April is one of the busiest sowing months. There is a lot that can go straight outside once the soil starts to warm up, and a few late summer and autumn crops you can start under cover.

April is where things really start to come to life. We have longer days, the soil is getting warmer, and there is a sense that everything wants to grow now. It’s busy, but in a satisfying and hopeful way.

There’s something quietly hopeful about a packet of seeds. At first glance, they look like unassuming papery envelopes filled with dust‑fine promises. But in those tiny, unremarkable specks lie whole gardens waiting to happen. 

As a new season approaches, March is the month that us gardeners spring into action. And there is an abundance of jobs to be getting on with…

Buckle up! We’re going full throttle on seed sowing this month. March is a month where we can sow a lot, but it’s still quite chilly so protection is paramount.

Tomatoes, peppers, chillis, aubergines… plenty of crops benefit from an early sowing and February is the perfect time to do it.

There are plenty of jobs to be done in the garden and at the allotment in February. It’s an exciting time for getting everything in shape for the upcoming season.

Believe it or not there are a few seeds that you can start to sow inside from January.

January is the perfect time to reflect on what you want to achieve in the upcoming season, and get your tools and growing space prepared.

Shady spaces don’t have to be forgotten corners of the garden. By choosing shade-loving vegetables, you can maximise your growing area, enjoy a longer harvest season, and reduce the stress of keeping crops cool in summer. 

Perennial vegetables are a brilliant way to make your garden more resilient, sustainable, and rewarding. With just a little planning at the start, you’ll be harvesting year after year without the constant replanting and digging. 

Whether you grow in the garden borders, a raised bed, or an allotment plot, the ecosystem is complex and companion planting can make a huge difference. In essence its a way of getting plants to support each other to deter pests, enrich the soil or even just make a space more productive. 

Nestled away in the countryside near Hertford lies Rochfords Nursey, home to the Rochfords International Rose Trials.

We’ve all been there - and here are my fixes to the top mistakes we’ve all made as beginner gardeners.

There has been quite some time between my writing in November that I was going to prune my fruit trees and today (72 days later) when I actually got around to doing it.

I have so many ideas racing around my head but one thing I know for sure is that next growing season will be better planned. It’s time to get out the graph paper and get planning!

January 2024 - that is when I received the call letting me know that some allotment plots had become available at a site just 5 minutes walk from my front door. I was beyond excited! Trepidatious, but excited.