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.

Hydroponic house plants masterclass: best expert content

by | Nov 24, 2023 | , , | 4 Comments

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

by | Nov 20, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | Nov 17, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | Nov 17, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | Nov 17, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | Nov 17, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

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

by | Nov 16, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

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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Spicy butternut squash soup recipe

by | Nov 6, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

 

Collection of butternut squash on ground

Spicy butternut squash soup recipe

Ken Stockley
Why not grow your own butternut squash to use in this delicious soup recipe from Ken Stockley?
Ken says: "A lovely, creamy soup. All of the veg came from my garden and I only used ONE Apache chilli, but it still made my mouth tingle! Don't forget to wash your hands after clearing out the chilli seeds."
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Soup
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g butternut squash
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 onion
  • 1½ tbsp oil
  • ½ tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp mixed herbs
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • ½ red pepper
  • 500 ml water
  • 125 ml milk
  • 1 small chilli or half tsp chilli powder (optional)
  • Ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cut the butternut or squash into one inch chunks, removing the peel and seeds and any ‘stringy bits’. Peel and chop the garlic, onion, red pepper and fresh chilli.
  • Put the oil into a saucepan on a medium heat and fry off the garlic, onions and red pepper (and fresh chilli if using) for a couple of minutes until the onion is soft but not coloured. Stir frequently to stop it sticking.
  • Add the butternut squash and continue to cook for another 3 minutes. Keep stirring throughout.
  • Dissolve the stock cubes in the water and then add to the pan together with the milk, herbs, chilli (if using) and lemon juice. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat until it is simmering. Put the lid on the saucepan and continue to cook for another 20 minutes until the butternut is soft.
  • Remove from the heat and blend with a stick blender until smooth. If you prefer, you can leave it lumpy.
  • Reheat the soup again gently but don't allow it to boil. Season to taste with black pepper.

Notes

Find out how to grow your own squashes from seed through to harvest at our pumpkin and squash hub page.
Lead image: Squash Winter Butternut 'Hunter' F1 - Kew Vegetable Seed Collection from Thompson & Morgan
Keyword butternut squash, pumpkin, soup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

What to do with bare root plants when they arrive

by | Oct 31, 2023 | , | 14 Comments

Four bare root magnolia trees

Bare root trees arrive in a dormant state and resemble ‘sticks’ 
Image: Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Yellow Bird’ from Thompson & Morgan

Bare root plants are sold between November and March, while in a dormant state, and delivered in special packaging without any soil. They are economical to buy and, if you’re planning a new hedge, they’re a very affordable way to get it going. Aside from hedging, our most popular bare root plants include specimen trees, fruit trees, shrubs, bare root roses and even some perennials. Although they might look like ‘dead sticks’ when they arrive, they’re very much alive! Here are some top tips from our horticultural team to help you get your bare roots off to a flying start this winter.

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Broad beans masterclass: best expert content

by | Oct 19, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

Veg trug filled of broad beans

Freshly podded broad beans are absolutely delicious
Image: Broad bean ‘Bunyard’s Exhibition’ from T&M

Broad beans are the star of the ‘hungry gap’. Their pretty flowers are a welcome sight in spring when other crops aren’t quite ready or have reached the end of their season. Combine that with fantastic cold resistance and heavy cropping and they become a real no brainer! Follow these top tips from experienced garden bloggers and Instagrammers to grow your own bumper crops of broad beans. 

Browse our full collection of quality pea and bean seeds for new varieties and old favourites.

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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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