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.

Edible flowers masterclass: best expert content

Yellow and orange nasturtiums

Nasturtium flowers have a strong peppery flavour
Image: Nasturtium ‘Ladybird’ from T&M

Edible flowers offer the double benefit of bright colours and delicious flavours. Whether you want to whip up a peppery batch of nasturtium butter, crystallise delicate primrose flowers or drizzle pink chive flower vinegar over your summer salads, we’ve collected some helpful independent content to get you off to a good start. Here’s your expert guide to growing edible flowers for use in the kitchen.

In the meantime, take inspiration from our full range of quality edible flower seeds.

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From Rake To Bake – Cheats Curry for One

 

Vegetable curry collage images with aubergines

Cheats Curry for One

Amanda Davies
June is perfect for making Cheats Curry for One.
With crops sown in late winter now bursting in the allotment, greenhouse or garden, this month, I thought I’d take advantage of some of ingredients available right on our doorstep, along with a way to use up any of last year’s sauces you may have hidden in the freezer.
The list of ingredients used was enough to make just a meal for me as my partner doesn’t like aubergines. Just double/triple etc, the quantities to make extra portions and use up a glut of crops.
Note – I have not used salt in the list of ingredients as I do not cook with it, however you may wish to use it, therefore just season to taste. You may also add chilli flakes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Defrost Time 12 hours
Course Main Course
Servings 1

Equipment

  • Chopping board.
  • Potato peeler
  • Vegetable knife
  • Small saucepan
  • Large saucepan with lid
  • Colander
  • Spatula
  • Wooden spoon.
  • Garlic Press or heavy handled knife.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small bowl of defrosted homemade sauce containing onion, red pepper, garlic, red and yellow tomatoes and herbs and spices.
  • 1 small potato.
  • 1 snack sized sweet pepper (any colour)
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1/4 aubergine
  • 3 dried apricots
  • Handful of raisins
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Garam masala
  • Curry powder
  • Black pepper

Instructions
 

  •  Defrost the homemade sauce the night before.
  •  Peel the potato, cut into bite size chunks and par-boil in the small saucepan.
  • While the potato is boiling, de-seed and slice the sweet peppers. Wash and slice 1/4 of the aubergine into identical shaped cubes.
  • Chop the dried apricots into quarters. Slice and dice the onion and press the garlic. If you don’t have a press just bash the handle of a heavy knife onto the garlic on a chopping board.
  •  Drain the potatoes and leave in a colander.
  • In the large saucepan, on a low heat mix curry powder, garam masala and black pepper with the olive oil, and allow the spices to infuse.
  • Add the garlic and onion and fry until translucent. Next add the aubergines. The aubergines will soak up the oil, but don’t add any more, just turn down the heat and keep moving the pieces around with the spatula/wooden spoon.
  • Add the sweet pepper and fry for about two minutes. Next pour over your sauce, stir well, cover with the lid and heat for ten minutes.
  • Add the cooked potato, apricots and raisins. Taste and add more spices if needed.
  • Replace the lid and heat on low for a further ten minutes. If your sauce is getting too thick you can either add some vegetable stock or a splash of boiling water.
  • When you have the desired consistency and taste, serve immediately.

Notes

Serving suggestions:
  • Go traditional and eat with rice and naan bread.
  • Go British and serve with chips.
  • Go lazy and just eat with brown bread and butter.
Keyword aubergine, curry, seasonal vegetables, vegetables
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Plants for shade masterclass: best expert content

Field of different coloured foxgloves

Foxgloves thrive in a shady position
Image: Foxglove ‘Mixed’ from Thompson & Morgan

Need the perfect plant to bring a shady spot to life? See this helpful compilation of articles, videos and Instagram posts from some of our favourite gardening experts. Whether you have a dry north-facing border or a damp woodland garden, find out which plants transform gloomy gaps into an eye-catching feature.

From tall and exotic Australian tree ferns to silvery athyriums, browse our high quality plants for shade collection to find your favourites.

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RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Winners 2023

T&M is thrilled to announce that Agapanthus ‘Black Jack’ has been crowned the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2023

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Patio plants masterclass: best expert content

White patio hydrangea with child smelling flowers

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Magical Moonlight’ is an eye-catching focal point for the patio
Image copyright: Visions BV, Netherlands

Here’s everything you need to know about growing patio plants. Whether you want to brighten a shady patio with hardy annuals, learn how to divide your potted perennials or find the best acer for autumn colour, you’ll learn all the answers in this selection of helpful content from expert garden bloggers.

Ready to place an order? Browse our full range of patio plants to find garden ready plants, spectacular shrubs and even small trees.

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Hardy annual seeds masterclass: best expert content

Overview of a wildflower meadow with different coloured flowers

Sow hardy annual seeds for bright bursts of summer colour
Image: Butterfly Seed Mixture from T&M/ ©Garden World Images

Scattering a handful of hardy annual flower seeds is an easy and cost-effective way to enjoy bursts of wildlife-friendly colour throughout the summer. For inspiration and advice, we’ve gathered together some helpful videos, articles and Instagram posts. Along with sowing and germination tips, these experienced growers have shared some of their favourite annual varieties to get you excited.

Browse our full collection of hardy annual seeds to find classic red poppies, scented sweet peas, exotic looking zinnias and much more.

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Alpine plants masterclass: best expert content

Green sempervivums on rockery

Sempervivums are perfect for a dry, rocky alpine garden in full sun
Image: Sempervivum ‘Mixed’ from T&M

Alpine plants are expert survivors. These hardy troupers thrive on rocky outcrops and exposed scree slopes in the wild, delivering miniature explosions of colour where you least expect to find it. We’ve collected a helpful selection of independent articles, videos and Instagram posts to help you create your own ruggedly beautiful rockery.

Whether you’re planting a green roof, filling a container, or adding colour to a stone wall, browse our wide range of alpine and rockery plants for ideas.

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Win a pair of pre-planted hanging baskets from T&M

To enter, simply follow the instructions below. You can increase your chance of winning by completing all the entry methods.

Win a pair of pre-planted hanging baskets from Thompson & Morgan

Thank you for entering and good luck!

One lucky winner will receive a gorgeous pair of Tutti Frutti Pre-Planted Hanging Baskets from T&M. Completely garden ready, all you need to do is remove them from the box and hang! These hassle-free pre-planted baskets contain a carefully curated mix of vibrant blooms for a long season of colour. Browse our full range of pre-planted hanging baskets for inspiration.

8 brilliant benefits of hanging baskets

Fuchsia hanging baskets against white wooden background

Trailing fuchsias look elegant tumbling out of baskets
Image: Pre-planted Trailing Fuchsia Hanging Basket from T&M

Hanging baskets are a popular way to flank an entrance, brighten up a blank wall or jazz up a boring fence. But there are so many more benefits to growing your favourite blooms in baskets:

  1. Saves space: You don’t need a huge garden to enjoy a blaze of colour, texture and scent. Making the most of the vertical space keeps your lawn or patio free for other things.
  2. Adds kerb appeal: Colourfully cascading flowers create instant impact and help your home stand out from the crowd.
  3. Easy access: Planting, weeding and watering are so much easier when you don’t have to crawl on your hands and knees! Deadheading the spent blooms is less of a chore too.
  4. Prevents pests: Slugs and snails are far less likely to attack your favourite blooms if they’re suspended off the ground. It will also keep cats, rabbits and other animals off your precious plants.
  5. Less weeding: Densely-packed hanging baskets get fewer weeds than beds and borders. Being at eye-level makes them easier to pluck out if they do appear.
  6. More sun exposure: If your garden is too shady for some flowers, there’s often a wall or fence that gets the sun for a bit longer than everywhere else.
  7. Shows off special plants: Trailing plants are shown to particular advantage in a hanging basket. But many other plants can also be showcased more effectively at eye-level where you can enjoy their delicate petals, colours and scents.
  8. Keeps it fresh: Choose a completely new colour theme for your baskets each year to keep things interesting. And you don’t have to stick to flowers. Try unusual foliage plants, juicy fruits or even vegetables.

For more advice on how to plant hanging baskets, see our step-by-step guide. And to learn everything you need to know about hanging baskets, our helpful hub page is a fantastic resource.

 

Terms & conditions

  1. This competition is open to UK mainland residents aged 18 or over.
  2. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
  3. The promoter is Thompson & Morgan – A division of Branded Garden Products Limited.
  4. The Competition opens at midday on the 6th April 2023, and closes at midday on the 24th April 2023. Entries received after that date and time will not be considered.
  5. Employees or agents of Thompson & Morgan and related brands – Branded Garden Products Limited, their families or other persons connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter.
  6. To Enter: choose from the methods available, including sharing an email address for great offers, visiting the Thompson & Morgan Facebook page or liking Thompson & Morgan on Twitter.
  7. These are all extra voluntary options, and are not mandatory conditions of entry.
  8. If you have any questions about how to enter or in connection with the Competition, please email us at blog@thompson-morgan.com. Do not email us to enter; only email if you have difficulties using the online entry form above.
  9. There will be one winner randomly selected who will receive:
    2 X 10in (25cm) Pre-Planted ‘Tutti Fruitti’ Baskets
  10. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.
  11. The winner will be chosen from a random draw of correct entries.
  12. The winner will be notified by email within 3 working days of the closing date by blog@thompson-morgan.com. If a winner does not respond within 14 days of being notified, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and Thompson & Morgan shall be entitled to select another winner.
  13. If a winner rejects their prize, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and Thompson & Morgan shall be entitled to select another winner.
  14. The Prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes. Thompson & Morgan retains the right to substitute the Prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available.
  15. Thompson & Morgan may request that the winner participates in publicity arising from the Competition. The winner is under no obligation to participate and may decline this request. Participation is at the winner’s discretion.
  16. If you agreed to sign up to our mailing list, you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and catalogues from Thompson & Morgan, from which you can unsubscribe at any time. This is a voluntary entry method, and not a mandatory condition of entry.
  17. By submitting your entry, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  18. Thompson & Morgan accept no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Competition or accepting the prize.
  19. All entries must be made by the entrant themselves. Bulk entries made from trade, consumer groups or third parties will not be accepted. Incomplete or illegible entries, entries by macros or other automated means (including systems which can be programmed to enter), and entries which do not satisfy the requirements of these terms and conditions in full will be disqualified and will not be counted. If it becomes apparent that an entrant is using a computer(s) to circumvent this condition by, for example, the use of ‘script’, ‘brute force’, masking their identity by manipulating IP addresses, using identities other than their own or any other automated means in order to increase that entrant’s entries into the promotion in a way that is not consistent with the spirit of the giveaway, that entrant’s entries will be disqualified and any Prize award will be void.
  20. Thompson & Morgan reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Competition with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control. The decision of Thompson & Morgan in all matters under its control is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
  21. Thompson & Morgan reserves the right to disqualify entries if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent entry has occurred.
  22. Thompson & Morgan shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.
  23. For further information and to see how we store your data, please check out the full Thompson & Morgan Privacy Policy
  24. Facebook Disclaimer: Entrants should understand that they are providing their information to the Sponsor and not to Facebook. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook.
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The 10 Best Plants for April

Close up of pink cupped shaped flowers of Chaenomeles x superba ‘Pink Lady’ borne on bare stems

Chaenomeles x superba ‘Pink Lady’
Image: Canva

April is an exciting time and there is plenty to do in borders:

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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.

Award-Winning Plants & Seeds

Create a show stopping display in your garden with our award-winning plants and seeds.

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