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.

Blueberries masterclass: best expert content

by | Oct 13, 2023 | | 0 Comments

Blueberries overflowing bowl from Thompson & Morgan

A bowl of juicy blueberries, plucked straight from the bush
Image: Blueberry ‘Duke’ from T&M

Packed with antioxidants and bursting with sweetness, blueberries are a fantastic addition to the garden. Find out how to maintain the acidic soil they need to thrive, how to increase yields, and which varieties to try, using advice from our favourite blueberry growing bloggers, Instagrammers and YouTube experts.

Browse our full range of blueberry plants for more inspiration.

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How to grow fig trees

by | Oct 11, 2023 | | 0 Comments

With their lush, exotic-looking leathery foliage and succulent fruits, fig trees create a striking feature in the garden! Thriving in sunny, sheltered positions, figs will grow successfully in large containers or garden borders, with varieties bred to achieve heady heights or petite patio pot perfection.

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Acers masterclass: best expert content

by | Sep 25, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

Bright red acer leaves drenched rain

Acers are famous for their dazzling leaf colour
Image: Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ from T&M

If you want to fill your garden with striking colours and textures, look no further than acers and Japanese maples. With a palette that includes striking blood red leaves, delicate pink variegation, and acid greens, this diverse group has something for every garden. We asked our favourite bloggers, Instagrammers and YouTubers which varieties they love to grow, as well as their practical tips for planting and caring for these striking trees. Here’s their advice.

Browse our full range of autumn colour trees for inspiration.

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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 pre-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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New Flower Seeds 2024!

by | Sep 4, 2023 | | 1 Comment

Vivacious new varieties to fill your garden with colour in 2024

T&M is proud to launch its fantastic new flower seed range for 2024, including sensational sunflowers and snapdragons, fiery zinnias, exquisite nasturtiums and giant-flowered rudbeckia.

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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!

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