Expert Gardening Tips
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Alan Titchmarsh: The art and craft of the head gardener
There are a healthy number of estates whose gardening staff are a vital part of their continued existence — Alan Titchmarsh pays tribute.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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11 glorious dahlias to plant in your garden, as chosen by the experts at the National Dahlia Collection
The experts at the National Dahlia Collections told Kirsty Fergusson the best varieties they’d suggest for the typical country garden in Britain.
By Kirsty Fergusson Published
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Mark Diacono: Chips, mash, roasted or dauphinoise — all better with your own potatoes
The versatile varieties of the potato make it a great crop to experiment with and, no matter what, nothing beats the taste of home grown
By Mark Diacono Published
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Where art meets biology: How Anne Wright has bred some of the world's most covetable snowdrops
At Dryad Nursery near York, botanical artist Anne Wright has been breeding some highly collectable snowdrops, writes Mary Keen. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
By Mary Keen Published
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'Giving a gardener a tree for Christmas is akin to offering a kitten or a puppy'
Wondering what to give a green-fingered friend or family member for Christmas? John Hoyland, gardens adviser at Glyndebourne, has some advice.
By John Hoyland Published
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Alan Titchmarsh: The most spectacular flowers of spring are easy, guaranteed to flower — and now is the time to plant them
Alan Titchmarsh doesn't like tulips. He loves them.
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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Inside the National Trust's secret nursery
Charles Quest-Ritson was invited in to the National Trust's top-secret plant nursery. Here's what he discovered.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
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How to grow broad beans: How to plant them, how to look after them, and the best varieties for your garden
Mark Diacono names the best broad beans for flavour, reliability, tenderness and the beauty of the plant itself.
By Mark Diacono Published
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Plastic pots revolutionised gardening in the 1960s — but field-grown plants are the future
John Hoyland always opts for bare-root plants if he can — and here's why you should too.
By John Hoyland Published
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The spectacular flowers that will thrive on chalky soils
Sometimes, gardening on chalk feels like an unfair challenge, says Charles Quest-Ritson — but there are some beauties which will make it all worthwhile.
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
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There are 7,000 varieties of apple out there — and you've probably tasted less than a dozen. Here's how to put that right.
Our grow-your-own expert columnist Mark Diacono shares his advice on how to branch out in to the wonderful world of apple varieties.
By Mark Diacono Published
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The gardening jobs to enjoy with secateurs in one hand — and a glass of wine in the other
Gardening does need hard work, says John Hoyland — but not all the time.
By John Lewis-Stempel Published
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Charles Quest-Ritson: The 'devastating consequences' when two of Britain's greatest-ever gardeners met for afternoon tea
A single meeting between Graham Stuart Thomas and Gertrude Jekyll shaped the career and thinking of the 'greatest gardener ever', says Charles Quest-Ritson. But at what cost?
By Charles Quest-Ritson Published
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Irises: 'The next batch isn't even planted yet, but I am already excited about seeing them flowering next year'
John Hoyland, the gardens advisor at Glyndebourne, on how irises with 'elegance and delicacy' are a constant joy.
By John Hoyland Published
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John Hoyland: The only garden tools you'll ever need
You can easily blow your gardening budget buying tools for all sorts, says John Hoyland, but don't be fooled: a handful of the right tools is all you need to garden.
By John Hoyland Published
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Alan Titchmarsh: The priceless flowers I planted before my grandchildren were born — and they're still going strong
Memories are made of... Agapanthus ‘Catharina’—still blooming in the writer’s garden and now older than his grandchildren
By Alan Titchmarsh Published
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How to grow your own figs that'll be 'like a feather on the tongue'
The fig is one of the most exotic fruits you will be able to grow in Britain. Mark Diacono explains how to go about it.
By Mark Diacono Published