Gardeners' Heaven

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 [...]

As midsummer rolls round most vegetable gardens will have gaps where early potatoes have been dug and rows of salads have been used up, so to keep your patch at peak productivity, it pays to fill any bare ground up again as quickly as possible. First clear away all the rubbish from the previous crop, [...]

Alan Titchmarsh is set to bring his unique horticultural skills to ITV1 for the first time – in a new peak time gardening series entitled Love Your Garden. The nation’s favourite gardener will  travel the country with a team of esteemed experts to find some of Britain’s most beautiful domestic gardens and show viewers how [...]

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 [...]

by Alan Titchmarsh After several truly dud summers, it would be wonderful to say this one was going to be a corker – and then plan a summery planting scheme for your patio, seating-out area or summerhouse surrounds to suit. But frankly I feel it’s wise to hedge our collective bets and go for plants [...]

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 [...]