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.

Rose ‘Caroline Quentin’ Launched at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

by | May 18, 2026 | , | 0 Comments

Caroline Quentin Rose launch at RHS Chelsea 2026

Caroline Quentin is ‘chuffed to bits’ with her new rose
Image credit: Jonathan Ward

Thompson & Morgan is proud to launch a beautiful new rose named in honour of actress, presenter and passionate gardener Caroline Quentin, making its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026.

Caroline’s Rose Unveiled At The Chelsea Flower Show

Rose Caroline Quentin by Thompson & Morgan

The ‘Caroline Quentin‘ rose officially unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

The rose has now been officially unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 on the Sparsholt College Stand, with Caroline attending the launch in person.

Rose ‘Caroline Quentin’ is an elegant, richly fragrant floribunda with soft pink double blooms, glossy dark green foliage and an intense floral perfume. Compact in habit yet abundant in flowers, it has been bred for modern gardens and flowers repeatedly throughout the season.

Inspired by Caroline’s lifelong love of gardening and her creative platform, CQ Gardens, the rose reflects her signature style: romantic, artistic and deeply connected to the joy of outdoor living. When speaking with Thompson & Morgan, Caroline Quentin said:

“I am chuffed to bits to have the prettiest, pinkest, sweetest perfumed rose I’ve ever seen, named after me. To think that this gorgeous rose will carry my name into the future is incredibly moving and such an honour.”

The ‘Caroline Quentin‘ rose is an elegant, richly fragrant floribunda

The ‘Caroline Quentin‘ rose is an elegant, richly fragrant floribunda

In Support Of St Peter’s Hospice

As part of the launch of the beautiful new Caroline Quentin rose, Thompson & Morgan is proud to support St Peter’s Hospice. A charity that holds special significance for Caroline herself. For every rose sold, £1 will be donated directly to the hospice, helping to fund the vital care and support it provides to individuals and families facing life-limiting illness.

“We’re delighted to be part of the launch of this beautiful new rose. Partnerships like this help us continue providing compassionate care and support to patients and families facing the hardest of times. Thank you to Thomson and Morgan and to Caroline Quentin, who has been a great supporter of ours over many years.”

“Every purchase will not only brighten gardens, but also help make a real difference to the people in our community who need our support. We’re incredibly grateful that a percentage of sales will be donated to St Peter’s Hospice, helping us continue our vital work.”

Through this collaboration, every Rose ‘Caroline Quentin’ purchased will help bring comfort, care and support to local families, making each bloom a meaningful contribution to an important cause.

Caroline Quentin Beefeaters and friends at RHS Chelsea 2026

Caroline Quentin making friends at RHS Chelsea 2026
Image credit: Jonathan Ward

Featured Gardener: Gina Mellard

by | May 11, 2026 | | 0 Comments

A smiling woman holding a large, lush bouquet of pink and white peonies against a rustic red brick wall.

Image courtesy of Gina Mellard

When Gina from @ginas_flower_garden moved to the countryside with newborn twins and a toddler, gardening quickly became more than just a way to fill time at home. It developed into a full-blown love affair with flowers and a desire to create a fairy tale sanctuary for herself and her children. Read on to learn more…

How did you get into gardening?

Cottage garden landscape with blooming pink roses, perennial borders, and a rustic wooden garden fence.

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

I started gardening after relocating to the countryside. I had baby twins and a toddler, so I spent a lot of time at home. In the first year, I started off simple, just growing wildflowers and sunflowers. Since then, I’ve completely fallen in love with growing flowers and try to grow as much as I can! I always dreamt of creating my own rose garden – like the ones you see in stately homes – and being able to do so has been a dream come true. My garden has always been my sanctuary and I love it!

What inspires you in the garden?

Cottage garden inspiration featuring a homegrown pink rose bouquet, tall purple alliums, and a dog-friendly backyard with a raised garden pond.

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

I want to create the most beautiful garden for my children to grow up in, something you’d find in a fairy tale, where a Disney princess would go. I appreciate every single flower in each season and always have a really special flower or plant that I focus on each month.

Cherry blossom season is my favourite, but I enjoy different seasons for different reasons. June is when I get to enjoy my roses, and then later in the summer is all about my beautiful hydrangeas and dahlias.

I adore being able to walk around my own garden and cut a fresh, eco-friendly bouquet of blooms; there’s something so therapeutic about arranging your own flowers.

What’s your favourite gardening style?

A cozy garden patio with white metal chairs, pink flowers in bloom, and a small garden pond.

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

I love cottage gardens, but with a modern twist! My garden is full of cottage garden classics, but I also welcome other beautiful varieties. So while I have many roses, foxgloves, and other traditional cottage garden flowers, I also love growing plants like lilies and fatsias!

Each year I discover new gardening styles and plants, and I’ve recently discovered pond plants. One thing that is never likely to change is that I want as much pink as possible!

What are you most proud of?

English cottage garden border with a mix of perennial flowers, including purple salvia, pink roses, and alliums in a lush summer landscape.

Image courtesy of Gina Mellard

My rose collection is my pride and joy; I now have over 60 roses in beautiful shades of pink, white and blue. I planted most of them 3 years ago as bare roots, and watching them develop has been so special.

Each year, I like to add to the perennial planting; my peonies are absolutely thriving, which makes June incredible. I remember walking up and down the garden with my double pram, digging up bits of the border and planting new varieties. The fact that I was able to start and grow my own beautiful rose garden while taking care of my babies is something I’m so proud of. Without them I wouldn’t have started it!

What are your future plans?

English country garden with blooming perennials and a woman holding a fresh-cut flower bouquet of white lace flowers and pink roses.

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

A lot of the garden still needs work. Gardens take time, and I’m at the stage where I’m happy to wait for things to mature. The plan is to keep adding more perennials and also some nice shrubs. I also have an allotment, which is a big focus for me now, too. I’ve started adding fruit – raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes and much more!

What’s your top gardening tip for beginners?

pring garden landscaping featuring a flowering cherry tree, pink tulips, and perennial flower borders along a wooden picket fence.

Images courtesy of Gina Mellard

My top tip for beginner gardeners is to start with one border at a time and try to enjoy the journey! Think about screening and structure first, too. It’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself, as plants can always be moved. Gardens are always changing and I know that my garden will never be finished. Also, remember that there are no ‘rules’; it’s your garden, so what matters most is making sure you like it. Concentrate on making a garden that brings you joy and makes your heart feel happy.

Grow like Gina

Bright pink fragrant roses in a summer garden, featuring the "Mum in a Million" (Millie) rose variety in full bloom.

Image: Rose ‘Mum in a Million’ (Hybrid Tea Rose) from Thompson & Morgan

If you’d like to grow the plants and flowers Gina showcases on her Instagram page, here are some of her favourites:

Follow Gina at @ginas_flower_garden to see how she continues to grow, inspire, and make the most of every inch of her garden. For more inspiration, our full series of Featured Gardeners contains a wealth of hugely knowledgeable growers who are also worth a follow.

T&M celebrates two finalists for RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2026

by | May 6, 2026 | , | 0 Comments

Cercis ‘Blue Lagoon’ flowering in spring

We’re thrilled to announce that two of our latest plant introductions have been shortlisted for the prestigious RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Award 2026. This accolade recognises the very best in breeding, performance, and garden appeal. Read on to learn more about the groundbreaking plants that caught the judges’ eyes…

In the meantime, see all of our award-winning plants and flowers.

read more…

Tallest Sunflower Competition 2026 – Win £250

by | Apr 27, 2026 | , , , | 0 Comments

A vibrant giant sunflower in full bloom against a clear blue sky, showing detailed yellow petals and a large brown seed head.

We’re looking for the tallest sunflower in the country! If you’ve got a green thumb and a sunny spot, you could win a £250 Thompson & Morgan voucher. Sow your seeds as soon as they arrive and support them as they grow. You have until noon on the 5th October 2026 to reach for the sky!

Sorry, the free seeds have all gone, but you can buy them here if you want to take part: ‘High Hopes’ Sunflower Seeds.

read more…

Featured Gardener: Chloe Plumstead

by | Apr 13, 2026 | , | 0 Comments

A woman with vibrant red hair standing in a lush summer garden filled with blooming pink dahlias and purple cosmos flowers against a rustic wooden fence.

Image courtesy of Chloe Plumstead

When @chloeplumstead was little, she loved pottering in the garden with her nan and watching her mum turn a plain council estate plot into a buzzing mix of flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Now in her thirties, she co-runs a gardening brand for women and tends her own garden and allotment that are overflowing with colour and abundance. Read on to find out how she turned a childhood love of gardening into a life full of blooms, experiments, and joyful chaos…

How did you get into gardening?

A smiling woman wearing a grey bucket hat holding a wicker basket of fresh allotment vegetables.

Image courtesy of Chloe Plumstead

It’s difficult to say when I first fell in love with gardening because I inherited the gene down the maternal line. From a very young age, I was pottering around in the garden with my nan, watering plants with my tiny watering can as she dibbed, dug and deadheaded. Then when my mum, brother and I moved into a new home, my mum completely transformed the council estate garden from an overgrown rectangle into a buzzing medley of flowers, fruits & veggies – she even added fish into the ponds that she dug herself. I’ve been surrounded by women doing wonderful things with nature from the get-go.

I started experimenting myself in my mid-twenties. I was living in a rental at the time with a tiny concrete garden but I began to see what I could do with the space, growing potatoes and tomatoes in pots, planting my first bulbs and so on. Fast forward to my thirties, and I now co-run a gardening brand for women. I have a little garden of my own and a half allotment plot which I took over last year. I still refer to myself as a novice because I feel like I’m always learning, but growing and gardening have really become the centre of my life.

What’s your favourite gardening style?

A close-up collage showcasing three distinct pink dahlia flower varieties in full bloom.

Images courtesy of a Chloe Plumstead

It’s not a gardening style per-se, but I have to confess that I’m not hugely interested in large estate gardens. Give me a regular, domestic garden any day, catered to and maintained by the same person over years and years, simply because they love it. I feel the everyday gardener is often unsung in favour of big budget gardens, but it’s in our own spaces in the evenings and weekends that magic really happens.

So I like a bit of mess, a bit of disorder, nothing meticulously planned. If I had to describe my own style, perhaps modern cottage? I love bright, hot pinks and abundance – plants crammed in and spilling out of borders.

What inspires you in the garden?

A side-by-side collage featuring a hand-held bouquet of deep pink dahlias and a close-up of light pink cosmos flowers growing in a garden.

Images courtesy of Chloe Plumstead

I’m inspired by the sheer variety of what it’s possible to grow. It’s a smorgasbord, a veritable chocolate box of options, and I feel a renewed sense of excitement every year that I get to try something new.

It’s impossible to be bored in the garden! There’s always something to do and so many ways to do it. I love that I can say to myself ‘okay, I’ll grow some squash this year’, and then spend three days deep-diving into all of the different varieties, their pros & cons and risks & rewards. The same goes for dahlias – every year I try new cultivars, holding onto the ones I’ve tried, tested and loved while building up my library of favourites.

What are you most proud of?

A side-by-side collage showing a woman posing with spring daffodils and pansies in a greenhouse, alongside a shot of her holding small vases of orange and yellow dahlias indoors.

Images courtesy of Chloe Plumstead

I’m most proud of my large fatsia. It’s been grown from a cutting taken from my nan’s garden years and years ago, and it’s now nearly 6ft tall. It’s the first thing I see from my back door when I look out into the garden and it makes me think of my nan every time.

What are your future plans?

A collage showcasing three varieties of yellow garden flowers, including dahlias and nasturtiums in bloom.

Images courtesy of Chloe Plumstead

This year I experimented with edimental planting – interweaving edible and ornamental plants to grow food alongside flowers – but next year, I’m going back to growing predominantly blooms in my garden, keeping the food for the allotment. I realised that I missed looking out upon a sea of dahlias and, with the plot, I have more than enough space to grow food, anyway.

I’ve just dug up my sunny border to start afresh with planting. I covered my tiny lawn in spring and rushed ahead with growing, but the plant placement and spacing was all messed up so I’ve gone back to the drawing board, starting with improving the soil with lots of homemade compost.

Other than that, I hope to grow more of what I like to eat. I’m a bit of a magpie; I tend to get drawn in by new and interesting things, and then end up with a tiny harvest or lots of what I don’t really like (Swiss chard being a prime example!)

What’s your top gardening tip for beginners?

A woman wearing gardening gloves kneeling in a spring patio garden, holding a terracotta pot with small plants, surrounded by purple tulips in larger containers.

Image courtesy of Chloe Plumstead

My top tip? Listen, watch, read, yes, but then get out there and make mistakes for yourself. It’s the only way you’ll really learn, and you should be mucking up! Gardening and growing requires you to set perfection aside and embrace patience. And remember, you have a responsibility to these outside spaces. We are only custodians – the outdoors can never truly belong to us – so if you’ve moved into a new home and you don’t expect to be there for a long time, please don’t concrete the whole space over and shove one potted tree in the corner. Remember there will be gardeners after you, and gardeners after them, and so on. Respect your outdoor spaces and they will reward you endlessly.

Grow like Chloe

A close-up of a large Café au Lait dahlia flower in full bloom, featuring creamy peach and pale pink petals surrounded by green leaves in a sunny garden.

Image: Dahlia ‘Cafe Au Lait’ from Thompson & Morgan

If you’d like to grow the plants and flowers Chloe showcases on her Instagram page, here are some of her favourites:

Follow Chloe at @chloeplumstead to see how she continues to grow, inspire, and make the most of every inch of her garden. For more inspiration, our full series of Featured Gardeners contains a wealth of hugely knowledgeable growers who are also worth a follow.

Featured Gardener: Sally Grace

by | Mar 9, 2026 | , | 0 Comments

A woman smiling in a container garden next to purple wallflowers and a tiered water fountain.

Image courtesy of Sally Grace

Sally from @sally_grace_gardening’s love of nature began in childhood, collecting leaves and flowers in a scrapbook. Fast forward to today, and both her garden and allotment are full of fruit, flowers and unusual homegrown treats. Discover how she uses smart planting tricks to get the most from every corner…

read more…

Strawberries masterclass: best expert content

by | Feb 10, 2026 | , , | 3 Comments

Closeup of strawberry in basket

Homegrown strawberries taste better than anything you can buy in a supermarket
Image: Strawberry ‘Vibrant’ from Thompson & Morgan

If you like growing delicious strawberries we’re delighted to bring you a collection of the best advice from the internet. These bloggers, YouTubers and Instagrammers are people who practise what they preach, growing high yields of strawberries season after season, and sharing their knowhow so that you can enjoy a bumper crop too. Read on for some great strawberry-growing tips…

In the meantime, browse our full range of strawberry plants for more inspiration.

read more…

Featured Gardener: Jane Lord

by | Feb 9, 2026 | , | 0 Comments

A woman smiling outdoors while holding a large white dahlia flower with a garden and blue sky in the background.

Image courtesy of Jane Lord

When Jane from @the_little_end_cottage moved into her home fifteen years ago, she fulfilled her long-held dream of a pretty, flower-filled garden. Over the years, she and her husband have completely transformed the space by adding stone patios, wildflower lawns, cut flower beds and a stunning pergola-framed outdoor dining area. To learn more about Jane, including which flower she couldn’t be without, read on…

read more…

RHS Award of Garden Merit Vegetables

by | Jan 15, 2026 | | 0 Comments

Closeup of Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ from Thompson & Morgan

Choose AGM winning vegetables for sturdy performance
Image: Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ from Thompson & Morgan

Royal Horticultural Society ‘Award of Garden Merit’ winning vegetable plants have earned a seal of approval for reliability. If you’re looking for tried and tested fruit and veg to grow at home, this certification points you towards the very best varieties to grow. There are currently 7,500 plants with an AGM, including ornamental and edible plants. New awards are made each year, and current award holders are reviewed regularly to make sure they’re still up to scratch. To help you narrow the list, here are some of our customers’ favourite AGM varieties to get you off to a flying start. read more…

Featured Gardener: Sharon Lewis

by | Jan 12, 2026 | , | 0 Comments

A woman in a blue-and-white striped shirt and jeans kneeling in a garden, smiling beside a small black curly-haired dog with purple allium flowers in the foreground.

Image courtesy of Sharon Lewis

When Sharon (@lifeoutsideforme) moved into her Worcestershire home in 2011, gardening quickly became a source of calm and creativity. Over the years, and alongside work and family commitments, she’s shaped her outside space to reflect a love of nature, wildlife, and the changing seasons. Discover how she brings her garden to life through seasonal planting, wildlife-friendly choices, and a relaxed cottage-style approach… 

read more…

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