by Terri Overett | Jul 17, 2015 | Gardening News, Gardening Posts
If you ever visited one of our Open Weekend’s you’ll know you’ll be in for a treat at the new Thompson & Morgan garden. Sadly due to the large number of visitors the event attracted, it could no longer be held at the our site. However, we are so excited to have teamed up with Jimmy’s Farm to be able to once again open its trial gardens to their customers and gardening public.
Over a thousand containers (Tower Pots™, Flower Pouches™, Patio Pots and Easy Fill Hanging Baskets ) and several large trial beds will show off customer favourites, key introductions for 2016 and experimental varieties being trialled for garden performance. You will be asked to highlight your favourite varieties and will have the chance to win prizes for sending in selfie shots with the plant that catches your eye the most.
The garden adds an injection of vibrant colour to a host of other free attractions at the farm including rare breed animals, top class restaurant and butchery, as well as craft and gift stores. Take a look at the farm map.
Farm owner Jimmy Doherty said: “The Thompson & Morgan garden just cannot be missed… literally! Our latest attraction has added a generous dose of colour to the farm, and allows us to offer gardener’s a sneak preview of some incredible new plants for gardens. Marvel at the wall of colour too, clothed in Thompson & Morgan’s innovative Flower Pouches™, showing that fences don’t have to stay dull and brown! Visit as soon as you can for a day of inspiration and, of course, the opportunity to take some great selfies!”
You can keep up to date on the latest information about the Thompson & Morgan Garden at Jimmy’s Farm by following us on Facebook and Twitter with #TMopengarden.
Entry to the garden is free. Visit Jimmy’s Farm for more information on admission fees and directions.
Terri works in the e-commerce marketing department assisting the busy web team. Terri manages our blog and social media pages here at Thompson & Morgan and is dedicated to providing useful advice to our gardeners. Terri is new to gardening and keen to develop her horticultural knowledge.
by Terri Overett | Jul 15, 2015 | Gardening News, Gardening Posts
Yes, it is that time again and we cannot believe how quickly it has come back around. Not that we are complaining we love National Allotment Week (August 10th – 16th )! This year the focus is on a plot for all ages. No matter your age or gender, allotments bring a wealth of benefits and by highlighting them we can value our plots and preserve them for future generations.
The first allotments were used to grow food during the World Wars and they provided a means of labour for those in rural and poorer areas. Since then, allotments have flourished and not only do they provide a space for growing food supplies but community allotments are social spaces where gardeners can interact each other;
‘Allotments are a great way to meet new people, not only have I gained an allotment but have gained friends and a good source of companionship. We talk about general day things, children and jobs etc but they are also a good source of information. I learn from them, grow with them and together we have become savvy allotmenteers’ – Jon Parker
The community spirit behind allotments is more important than ever as an increasing number of allotments are being sold to developers to create amenities such as homes and schools. Whilst we all can appreciate more houses are needed, allotments play a vital part to our well being.
I remember when we visited our local Belstead allotments to meet Mrs Christine Simpson who had managed to get funding for a composting toilet for the site. Christine says;
“We’ve got 179 plots and now, compared to a few years ago, we’re full, with a long waiting list as the demand for space to grow your own has increased. We’ve got a real mix of people, It’s a real family affair for a lot of plot holders. We’ve brought in an old shipping container to act as a secure lock-up for gardening supplies; we’ve converted an old shed into a meeting place with heaters and stoves for a warm cup of tea and provided some picnic benches for social get-togethers at weekends, but there were no toilets.”
Whether you are young or old, allotments can be enjoyed by everyone. And with caring people such as Christine, allotments can become a real community space where you can spend hours on end enjoying your crops and talking to fellow gardeners.
Do you have an allotment? Then we have the perfect competition for you! We would love to see and hear about your allotments, so send in your pictures and tell us a bit about your allotment for your chance to win a wonderful prize. You could take a photo of everyone in your allotments or a picture of your veg it really is up to you. And then tell us why your allotment is special to you.
If you would like to know more about how to get an allotment please read how with our guest blogger Michelle Stacey from BBC Big Allotment Challenge.
Terri works in the e-commerce marketing department assisting the busy web team. Terri manages our blog and social media pages here at Thompson & Morgan and is dedicated to providing useful advice to our gardeners. Terri is new to gardening and keen to develop her horticultural knowledge.
by Terri Overett | Jul 7, 2015 | Gardening Posts
There are some plants that we tend to take for granted or largely ignore; this is because we are simply so used to seeing them. But these plants that are given the backseat are great performers and are our gardens most faithful planting companions.
Have you ever noticed how car parks and other heavy use landscape areas use many of the same plants? Well, there is a good reason for this; they are tough as old boots. They will grow with minimum attention, many of them positively thriving on neglect and even when our busy lives divert our attention away from them, they will still flourish.
Who are these stalwarts of the plant world?
Many of them are reliable shrubs such as Cotoneaster, Vinca, Viburnum, Dogwood, Sambucus, Ceanothus and Pyracantha. Shrubby Dogwoods, otherwise known as Cornus, aren’t fussy about their soil conditions and will thrive in particularly damp soil where other shrubs may not.
What makes them suitable for these environments?
These shrubs are tough, resilient, low maintenance and can withstand trampling by children and animals. Once established they can cope without any irrigation and even though they need virtually no pruning, they will still look great throughout the year. Many of these plant varieties will provide evergreen groundcover, summer flowers and winter berries for a full years worth of colour and interest. What more could you want?
These plants are the perfect choices if you are a beginner gardener and if you have little time to spare but still like your outdoor spaces to look fantastic.
Terri works in the e-commerce marketing department assisting the busy web team. Terri manages our blog and social media pages here at Thompson & Morgan and is dedicated to providing useful advice to our gardeners. Terri is new to gardening and keen to develop her horticultural knowledge.
by Terri Overett | Jun 16, 2015 | Gardening Posts, Vegetables
Herb gardens are becoming increasingly popular as gardeners discover how easy they are to grow and maintain. You don’t even need a large piece of land to grow your own herbs in your garden as they will happily thrive in beds, containers, windowsills and even hanging baskets.
When growing an herb garden it is worth thinking about which herb plants you are going to use, annual, perennial or biennial. Annual herbs such as basil, coriander, dill and chervil are fast growing and may need to be sown at intervals throughout spring and summer to ensure you have a continuous fresh supply. Find more great herb varieties to grow and plenty of growers advice at our herb hub page.
How to grow Basil
Basil seed can be sown from February to June, or for indoor cultivation sown throughout the year out of season. Basil requires sustained warmth so it is best kept on a sunny windowsill, in a propagator at a temperature of 15-25C (59-77F) or seal the container inside a polythene bag until after germination, which takes 14-21 days. When they are large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots and grow basil plants on in cooler conditions.
Perennial plants such as mint, thyme, sage and chive are slower growing than annual herbs and require more of a permanent location.
How to grow Mint
Mint is an easy to grow perennial herb, requiring minimal attention and returning year after year. Sow mint seeds indoors or under glass from winter to early summer. Place the seed tray in a propagator at a temperature of 21-24C (70-75F) and when seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3″) pots and grow on in cooler conditions. Once all risk of frost has passed gradually acclimatise before placing outside.
Growing herbs in containers
Growing herbs in containers is the perfect option for those who are limited on space. They will be most convenient placed on the patio by your back door, where they are within easy reach when cooking. For larger herbs such as rosemary, make sure you use a larger pot so they are less likely to dry out. The best compost to grow herbs in is loam-based compost such as John Innes and feed your pot-grown herbs regularly with a balanced fertiliser throughout the growing season.
Top tips for growing herbs
1. Trimming herbs in the spring will encourage a flush of new healthy leaves.
2. Dead-head your herbs as the flowers start to fade to channel their energy into leaf growth.
3. In the autumn it’s best to leave any dead foliage on the plant to help protect it throughout winter.
4. Re-pot after a few years if your herb plants start to look weak and dry out quickly.
5. When harvesting herbs, remove foliage from the outside of the plant, allowing new leaves to develop in the centre.
Terri works in the e-commerce marketing department assisting the busy web team. Terri manages our blog and social media pages here at Thompson & Morgan and is dedicated to providing useful advice to our gardeners. Terri is new to gardening and keen to develop her horticultural knowledge.
by Terri Overett | Jun 2, 2015 | Gardening Posts
What are Perennial plants?
Perennial plants add colour and seasonal interest to the garden from April to November, often attracting bees and butterflies to their blooms, and making great cut flowers too. They are incredibly versatile and can be used as fillers between shrubs, planted as groundcover beneath trees, grown in containers or planted on their own to create a classic herbaceous border. Herbaceous perennial plants are an easy alternative to annual flowers, returning each year and growing larger as they mature.
A perennial plant lives for more than two years, longer than shorter-lived annuals and biennials.
Our Top Perennial Plants
1. Foxglove illumination pink
Winner of Plant of the Year 2012 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Best new product at the Anglian Business Awards and Best new product at the Garden Retail awards. Being completely sterile Foxglove ‘Illumination’ won’t set seed, giving it an incredibly long flowering period. Unlike most foxgloves which are generally biennial, this half-hardy semi-evergreen is a true perennial so you will be able to enjoy its flowers for years to come.
2. Geranium Rozanne
Winner of The RHS Chelsea Flower Show ‘Plant of the Centenary’, this stunning Geranium will flower repeatedly throughout summer and will turn to a fiery orange colour for an extended display in autumn.
3. Sedum
Sedums, also known as Stonecrop, are superb for their late summer and autumn colour, often flowering into November! With fantastic tolerance to drought, salty coastal conditions, and poor soil, Sedums are one of the easiest plants to grow in the garden.
Terri works in the e-commerce marketing department assisting the busy web team. Terri manages our blog and social media pages here at Thompson & Morgan and is dedicated to providing useful advice to our gardeners. Terri is new to gardening and keen to develop her horticultural knowledge.
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