Growing Tips
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Cleaning and Storing Garden Tools: End the Season Right
Right then, we’ve reached the end of the growing season, and I want to talk about something that most people completely ignore — looking after your tools. I know. I can almost hear the collective groan. “Tony, cleaning tools? That’s your big topic?” And yes, I get it. It’s not glamorous. It’s not exciting. Nobody’s…
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Planning Your Next Growing Season: Dream, Scheme, and Get Ahead
Alright, this is one of my favourite topics to talk about, and it’s the one thing that separates the gardeners who have amazing seasons from the ones who spend every year playing catch-up. Planning. I know, I know — not exactly thrilling, is it? But hear me out, because the hours you spend now, in…
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Making Leaf Mould: Turn Autumn Leaves Into Gardening Gold
Right, I’m going to tell you about the best-kept secret in gardening. It’s free. It’s everywhere. And most people rake it up and chuck it in the green bin every autumn like it’s rubbish. I’m talking about leaves. Autumn leaves. Those beautiful golden, red, and brown things that fall off the trees every year and…
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Pruning Raspberries and Blackberries: Keep Your Fruit Canes Productive
Right, let’s talk about one of those jobs that a lot of people either get wrong, put off until it’s too late, or just skip entirely because it seems confusing. Pruning your raspberry and blackberry canes. I get it — standing in front of a tangled mess of thorny canes in November trying to work…
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Building Birdhouses and Feeders: Supporting Garden Wildlife Through Winter
Alright, this one’s a bit different from the usual “how to grow stuff” posts, but bear with us because it might be one of the most important things you do for your garden all year. Building birdhouses and feeders. Now I know what some of you are thinking — “Tony, I’m a gardener, not a…
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Preparing for Frost: Protect Your Garden When the Temperature Drops
There’s a particular feeling you get when you check the weather forecast and see the little snowflake icon appear for the first time in autumn. Your stomach drops a bit, doesn’t it? Because you know that frost is coming, and if you haven’t done your prep, things are about to get ugly on the plot.…
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Growing Winter Greens: Fresh Leaves When You Need Them Most
Right, here’s something that proper winds me up. Every winter, I hear people say “there’s nothing to harvest in the garden until spring.” Rubbish. Absolute rubbish. If you’ve planned ahead even slightly, winter can be one of the most productive seasons for leafy greens. I’m talking fresh, nutritious, homegrown leaves when the supermarket is charging…
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Winterizing Your Greenhouse: Get Ready for the Cold Season
Alright, let’s have a proper chat about getting your greenhouse ready for winter, because I see people making the same mistakes every year — including myself, if I’m being honest. Your greenhouse is probably the most valuable asset on your plot, and yet come October, most people just shut the door and forget about it…
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Building a Cold Frame for Winter: Your Secret Weapon Against the Cold
Right, I’m going to let you in on something that genuinely changed my entire approach to winter gardening. A cold frame. That’s it. Sounds boring, I know. Not exactly the most glamorous bit of kit on the allotment. But honestly? My cold frame has probably saved me more plants, extended more growing seasons, and produced…
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Overwintering Garlic and Onions: Advanced Tips for Bigger Bulbs
Right then, let’s talk about one of the most satisfying things you can do in your garden come autumn — getting your garlic and onions tucked in for winter. Now I know what you’re thinking: “Tony, it’s getting cold, everything’s dying back, why on earth am I still out there planting stuff?” And honestly? That’s…