By

Tim Blake
Chillies are a fun crop to grow. They are very decorative and don’t take up a lot of space, so it’s easy to grow a selection of different varieties in a season. Chillies originated in South America, and have spread throughout the world in the last 500 years or so. They are now an integral...
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In our busy worlds that are filled with concrete, asphalt and screens, plants help us to reconnect with nature as we enjoy the delights of new growth, colour and everchanging freshness. There is plenty to be achieved in the garden during May as we prepare for the coming winter days. More Time Indoors May is...
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Autumn is a fantastic time in the garden. In temperate areas of the country, April gardens are a delight as the beautiful display of foliage colour begins. In northern regions of the country, the extreme heat is subsiding, and the cooler nights bring relief for gardens and gardeners alike. April is the perfect planting month....
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Happy New Year and a very warm welcome back to the garden for the new year. Summer is a great time of year to stop and to enjoy the fruits of the previous labour. On saying this, there is still much than be achieved in the summer garden. Garden jobs for January: Treat gardens, pots...
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A few weeks ago, I came across a reference in a magazine to what looked like an intriguing book about edible flowers. I explored it further on the website, but then got distracted and didn’t take it any further. Then last week, Linda Brennan, the author, just happened to pop into my nursery. I was...
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Garden jobs for December: There is still time to plant out some annuals or potted colour to have the garden looking a picture for Christmas – try alyssum, lobelia, petunia, zinnia, salvia, verbena, marigolds. Now is a good time to plant up pots and hanging baskets – there are so many choices available and we...
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Many people who like growing plants have at least some growing in pots. Very few of these, though, grow water lilies. Perhaps we just don’t think of water lilies as being good pot plants, and think that we have to have a dam or a lake or at least a pond to grow them. But...
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In dry times, it’s really important to be conscious of how we use water. This should be something we think about all the time, but of course it becomes an even more serious when rain is scarce and water supplies are running low. Frankly, I think a lot of us use too much water, in...
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It’s time to pull out pansies and violas and other winter flowering annuals and replace them with something that will put on a show through summer. One of my favourite warm season annuals is Vinca. This tough little thing looks very much like a New Guinea Impatiens, with smallish, glossy green oval-shaped leaves and masses...
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Blue flowers always add a sense of calm and coolness to a garden. While red, yellow and orange accentuate the heat, blues and purples seem to moderate it, especially when complemented with some white. One way to get purple, lavender and white tones in the garden is to plant Brunfelsia latifolia. This clever shrub gives...
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