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.

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

This competition has now closed, but congratulations goes to our winner Annika B. Please keep an eye on our competition page for future giveaways. In the meantime, find out how Thompson & Morgan takes the stress out of last-minute gift-buying…

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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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Why rudbeckia is one of Lee Burkhill’s top three plants

Photo of Lee Burkhill - The Garden Ninja

Image: Lee Burkhill is also known as Garden Ninja

Lee Burkhill, aka Garden Ninja, is an award-winning garden designer, horticultural expert, presenter on BBC1’s ‘Garden Rescue’ and the owner of a hugely popular gardening YouTube channel. Having studied Horticulture with the RHS at Edinburgh Botanical gardens, he has 35 years of hands-on experience and has designed hundreds of urban gardens. Lee’s excellent videos are a great way to pick up practical tips and his passion for his subject makes them a joy to watch. 

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

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Currant plants masterclass: best expert content

Whitecurrants on wooden table

Super sweet currant ‘White Versailles’ is the earliest white currant to crop in July
Image: White Currant ‘White Versailles’ (Organic) from T&M

Fruiting currants thrive in the UK’s cooler climate. Blackcurrants are delicious in pies and jam, white varieties are sweet enough to devour straight from the bush while redcurrants are the perfect addition to rich gravies and jewel-coloured jellies. Here, some of our favourite bloggers, Instagrammers, and vloggers share tips on how to grow your own bountiful buckets of delicious, colourful currants. 

Browse our full range of currant plants for delicious red, white and black varieties.

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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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