1. Eranthis hyemalis
The golden glow of this charming low-growing winter perennial is a heartwarming sight indeed. The winter aconite will thrive in any soil that is well-drained during the summer. They prefer dappled shade, reaching up to about 6ins (15cms) and growing so thickly that the vigorous leaves soon cover every piece…
Get plants started now, for bigger plants and bigger crops, says AG garden writer, Michelle Wheeler
If you have a heated propagator or a space on a warm, bright windowsill, sow tomatoes seeds this weekend. Here’s how:
1 Fill a 3in (9cm) pot with good quality seed compost; level the surface, firm down and water in. Pots are better than modular trays…
AG gardening editor, Kris Collins, shows how to bring a large tree back down to size
If a tree has out grown its space in the garden, you don’t have to get the chainsaw out and shout ‘Timber’. Try the ancient method of pollarding instead. Some timely hard pruning while the tree is in its dormant phase will bring it back…
The heat of different chillies is measured using the Scoville scale, which marks the degree of dilution of the chilli sample in a sugar solution. A rating of 100,000 means the extract had to be diluted 100,000 with the sugar solution for its heat to be undetectable.
Chilli Variety
Scoville Rating
Naga Jolokia
855,000-1,041,427
Dorset Naga
876,000-970,000
Red …
Hollies are either male or female – only the females berry. Very few are self-fertile, so a female generally needs a male nearby (in the same garden or a neighbour’s) to produce berries. Over pruning may be the reason for a non-berrying holly (hollies only fruit on wood two years old, or more). Late pruning (only prune in late winter/early…
AG garden writer, Michelle Wheeler, looks at how to keep Christmas gift plants going for as long as possible
Houseplants have long been traditional Christmas gifts, and for some reason (and no one really can explain why) the four plants that seem to be most presented at this time are pot cyclamen, Belgian or pot azaleas, poinsettias and, bringing up the…
If you are sorting through old seed packets through the winter months use this handy table to decide whether seeds are worth keeping. For more info on seed viability, proper storage and testing seeds before the main sowing season, see Amateur Gardening 21 Jan 2012, available at news agents and other outlets from 17 Jan.
Veg and flower seeds and how…
Impress your Christmas guests with this snazzy, easy-to-make festive container
For a cool, sophisticated look choose white and silver plants and embellish them with silver decorations and bright lights. This display will look classy for many months and the cineraria can be planted in the garden once the other plants are over. The calocephalus will do…
Deck the halls with a difference, says AG gardening editor Kris Collins
This is a great alternative to traditional Christmas decorations. Use up surplus apple harvests or buy a few bags from the supermarket. Take a walk and see what berries you can find to add to the display. Treat yourself to a floristry foam cone or create your own shape…
Can’t keep on top of houseplant watering? Hydro crystals could be the answer, says AG’s gardening editor Kris Collins
Hydro crystals provide water and basic air and nutrients needed for plants to grow. I’ve used the crystals with a number of houseplants, all of which are doing fine after several weeks in these unusual growing conditions – and I haven’t needed…
