There’s a small group of shrubs that have evolved to flower now, in the depths of winter, so as to catch the attentions of the very few insects that are out and about. The pollinator pond may be tiny right now but these plants are the biggest fish in it. None is better than winter … Read more
The jewels of January: Early blooming crocus are the gems that bring winter cheer This month crocus will bloom in your gardens creating beds full of colour Snowdrops will also start to peak above the surface of the soil in late January There are about 19 species, almost all winter-flowering and are easy to grow … Read more
Know your onions: Don’t miss out on nutritious ‘piquant’ vegetables in your plot later this year Nigel Colborn shares advice for growing garlic, shallots and piquant vegetables British gardening expert says garlic is best planted in autumn or late winter He advises against being tempted to plant supermarket varieties By Nigel Colborn for the Daily … Read more
At this time of year I start the slow and steady process of pruning all my roses. I do it in bite-sized chunks, and it always takes me a couple of weeks to get round all of our 150-odd shrub rose bushes. I like doing it, but I like pruning some more than others. This … Read more
Monty revisits one of his classic books, Gardening at Longmeadow, in an occasional series. The first batch of the snowdrops in my Spring Garden were planted 15 years ago. They were from a friend’s garden, and they’ve gradually been spreading by seed, although every few years I do lift and divide a clump or two. … Read more
A new leaf for 2021: Make this the year to spruce up and rejig your outdoor space, writes Nigel Colborn British gardening expert Nigel Colborn takes a look ahead to the coming year He gives some hints on how to make your garden prettier and more enjoyable They include dumping the weeds, fixing the mistakes … Read more
Santa’s green stocking! The ultimate Christmas gifts for gardeners Nigel Colborn picked out a selection of Christmas gift suggestions for gardeners British gardener says there are many new tools, fancy pots and helpful books His top picks include Gnome With A Chalkboard and Esschert Design Tool Stool By Nigel Colborn for the Daily Mail Published: 22:05 … Read more
My favourite Christmas trees are growing outside and will – I hope – never be brought into the house. I think I am safe on that score because you would need a crane to shift even the smallest one. There are 16 of them, all clipped to tight cone shapes and all made from yew, … Read more
Blooms for all seasons: Plant versatile roses now and enjoy a colourful show next year Nigel Colborn says the soils are not yet too cold to plant bare-rooted plants He suggests that although the choice is infinite, always go for top performers He revealed the best growers in his garden include the climber R. Compassion By … Read more
When I was growing up, celery was served almost invariably as a summer salad vegetable – and it is very good like this. But cooked celery enriches almost any soup or stew, as well as being tasty in its own right. Celery and its close relative celeriac are both delicious now. Celeriac is cultivated for … Read more