Thompson & Morgan Gardening Blog

Our gardening blog covers a wide variety of topics, including fruit, vegetable and tree stories. Read some of the top gardening stories right here.

Propagation, planting out and cultivation posts from writers that know their subjects well.

Geraniums (pelargoniums) masterclass: best expert content

Different coloured geraniums

Ideal for borders, pots, baskets and window boxes, geraniums fill your garden with colour
Image: Geranium ‘Jackpot Mixed’ F1 Hybrid from Thompson & Morgan

If you love pelargoniums (often referred to as geraniums) and want to grow your own from seed, cuttings or plug plants, we’ve scoured the internet for helpful content. With advice on overwintering, taking cuttings and troubleshooting tips, these experienced garden bloggers have a wealth of knowledge to share. Here’s everything you need to know about growing pelargoniums.

In the meantime, browse our full range of geranium and pelargonium plants for inspiration.

This article was reviewed by the T&M horticultural team and updated on 19 January 2024.

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Fuchsia masterclass: best expert content

Closeup of fuchsias pruning into a tree

Standard fuchsias make a striking feature on doorsteps and patios
Image: Fuchsia ‘Angela’ (Hardy) from Thompson & Morgan

If you love fuchsias and want to fill your borders, hanging baskets, and patio containers with elegant flowers, we’ve scoured the internet to find the most helpful online content. With advice on overwintering, taking cuttings, troubleshooting, and suggestions for new varieties to try, these experienced garden bloggers have a wealth of knowledge to share. Here’s everything you need to know about growing your own fabulous fuchsias.

This article was reviewed by the T&M horticultural team and updated on 2 January 2024.

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Potatoes masterclass: best expert content

Harvested potatoes in wicker basket

Homegrown potatoes have a flavour unlike anything you can buy in a store
Image source: Potato ‘Picasso’ from Thompson & Morgan

In this masterclass, you’ll find some of the very best advice on choosing, planting and chitting your seed potatoes. It comes courtesy of gardeners who not only produce bumper crops at home or at their allotments, but also share their potato wisdom through their blogs, Instagram accounts and YouTube channels. If you want to get the best from your spuds this year, you’ve come to the right place – our round-up of expert tips to help you grow perfect potatoes.

This article was reviewed by the T&M horticultural team and updated on 2 January 2024.

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Begonias masterclass: best expert content

Bright pink begonias

Try ‘Funky Pink’ begonias for masses of large, unusually-shaped, double flowers
Image: Begonia ‘Funky Pink’ from Thompson & Morgan

Here you’ll find the best begonia-related articles, videos, and Instagram stories from across the web – in fact, everything you need to know to help you grow your own beautiful begonia plants.

With so many different begonias to choose from and myriad ways to grow them successfully, we’ve turned to the true experts for advice – professional gardeners, garden designers and gardening bloggers who grow begonias. Here’s what they have to say…

This article was reviewed by the T&M horticultural team and updated on 14th December 2023.

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Win Christmas Gifts worth £100 from Thompson & Morgan

To enter, simply follow the instructions below. Increase your chances of winning by completing all the entry methods.

Thompson & Morgan Christmas Giveaway

Don’t be caught out this festive season – win five of our most popular Christmas Gifts and you’ll always have the perfect present when unexpected friends and family pop in!

Prize includes:

Thank you for entering and good luck! The winner will be contacted via email from blog@thompson-morgan.com just after the closing date. In the meantime, find out how Thompson & Morgan takes the stress out of last-minute gift-buying…

Last minute gift ideas, delivered direct!

Bright red and pink Christmas cactus

Image: Christmas Cactus ‘Tricolour’ from T&M
Copyright: Visions BV, Netherlands

If you’re looking for a last minute gift and don’t fancy a trip to the post office, ordering from Thompson & Morgan couldn’t be easier. Simply browse our Christmas gift range, craft a personal message and we’ll deliver directly to the recipient’s doorstep.

You don’t need to be a gardener to enjoy a luxury indoor house plant or festive flowers. And if you do take pride in your outside space, our carefully curated collection of outdoor shrubs is sure to inspire. Here are three reasons to shop at T&M:

  • Last-minute lifesavers – Order by 9am on the 19th December to guarantee arrival before Christmas.
  • Make it personal – Brighten someone’s day with a special gift card message (One card per delivery address).
  • Delivery charge deal – Send gifts to as many people as you like and only pay P&P once!

Browse our Christmas Gifts range for the perfect last minute present to bring joy for many years to come.

 

Terms & Conditions

  1. This competition is open to UK mainland residents aged 18 or over.
  2. No purchase is necessary to enter this competition.
  3. The promoter is Branded Garden Products Ltd, trading as Thompson & Morgan
  4. The Competition opens at 12pm on 12th December 2023, and closes at 11.59pm on 17th December 2023. Entries received after that date and time will not be considered.
  5. Employees or agents of Thompson & Morgan and related brands – Branded Garden Products, their families or other persons connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter.
  6. To Enter: use the Gleam widget and choose from the methods available.
  7. If you have any questions about how to enter or in connection with the Competition, please email us at blog@thompson-morgan.com. Do not email us to enter; only email if you have difficulties using the online entry form above.
  8. There will be one winner randomly selected who will receive the prizes stated above.
  9. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.
  10. The winner will be chosen from a random draw of correct entries.
  11. The winner will be notified by email within 3 working days of the closing date. If a winner does not respond within 14 days of being notified, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and the promoter shall be entitled to select another winner.
  12. If a winner rejects their prize, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and the promoter shall be entitled to select another winner.
  13. The Prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes. Branded Garden Products Ltd retains the right to substitute the Prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available.
  14. Branded Garden Products Ltd may request that the winner participates in publicity arising from the Competition. The winner is under no obligation to participate and may decline this request. Participation is at the winner’s discretion.
  15. If you agreed to sign up to our mailing list, you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and catalogues from Thompson & Morgan, from which you can unsubscribe at any time. This is a voluntary entry method, and not a mandatory condition of entry.
  16. By submitting your entry, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  17. Branded Garden Products Ltd accept no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Competition or accepting the prize.
  18. All entries must be made by the entrant themselves. Bulk entries made from trade, consumer groups or third parties will not be accepted. Incomplete or illegible entries, entries by macros or other automated means (including systems which can be programmed to enter), and entries which do not satisfy the requirements of these terms and conditions in full will be disqualified and will not be counted. If it becomes apparent that an entrant is using a computer(s) to circumvent this condition by, for example, the use of ‘script’, ‘brute force’, masking their identity by manipulating IP addresses, using identities other than their own or any other automated means in order to increase that entrant’s entries into the promotion in a way that is not consistent with the spirit of the giveaway, that entrant’s entries will be disqualified and any Prize award will be void.
  19. Branded Garden Products Ltd reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Competition with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control. The decision of Branded Garden Products Ltd in all matters under its control is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
  20. Branded Garden Products Ltd reserves the right to disqualify entries if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent entry has occurred.
  21. Branded Garden Products Ltd shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.
  22. For further information and to see how we store your data, please check out the full Thompson & Morgan Privacy Policy.

Hydroponic house plants masterclass: best expert content

Pink hydroponic plant glass jar

Hydroponic house plants celebrate foliage and roots
Image: Anthurium Aqua in Sierglass from T&M

Hydroponic house plants are completely soil-free which saves space, reduces mess and deters pests. A simple water and nutrient solution provides all they need to thrive! We’ve scoured the internet to find the best articles, videos and Instagram posts to help you grow your own lush hydroponic house plants. We’ve also included information on semi-hydro growing and tips for propagating cuttings in water. 

Browse our quality hydroponic house plants for a head start or choose from our full range of exciting house plants and simply transfer them out of their soil!

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How Rekha Mistry turned her horticultural hobby into a new career

Rekha Mistry - Winner of GMG award

Rekha Mistry won the GMG’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023
Image: @ruthsterorourke

We’re delighted to announce that Rekha Mistry from @rekha.garden.kitchen is this year’s very deserving winner of the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023! Sponsored by Thompson & Morgan, the coveted award celebrates the way Rekha inspires, educates and interacts with her followers. 

Rekha has more than 30 years’ practical experience as a gardener and holds a Diploma in Horticulture from the RHS. She grows a huge variety of organic fruit and veg and her book, Rekha’s Kitchen Garden, is a great way to learn about growing your own produce. Taking part in BBC 2’s Big Allotment Challenge was a turning point in Rekha’s career, encouraging her to change focus and concentrate on gardening. She’s since built up a hugely popular Insta account that is packed with helpful advice and delicious recipes. In light of her win, we caught up with Rekha to learn a bit about her journey as a gardener and social media influencer. Here’s what she had to say…

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Why Northumberland inspires Rosy Hardy to garden

Rosy Hardy next to geum

@RosyHardyGardening

Rosy Hardy, aka @RosyHardyGardening on YouTube, is an award-winning gardener who has accumulated 24 gold medals from Chelsea Flower Show. A vice president of the Royal Horticultural Society since 2020, she is an expert plantswoman and the owner of a specialist cottage garden plants business in Hampshire.

Recently shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023, Rosy’s popular YouTube channel features engaging videos and helpful ‘shorts’ that are filled with practical advice to help you get the best from your plants. As sponsors of the GMG award, we caught up with Rosy to learn a bit about her journey on social media and the highlights of her career so far. Here’s what she told us…

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How Anya Lautenbach’s garden helped to heal grief

Anya Lautenbach flowers

Anya Lautenbach says that gardening helped her through difficult times
Image: anya_thegarden_fairy

Anya Lautenbach, aka @anya_thegarden_fairy, has created a magical garden on a shoestring by propagating almost 90% of the plants herself. Turning to nature during a period of grief, she found that propagating her own plants helped her to cope with some of the most challenging times in her life. The result is a magnificent collection of herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and lavender hedges that are regularly shared with her loyal followers.

Anya’s hugely popular social media accounts are followed by hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, so it’s no surprise that she has been shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023. We caught up with Anya to learn a bit about her journey as a gardener and social media influencer. Here’s what she had to say…

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Why Simon Akeroyd thinks TikTok is the future for gardeners

Tiktok gardener Simon Akeroyd holding mug

Image: Simon Akeroyd is a popular TikToker

Simon Akeroyd, aka @simonakeroydgardener, runs a hugely popular TikTok account filled with bite-sized gardening tips and clever money-saving hacks. He has been the Head Gardener or Manager at many beautiful gardens including Sheffield Park, Polesden Lacey, Harlow Carr, Wisley, Coleton Fishacre and Agatha Christie’s Greenway. When he’s not gardening, he’s writing gardening books and has published about 30 so far. 

Recently shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Individual Social Media Influencer of the Year Award 2023, we caught up with Simon to learn a bit about his journey as a gardener and the highlights of his career so far. Here’s what he told us…

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The T&M blog has a wealth of knowledgeable contributors. Find out more about them on our "Meet the experts" page.

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