by Holly Taylor | Jul 2, 2015 | Gardening Posts
So, judging by the weather it looks like I jinxed it when I shouted summer is here, it has lasted all of a week! The occasional down pour is actually quite important for plants. The rain will encourage leafy growth, meaning you get even bushier plants, with the potential for more blooms! As long as it doesn’t stick around, I will be happy.
We are sure it will return just when you are jetting off on your summer holidays so it is important to invest in watering systems to keep your garden looking its best whilst you are away.
Whilst the rain will keep your borders hydrated, it doesn’t always manage to get into patio pots. If your patio container plants have a dense canopy of leaves means, rainfall will often bounce off, so watering by hand (or setting up an irrigation system) can’t be beaten. There are some really efficient systems now available, often with computerised timers, so you won’t have to forgo those weekends away!
You could consider asking a neighbour to water them for you! When you go away try to move the plants into a shaded area, this will cause them to dry out a little less. Remember how thirsty tomato plants can be. Plenty of water and feed will give you bumper crops. Try to be consistent though, to avoid problems with fruit set. Our tomato auto-watering collars are a great way of getting water directly to the plant roots. This is especially useful in grow bags, where water runoff can be an issue.
Feed is so important! A top dressing of Incredibloom® RIGHT NOW will give the effect of your plants supping an energy drink! But will last much longer. Remember that Incredibloom® gives more bountiful growth, more stems, more leaves, AND more flowers!!
How do you keep your plants watered during summer and holiday periods?
by Rebecca Tute | Mar 13, 2013 | Gardening News
The sweetest tomato you’ll ever taste – or your money back
Tomato Sweet Aperitif
‘I’m so confident you won’t be disappointed, that I’ll give you your money back if you don’t think this is the best tomato you’ve ever tasted’.
This is the strong pronouncement from Paul Hansord, managing director of Thompson & Morgan which sells the amazingly sweet-tasting tomato, Sweet Aperitif. He states categorically that this variety produces the very best-tasting tomatoes available.
‘It’s 20 years since I discovered the now hugely popular orange-skinned tomato variety, Sungold, which at the time took tomato flavour to a new level. Since then I’ve tried 100’s of new tomato varieties and none have beaten Sungold on taste. That is, until I tasted Sweet Aperitif. It has a wonderfully sweet flavour and a remarkably thin skin. Everyone should try it – I’m convinced it’s going to be the next best-selling red-skinned tomato’.
Sweet Aperitif has already topped taste tests; a fact which usually preempts a variety becoming the one that everyone wants to grow at home. Gardeners and allotmenteers can grow Sweet Aperitif indoors or outside. When grown in a greenhouse, growers can expect to harvest 500+ bite-sized and flavourful tomatoes over a 6 month cropping period, even enjoying fresh, home-grown tomatoes at Christmas! Outdoor yields will also be higher than most families can eat, saving £’s on supermarket shopping bills as a result.
Tomato waterer – easier watering & no run-off!
For even better results when growing tomatoes, Paul Hansord recommends these handy waterers. ‘If, like me, you grow your tomatoes in a grow bag, they can be a nightmare to water. These waterers mean there’s no run-off as the one gallon reservoir allows the water to ‘percolate’ into the compost. I have less split tomatoes now and the waterers last for a good 3 seasons, making them very cost effective’.
Rebecca works in the Marketing department as part of the busy web team, focusing on updating the UK news and blog pages and Thompson & Morgan’s international website. Rebecca enjoys gardening and learning about flowers and growing vegetables with her young daughter.
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