden, with varieties such as Jack of All Trades and Hundredweight being popular for those growing for a halloween lantern.  They must be a fairly recent introduction [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh Vampires beware; that most controversial continental food additive, garlic, has taken Britain by storm, and these days enthusiasts are even growing their own. Most of the time it’s very successful. It’s been much less so this year, as the very severe weather knocked most over-wintering garlic for six, and summer was so [...]

by Lindsey Gray As September widens the gap between Summer and Autumn, memories of long balmy evenings fade like the suntans they attracted and our thoughts turn to bonfires and fireworks. If, like me, you love a good excuse for a party then Halloween will probably feature pretty prominently on your social calendar.  An outdoor [...]

Squash, Zuccini, call them what you will.  Courgettes of all shapes and sizes are in abundance right now and making a healthy wholesome soup from them couldn’t be simpler. Courgettes are a good source of vitamin A, and low in calories. They contain a healthy supply of manganese, folate, and potassium. They’re  a great food [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh What could be nicer, when you’re out and about in the summer hols, than to drop in at a pretty country pub for a relaxing beer, or perhaps lunch – sitting outside in the garden if it’s sunny? In the rush to visit stately homes, flower shows and gardens-open, we tend to [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh ‘What’s wrong with my tomatoes?’ At this time of year, it’s a question I hear all the time. Tomatoes are such a popular crop that it’s easy to think the plants ‘grow themselves’ and ‘can be left to get on with it’. But they can’t. And half their troubles are due to [...]

Ever wished you just had an extra room in the house ?  Somewhere you could throw the kids/other half while you concentrate on the job in hand ? Or better still, somewhere you could escape to, slipping away unnoticed from the daily grind for a few stolen moments of peace and quiet? Those lucky enough [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh It’s not enough for plants just to sit around looking pretty. Oh no. Nowadays our little green chums need to make themselves useful too. That’s why herbs are so popular; their compact shapes, flowers and fragrance are a delight in the garden, and their sophisticated good-taste works wonders in the kitchen. But [...]

The rest of the nation are now waking up to what allotment gardeners and greenhouse owners have known for a long time – growing your own really does save you money. With news this week that the cost of tomatoes is set to rise this summer by as much as 60 per cent, now is [...]

With such inspirational shows around us at this time of year – RHS Chelsea starts next week – there is a lot of investment taking place in gardens right now. Garden furniture can be as expensive as that inside your lounge, features, benches and sculptures not to mention a shedful of tools. Even plants are [...]