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.

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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How to grow lilacs

by | Jun 28, 2023 | | 0 Comments

Purple lilac flowers in vase

Lilacs look wonderful in cut flower displays
Image: Lilac Fragrant Trio Collection from Thompson & Morgan

Lilac is a quintessential cottage garden shrub, ranging in size from large ‘standard’ specimen lilac trees to compact bushes for growing in patio pots. It comes in a fantastic range of colours and has a lovely scent, making it a fabulous feature for every garden. These tough and undemanding shrubs burst into bloom every spring and need very little attention. They’re also wonderful for wildlife, with nectar-rich blooms that attract pollinating insects.

Learn how to grow low-maintenance lilacs with this handy guide. And browse our full range of lilac shrubs for inspiration.

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Chaos gardening masterclass: best expert content

by | Jun 27, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

Wildflower meadow full of early annual flowers

Relinquish control and let colourful chaos reign in the garden
Image: Annual Early Flowering Mixed Seeds from T&M

Chaos gardening is the hot new trend of 2023. Think rewilding but with more colour, more intent and a bit of light design. A great way to get rid of extra seeds and avoid waste, we’ve pulled together a collection of helpful articles, videos and Insta posts to help you channel some chaos in your own outside space. 

When you’re ready to get started, browse our full range of quality seeds at Thompson & Morgan for fruit, veg, and flowers.

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How to plan pretty pots and bountiful baskets

by | Jun 18, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

Orchid style petunias in containers

Petunias are an excellent and cost-effective way to fill a container
Image: Petunia ‘Orchid-Flowered Mixed’ F1 Hybrid from T&M

It’s amazing what a difference a few pots and baskets can make, regardless of how much space you have. Pots, planters and hanging baskets are a great way of creating a garden, even in a small soil-less courtyard or on a bland balcony. If you grow plants from seed, you can fill your containers with colour without breaking the bank. We asked radio garden expert Shaun Gagie how he makes his own pots and baskets interesting, pretty and productive. Here are his five top tips…

In the meantime, browse our collection of hanging baskets and accessories if you need to stock up.

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Edible flowers masterclass: best expert content

by | Jun 15, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | Jun 10, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

 

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.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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

by | May 30, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | May 23, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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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