What and how to plant

Not sure what to plant next, or how to get it off to the best start? This category is your practical guide to choosing the right crops, flowers, herbs, and shrubs for your space, season, and skill level, whether you’re working with a big backyard plot, a small greenhouse, raised beds, or containers on a balcony. Explore what to sow or plant month by month, how to match varieties to your climate and soil, and how to plan for steady harvests with succession sowing and smart crop rotation. You’ll also find advice on picking plants for pollinators, cut flowers, wildlife-friendly borders, and low-maintenance gardens. Learn the hands-on “how” with clear planting methods: seed starting and transplanting, spacing, depth, watering-in, mulching, staking, and protecting young plants from slugs, frost, heat, and wind. We cover direct sowing versus indoor starts, timing for warm- and cool-season crops, and simple troubleshooting for poor germination or leggy seedlings. Expect down-to-earth tips that help you plant with confidence and get stronger growth, healthier soil, and better yields all year round.

Peas for Every Garden The Reliable Route to Sweet Pods

Peas are a spring staple with a sweet flavour, quick growth and plenty of kitchen uses. With the right spot, timely sowing and basic care, they’ll reward you with crisp, juicy pods.

5 min read

Lilac as a Garden Feature Tips for Choosing a Variety and Planting It in the Right Spot

Lilacs are spring showstoppers with richly scented flower panicles and surprisingly low demands. Learn how to choose the right species and variety, where to plant it, and how a little pruning keeps it blooming well for years.

5 min read

How to plan a border that flowers from the first days of spring to late autumn

A border that stays colourful from early spring until autumn doesn’t happen by accident. With the right mix of bulbs, perennials and annuals, you can bridge flowering gaps and keep the display going for months.

5 min read

What to Put in the Planting Hole for Tomatoes for a Bigger Harvest and Stronger Plants

Tomatoes are heavy feeders, and what you add to the planting hole can make a real difference to rooting, vigour and yield. Here are practical, garden-tested options for better growth, more flowers and fewer problems.

5 min read

An Easy Route to a Big Bean Harvest Practical Tips for Small and Large Growers

Beans are one of the most rewarding home-grown crops, whether you’re sowing a few pots on a balcony or filling a whole bed. With the right spot, steady moisture, and sensible care, you can harvest tender pods or dry beans over a long season.

5 min read

Hardy Geraniums for Sun and Part Shade, Perennials That Flower from Spring to Autumn

Hardy geraniums (cranesbills) are reliable, frost-hardy perennials that form dense, weed-suppressing groundcover and flower for months. Choose the right species for sun, part shade, or dry spots under trees and you’ll get long-lasting colour with minimal care.

5 min read

The Healthiest Fruit for Your Garden Aronia Will Thrive Reliably at Home

Aronia, also known as black chokeberry, is a tough, low-maintenance shrub that produces antioxidant-rich berries. With the right siting and a good start after planting, it will crop reliably for years.

5 min read

Hydrangea care is easy when you follow the right step-by-step method

Hydrangeas are adaptable shrubs that reward you with lush flowers from summer into autumn. Get the basics right—site, watering and the correct pruning timing—and they’ll thrive for years.

5 min read

Proven Pepper Growing Secrets for a Big, Stress-Free Harvest

Peppers reward you with a long, colourful harvest when you give them steady warmth, sun and consistent watering. These practical tips will help you choose the right variety, raise strong plants and set fruit reliably in a greenhouse, bed or container.

5 min read

Beautiful boxwoods to enhance your garden year-round practical planting and care tips

Boxwood is one of the most versatile evergreen shrubs, valued for its dense foliage, year-round colour and excellent tolerance of clipping. Learn where it thrives, how to plant it correctly and how to keep it healthy and well-shaped for years.

5 min read

Frosts Have Passed, It’s Time to Plant Freesias That Will Fragrance the Whole Garden

Freesias are loved for their elegant blooms and unmistakable perfume, and they can be grown successfully outdoors when planted at the right time. Choose firm, healthy corms, give them sun and free-draining soil, and lift them for winter storage.

5 min read

When and how to prune wisteria so it flowers fully and doesn’t wreck its support or your walls

Wisteria is breathtaking in bloom, but without firm training and regular pruning it quickly becomes a heavy, forceful climber. Learn where to plant it, how to support it, and how summer and winter pruning unlock reliable flowering.

5 min read

The secret to a bigger harvest which plants help each other and which don’t

Companion planting pairs crops that support one another with fewer pests, better pollination, and more reliable yields. Learn proven combinations, helpful herbs and flowers, and which neighbors are best kept apart.

5 min read