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.

Tulips masterclass: best expert content

by | Sep 10, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

Tulip 'Florist's Treat Mixed' from T&M

Tulips come in a huge array of varieties and make excellent cut flowers
Image: Tulip ‘Florist’s Treat Mixed’ from Thompson & Morgan/©Visions BV, Netherlands

Planting tulip bulbs is a fantastic way to introduce colour to your spring garden. Ideal for filling pots and containers, they can also be planted in the ground or added to borders where they’re a real post-winter mood lifter. To help you create a spectacular display, we’ve found a wealth of experienced gardeners who’ve shared their tried-and-tested knowledge. If you want to grow magnificent tulips, here are some of the best articles, Instagram posts and videos to bookmark for reference. 

When you’re ready to order your tulip bulbs visit our online store for inspiration. We have a wide range of blooms ranging from blousy and luminous hybrids to more delicate tulip species for naturalising.

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Growing conifers masterclass: best expert content

by | Aug 31, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

Different types of pruned yew conifers

Train yew plants to make fantastic topiary
Image: Taxus baccata from Thompson & Morgan

Conifer plants have so much to offer. Think evergreen foliage, bright berries and excellent drought-resistance for starters. If you want to add all year round structure and interest to your outside space, take a look at these helpful tips from garden bloggers, designers and landscapers. Their excellent advice will help you design the gorgeous garden you’ve always wanted. 

Browse our full range of conifer plants for more inspiration.

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Growing allium bulbs masterclass: best expert content

by | Aug 21, 2023 | , | 1 Comment

White and purple alliums

Allium bulbs bring eye-catching height and structure to the summer border
Image: Allium ‘Big Impact Mixed’ from Thompson & Morgan

The jewel of early summer, allium bulbs deliver height, structure and colour to mark the start of the season. These hardy perennial bulbs are well worth growing for their easy, attractive blooms that get even better as they age. See our collection of articles, YouTube videos and Instagram posts for practical advice on planting alliums. And if you haven’t already ordered a batch, these inspirational garden bloggers are sure to tempt you.

Browse our complete collection of allium bulbs here.

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Win a sunflower bundle for birds

by | Aug 14, 2023 | , | 34 Comments

Thanks for taking part in this exciting giveaway in partnership with Happy Beaks, a brilliant bird seed supplier with a wealth of garden bird information including a British bird library and bird feeding tips. This competition has now closed, but congratulations to our winner Emily S.

Please keep an eye on our competition page for future giveaways. If you’re looking for more bird-friendly ideas? Try these…

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Plum curd recipe

by | Aug 9, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

 

Plum curd with red plums

Plum curd recipe

Kay Sexton
This delicious recipe is ideal for plums but can also be used with other fruit such as apricots, peeled apples or peaches. Taken from her book, Minding 'My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life', Kay Sexton has kindly donated this yummy recipe which is a great way to use up a glut of plums!
Kay says: "You can substitute the plums for apricots, peeled apples or peaches, which make a very similar pulp. However, soft fruit like raspberries, redcurrants and strawberries have to be sieved to take out pips and cores and blackberry or blackcurrant curds both taste fine but tend to be an unattractive pale grey-mauve colour. These curds are not as strongly flavoured as the aggressive lemon curd sold in supermarkets, and have a higher fruit content so they might be considered to be a bit healthier. Their subtlety lends itself to imaginative ways of baking and creating desserts, and they are particularly good simply spooned over vanilla ice cream!"
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Condiment, Dessert

Equipment

  • 1 Glass bowl
  • 1 Wooden spoon.
  • 1 Colander
  • 1 Saucepan
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Metal spoon
  • Sterilised jars

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g washed fresh plums
  • 125 g caster sugar
  • 125 g unsalted butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 egg yolk

Instructions
 

  • Start by making plum pulp. Put the plums in a saucepan and cook them gently until they soften and the skins begin to shred. Then allow them to cool a little before using a wooden spoon to push them through a colander placed over a glass bowl so that the pulp is broken up and passes through but the pits (which, in wild plums, can be so small they are more like pips) are trapped.
  • Add the sugar and butter to the glass bowl with the pulp and place over a pan of simmering water - I prefer to put the bowl on a trivet to avoid any chance of the curd sticking to the bottom of the bowl. Stir frequently until the butter is melted and sugar dissolved. Now whisk the eggs and yolk together and beat into the mixture.
  • Continue to cook, beating away, until the mixture thickens - you can test this by dipping a clean metal spoon into it and watching how it coats the back. You want it to stick rather than running straight off. If you’re in doubt, unsure of your preserving skills or easily distracted, this should take about ten minutes on a timer.
  • Remove from heat, and while it is cooling, give it the occasional whisk to encourage the heat to dissipate and to stop it setting too firmly. When it is completely cool, pour it into sterilised jars, cover and refrigerate. A home-made curd keeps for a couple of weeks in the fridge, but rarely lasts that long, once people know it is there!

Notes

This plum curd recipe is taken from Kay's book Minding 'My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life'.
There are many different varieties of plums that you can grow and they would all work well in this recipe. However, Plum 'Victoria' is one of the most well known varieties.
Keyword dessert, fruit, jam, plum
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Winter salad masterclass: best expert content

by | Jul 27, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

Bucket of rocket leaves

Container grown rocket is a delicious addition to winter meals
Image: Rocket ‘Sweet Oakleaf’ – Kew Collection Seeds from T&M

You don’t need to stop growing salad just because it’s winter. In fact, many leafy greens come into their own at a time when not much else is growing. Whether you love to eat crunchy radishes, spicy rocket or colourful cut-and-come-again lettuce leaves, you’ll find plenty of growing tips in this collection of articles, videos and Instagram posts. Here are some expert tips to help you grow and harvest delicious winter salad.

Browse our delicious salad seeds for more inspiration.

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Fat free cherry cake recipe

by | Jul 20, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

 

Closeup of cherry cake

Fat free cherry cake

Jacqui Brown
Jacqui Brown says: "Here is my favourite recipe that I bake at least once a week as I just love something sweet at the end of a meal, but being virtually fat free it isn't too naughty! We are lucky enough to have an orchard in Poitou-Charentes, France with 5 large cherry trees and we freeze the fruit to use all year round. We also have plum, peach, apple, pear and quince trees so I vary the recipe to use whatever is most abundant!"
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert

Equipment

  • Lined flat baking tin
  • Mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

  • Enough cherries to fill the bottom of a lined flan tin
  • 3 eggs
  • 65 g sugar
  • 110 g plain flour
  • 1 tbsp cornflour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp natural yoghurt
  • 50 g ground almonds
  • a few drops of almond essence

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat your oven to gas mark 4/160℃ fan/180℃
  • Beat the eggs and sugar for at least five minutes until very frothy and pale.
  • Gently fold in the yoghurt and almond essence, and then half the dry ingredients sieved, then the remainder.
  • Try and lose as little of the air as possible.
  • Pour the batter over the cherries and bake in a preheated oven for about 20 mins, or until the top is golden and springs back to the touch.
  • Leave to cool and then turn out upside down onto a plate.
  • Serve warm or cold with a healthy dollop of natural yoghurt.
Keyword fruit
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Lead image: Cherry ‘Stella’ from Thompson & Morgan

Poppies masterclass: best expert content

by | Jul 14, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

White orange and yellow icelandic poppies

Icelandic poppies deliver delicate bursts of pastel colour in summer
Image: Poppy ‘Iceland Mixed’ from T&M

The word poppy usually sparks an image of iconic red flowers in summer hay fields or pretty wildflower meadows, but there are so many more colours and shapes to enjoy! Think huge, exotic blue flowers, grey double blooms and purple pom poms that fill the garden with friendly pollinators. Whether you want to grow annual or perennial poppies, you’ll find plenty of helpful hints and tips in this collection of articles, videos and Instagram posts.

When you’re ready to place an order, browse our wide range of annual and perennial poppy seeds for inspiration.

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Meet the experts

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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