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.

Update from the Greenhouse

by | Nov 20, 2015 | , , | 2 Comments

Hello Everyone,

Despite it being the mildest November since records began, winter has arrived in Pembrokeshire, with 50mph winds, continuous rain and short dreary days. In fact over the last week we have had enough rain to fill the forty gallon water butt from the gutters of the greenhouses. The glass was rattling so loudly in the greenhouses on Sunday 15th that I felt a teeny bit scared to be in them. However, I had to go in and try to salvage my plants.

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Top 10 Greenhouses

by | Nov 18, 2015 | | 0 Comments

There’s a greenhouse to suit every garden – be it large or small! The protected growing conditions that greenhouses provides is invaluable. Just think how much earlier you could start germinating seeds, or maybe you would like to grow some of the less hardy plants available. Better still, a greenhouse offers a dry sheltered spot for potting and sowing, or maybe just to drink a well earned cuppa while you shelter from the elements. A greenhouse can completely revolutionise the way that you use your garden, opening up so many new opportunities.

There are so many greenhouses available that choosing the right one can prove daunting. We’ve brought together our top 10 favourite greenhouses from our range to help you narrow it down. Take a look at this handy article and find your perfect greenhouse today. Alternatively, you can browse our entire range of greenhouses available to buy online.

 

  1. GreenhouseEezee greenhouse – A portable plastic greenhouse

For a no fuss portable, plastic greenhouse that can be erected in just 10 minutes the Eezee Greenhouse is perfect. Ideal for potting on your perennials or germinating seeds this super little greenhouse is a great first time greenhouse or is space is at a premium in a small garden. Tall enough to stand up in, it folds away when not needed to a handy-sized package which can be stored away during the winter months. This great mini growhouse is ideal for protecting plants from cold, wet and rainy weather, and the adjustable vents mean you can regulate air flow allowing your young plants the best start in life. No accessories needed.

 

  1. Halls 4ft x 2ft Wall Garden Lean To – A small lean-to greenhouse

If space is at a premium in your garden or outdoor space, this fantastic little lean to greenhouse will give you ample growing room under glass. Halls Garden Lean To has enough space to grow seeds in trays, potted plants and perhaps also a tomato plant, meaning you have enough room for all the average gardeners needs. Best constructed against a wall in a sunny position, this lean to looks great over decking and patio areas. This lean to has a strong aluminium frame and an opening roof vent, with a sliding door for easy and convenient access, making this great lean to perfect for all your garden needs. No accessories are required.

 

  1. GreenhouseEden 6ft x 4ft Wide Birdlip – Our smallest freestanding greenhouse

One of the smallest freestanding structure greenhouse in our range the Eden Birdlip Greenhouse is ideal if space is tight or you have a particularly small garden. Perfect for the allotment or if you are new to gardening with a limited budget. This compact greenhouse is perfect for raising young plug plants, for overwintering your perennials and for springtime hardening off. The open roof vent means you can regulate air flow, and the smooth action sliding door allows for easy access, and as it is a sliding door it will not take any room up in the garden or greenhouse. The Eden range comes with an extensive range of accessories to maximise your growing environment and utilise space.

 

  1. Eden Burford 6ftx6ft Wide Greenhouse – The ideal beginners 6×6 greenhouse

A great first time greenhouse the Eden Burford Greenhouse is perfect to house your young plants, or overwintering your perennials or hardening off in springtime. With 2 large roof vents more air is able to flow through, keeping the temperature regulated and making sure your young plants have the best start in life. This great little greenhouse comes with built in guttering to collect rainwater, and with a smooth-action single sliding door that allows easy access, and wont take up room in the greenhouse. The Eden Burford range comes with an extensive range of accessories to maximise growing room and utilise space in the greenhouse.

 

  1. GreenhouseGrowhouse Classic Lean-To (6ft x 10ft) – A large Victorian tall wall greenhouse

When space is at a premium but gardening is your passion, the Growhouse Classic Lean To is perfect for you. Ideally suited to a south facing wall or large courtyard garden this well designed, and highly functional Victorian tall wall greenhouse is ideal for overwintering your plug plants, hardening off your springtime vegetables and germinating your seeds. With an apex roof which is perfect for those taller plants and ample room for both shelving and staging you will be amazed at how much you can grow, and with the added bonus of roof vents you can regulate temperature to suit your plants, making this lean to more like a fully functioning greenhouse. Accessories available to increase your growing environment.

 

  1. 6×10 Growhouse Cedar Greenhouse – A wooden frame greenhouse

Growhouse Cedar Greenhouse is one of the most attractive stand alone greenhouses which will compliment your garden colour scheme perfectly. With a generous footprint providing room for growing your plants from seed, overwintering young plug plants, this fantastic natural finish greenhouse is perfect if you are new to gardening. This wooden greenhouse will serve as a great place to relax and unwind while enjoying some sedentary gardening and with 4 good sized vents giving greater air volume control and reduced temperature fluctuation you won’t beat this beautiful greenhouse. Growhouse accessories available to extend your growing environment.

 

  1. GreenhouseHalls Supreme 12ft x 8ft Double Door Greenhouse – A medium size double door greenhouse

A larger garden needs a larger greenhouse, and this beautiful Halls Supreme 12ft x 8ft Double Door Greenhouse has a traditional feel with functionality as key. With double doors which can open out to allow air flow in and regulate temperature, and 4 roof vents for added control, you will be able to include many new varieties of plants and seeds with the extensive footprint of this greenhouse plus all the usual greenhouse activities of potting up perennials or hardening off vegetables during spring and cultivating seeds, and with the extra room perhaps grow some of the more exotic varieties. Large enough to include a table and chairs and plenty of room for tomatoes, and other hot house plants this large, traditional greenhouse is perfect for the serious gardener and allotment grower to produce everything they want.

 

  1. Juliana Premium Greenhouse (9ft x 9ft) – A medium high specification greenhouse

This premium greenhouse is an excellent choice for the more serious gardener and allotment grower. Unique and sophisticated the Scandinavian design is the only aluminium greenhouse endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. Perfect for all the usual greenhouse activities including overwintering delicate plants, protecting new shoots, cultivating from seed and as there is more room perhaps growing those exotic plants can be a reality.

One of the best features of this greenhouse is the double stable doors, opening outwards to give maximum space inside, and like all stable doors they open at the top to keep the fresh air flowing in and by closing the bottom keep the garden pests out. A low threshold entrance allows easy access for both wheelchairs and wheelbarrows providing excellent manoeuvrability making this wonderful greenhouse a perfect addition to your garden. Juliana comes with a full range of accessories and glazing options.

 

  1. GreenhouseHalls Magnum 14ft x 8ft Wide Greenhouse – A large all-purpose greenhouse

This large all-purpose greenhouse will provide the serious gardener or allotment grower with all the space required to grow and cultivate a whole variety of plants. From hothouse plants such as tomatoes to growing exotic varieties never tried before, this large greenhouse has room for it all. With 4 large vents for controlling air flow and temperature regulation this greenhouse serves every possible need, and is large enough to include a table and chairs so it can double up as a conservatory. With a choice of colours to match garden colour schemes and with double doors to allow excellent manoeuvrability this extra large greenhouse will make a good looking addition to your garden. Halls Magnum comes with a full range of accessories and glazing options.

 

  1. Juliana Gardener Greenhouse (12ft x 19ft) – An extra large high specification greenhouse

One of the largest greenhouses in our range is designed for the professional gardener and allotment grower who needs more than the average greenhouse working space. This huge greenhouse is perfect for the gardener who wants to have maximum space to grow, plant, experiment and improve their gardening techniques, and does not want to leave any variety out from their extensive range of produce. This enormous greenhouse is perfect for all the normal greenhouse activities, such as overwintering your perennials and delicate plants, growing your own herbs and vegetables all year round, cultivating from seed old favourites and new and exotic varieties; and because it is so big you will find you never have to choose which plants you want to grow and which you just do not have any room for. The expertly designed double stable doors, which open outwards keep the fresh air flowing in and the closed bottom half keep the garden pests out. With a low threshold entrance allowing easy access for both wheelchairs and wheelbarrows, this extremely large greenhouse has enough room to add a table and chairs and has the appearance of a much more expensive orangery, making this greenhouse perfect for all your needs and much more besides. Juliana comes with a full range of accessories and glazing options.

Garden furniture for winter interest

by | Nov 18, 2015 | | 0 Comments

What would our gardens be without garden furniture? Now, I can already pre-empt your response and it would still be a truly stunning place to admire. Winter pansies flourishing in window boxes, hardy shrubs such as Viburnum ‘Winter Beauty’ will be adding winter interest to your garden borders and not forgetting rummaging hedgehogs looking for a warm and dry place to rest. Delightful!

But, (there is always a but) garden furniture adds a real focal point in any garden, big or small. And whilst you are right in thinking of summer bbqs, water feature, gazebos and lawnmowers, there are many alternative pieces that you can use in your garden to enjoy over winter too.

Garden furniture

Chimeneas – Garden chimeneas come in handy when entertaining friends and family in the cold and crisp evenings. Our online range are also easy on the eye, no one wants an eye-sore in their garden!

Garden furniture

Patio heaters – It really would be a shame if you could only enjoy your gardens in the summer months. After months of planting, sowing and pruning you should be able to enjoy your garden all year round. For when the evenings are a little cooler and frosty, a patio heater will help take the chill off so you can enjoy those evenings in your garden a little longer.

Garden furniture

Fire pits – Fire pits and braziers are not only modern and idyllic focal points, they will take the chill off winter evenings so you are able to enjoy your gardens at anytime!

Garden furniture

Bird tables – Attract birds and wildlife to your garden with one of our beautiful bird baths and bird feeder. Make sure you position your bird bath in a safe location and in sight so it can easily be found.

Garden furniture

Garden arbour seats – A stunning piece of garden furniture for withstanding the elements of British weather. Arbour seats create an idyllic place to rest in evenings, or daytime, with a good book in hand and perfectly brewed cup of tea (Now, where do I buy one!)

Garden furniture

Benches – Garden benches are a convenient and stylish way to add seating to your garden or patio. The Royal Garden Stacking Bench will be just what you need for whiling away the hours in outdoor comfort. Made from Steel, this bench will also resist the affects of winter weather.

Garden furniture

Awnings – Garden awnings are a great way to extend your home into the garden, whatever the weather. Easy to assemble and fit, they are perfect for providing shade or cover for the odd summer shower.

Thrive – Phil’s Story

by | Nov 13, 2015 | , | 3 Comments

One of Thrive’s regular client gardeners, Phil Banbury, is a shining example of how, with the charity’s help and the love of family and friends, there is still much happiness to be had whilst living with a disability.

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Not ready to come indoors

by | Nov 13, 2015 | , | 0 Comments

I can’t remember such a mild November since 1992 when my best friend got married in an off-the-shoulder dress on November 5th!

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A blog from Driftwood with a difference!

by | Nov 13, 2015 | , , | 2 Comments

Most of my blogs are usually about the plants that Driftwood trials for Thompson & Morgan, as one of their Customer Trial Panel gardens, but for a change I thought I’d pen a little bit about the garden’s location and some of the challenges of gardening by the sea!

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Thompson & Morgan awards record-breaking £1,000 for tallest sunflower

by | Nov 12, 2015 | , , , | 2 Comments

Thompson & Morgan awards record-breaking prize money to gardener with 24ft sunflower. A gardener with a lifelong passion for sunflowers has won £1,000 following a nationwide hunt for the UK’s tallest specimen. Seed and plant specialist Thompson & Morgan announced the biggest ever cash prize for a tallest sunflower competition back in spring, in a bid to see the world record brought to UK shores.

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Thrive – Thompson & Morgan’s charity of the year 2016

by | Nov 9, 2015 | , | 2 Comments

We are delighted to announce that Thrive has been chosen as our charity of the year for 2016!

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Gardening in California – A different perspective

by | Nov 4, 2015 | , | 4 Comments

I am spending a few weeks with my Sister who lives in Huntington Beach, California recovering from a recent fractured disc in my spine. She is a very keen gardener like me but this year has experienced many cut backs with the watering etc. and what plants will tolerate the drought. Some plants have surprised her especially her roses which are watered infrequently but have produced some wonderful flowers. There is also a blue Plumbago and American Honeysuckle which is bright orange with dark green leaves which has grown on the wall and appears to have flowered more freely. She also split her day lilies putting some in different parts of the garden in case she lost any of them, and at the moment the day lily in the tub is flowering.

honeysuckle - gardening in California

The drought in Southern California has hit people in many different ways. Gardeners can only use their sprinklers for five minutes twice a week (also only a five minute shower twice a week!!). There has been a drought for the last four years, mainly because the snow which usually falls on the Sierra Mountains has been so little therefore no water when the snow melts and California gets a lot of its water from the Sierras in good years. The last four years have been the driest with 29 inches only of rain.

Plumbago

Plumbago



As a result of the drought there have been many brush fires with terrible consequences losing many trees and shrubs as well as small animals. Unfortunately when any rain does come there is nothing to stop it from rushing straight down the hillside or mountain onto the roads and towns causing a lot of destruction. The trees are beginning to dry out and crack and split enabling bugs etc to get into the bark. Branches are falling off as well. The drought is blamed for the infestation of native bark beetles because healthy trees can usually defend against the insects. The U.S. Forest Service estimate that 22 million trees have died in California since the drought started four years ago. In Orange County where I am staying one species of Southeast Asian beetle – shot hole borer – has been particularly troublesome.

Gardeners are saving water from any gutter downpipe – (although many houses do not have gutters) and washing up water from the sink in order to be able to hand water their plants. Lantana is a very good drought tolerant plant and grows well in dry conditions once established. As does Cassia, a pretty yellow plant. Also another good idea is when the ice cube tray/box needs emptying to put the ice cubes round the plants instead of putting them into the sink to melt.

cassia - gardening in california

milkweed

Milkweed

Milkweed is also a drought tolerant plant which is good news as the Monarch butterfly lays its eggs on the leaves of the plants which develop into small green/yellow caterpillars. These caterpillars eat the plants and when it gets around two inches long crawls to a convenient spot and hangs upside down turning into a chrysalis, where it stays for around two weeks before emerging as a beautiful Monarch butterfly. My Sister has several milkweed in her garden and we have watched the caterpillars getting bigger and sometimes even seen them emerging from the chrysalis. They usually sit on a leaf flapping their wings waiting for them to dry before flying off.

Quite a few people are moving towards growing succulents and in some cases have an entire front garden of succulents which are readily available now in garden centres and nurseries. Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made in deciding which plants to keep and what to replace as it is difficult to get small plants established in these conditions. This really makes me appreciate our climate even if we do get a lot of rain at times.

 

 

Succulents

Where has this year gone?

by | Nov 3, 2015 | , , , | 1 Comment

Where has this year gone? I used to hate November as it heralded the onset of winter, but since taking up gardening I now feel anticipation as well as a gentle winding down. After a quiet October, November is back to business once again, as I am on the side of Autumn Tidy Up. I like to cut back early flowering perennials to show off the late bloomers. The greenhouse needs a jolly good sweep and rinse now that the tomatoes and cucumbers have all been stripped out, but with the chilli peppers still cropping prolifically, and a family of mice having taken up residence I am loath the disrupt the happy home. I have been able to sort out my seed packets though, allocating easy-to-grow annuals for our 2016 National Gardens’ Scheme Children’s Treasure Hunt prizes, salads for the greenhouse, veggies for the allotment and flowers for the baskets. At this year’s T&M Triallists’ Open Day in August we were given a wide variety of seed packets, some of which I have never heard of so I am looking forward to experimenting next spring.

winter cobwebs

I am wondering what to do with Fuchsia ‘Eruption’ (summer 2015 trial) – shall I take my chances and leave them in their pot in the shelter of the semi-enclosed patio, or shall I defoliate and prune them and overwinter them in the greenhouse? I have never been very good at getting half hardy fuchsias through the winter so we will see……. Begonia Apricot Shades Improved (summer 2015 trials) have mostly been lifted, their tubers drying off for storage, but there is still a glorious burst of colour from one last hanging basket.

Ironically, just as they say it will be the coldest winter for years (who are They incidentally?) I chose this summer to go salvia mad, from large leaved salvia involucrata, Black and Blue and Amistad, to the small shrubby varieties, having always avoided them as semi-hardy. Oh well, I have taken cuttings and will dig up the larger leaved specimens to overwinter in the greenhouse. I don’t have a propagator and the greenhouse is unheated so I have brought the cuttings into my husband’s heated studio workshop. To protect the cuttings from overnight chill I provide bottom heat by placing a hot water bottle between two seed trays, and sit the 9cm pots in the top tray!

late colour

Having cut back the geranium phaeum from around the apple tree I was able to tackle the ivy which had grown into the shrubs beneath. In the process I liberated two cornus Winter Flame (winter 2012/3 trials), their buttery yellow leaves and fiery stems bringing colour to a dark corner. Digitalis Leopardskin and Digitalis Illumination have only just stopped flowering amongst the pulmonarias, cyclamen, alchemilla and Brunnera ‘Starry Eyes’ (spring 2014 trials). I love gardening for shade, it’s so challenging and when you get it right so rewarding, all those contrasting foliage shapes, colours and textures.

contrasting foliage

Since we planted the Dahlias Fox Mixed and Trebbiano (summer 2012 trials) on the allotment this spring they have thrived as never before, as they are in full sun on well-drained soil unlike our semi-shaded clay garden soil at home, and the number of flowers we have cut has run into hundreds!

dahlias

 

Next year we will be adding some new dahlia tubers to the mix. The white cosmos and Californian poppies I grew from T&M seed in our sunroom this March are still flowering alongside, so I feel well encouraged to try annuals from seed next spring.

shady garden

So the gardening year has become protracted to ten active months, December & January being my hibernation period, with infrequent trips to the greenhouse to check on dormant plants and gaze longingly at the awaiting seed packets and trays in anticipation of early February sowing of sweet pea and the first bulbs emerging……. See you then!

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