Amateur Gardening

As we continue to bumble along in this very stop, start, slow, soggy weather-laden challenge of a gardening year, we have to find warmth and wellbeing where we can. To make the best use of even slightly warmer moments and marvel in the glory of blue

Editor Kim Stoddart E-mail: Editor@amateurgardening.com Website: www.amateurgardening.com CEO Steve Wright Managing director Steve Kendall Group publisher Fiona Mercer Group web editor Rachel Harper Subscriptions marketing manager Claire Aspinall Ret

AG readers are being asked to be alert for, and report, the caterpillars of a moth that could potentially devastate our ancient oak trees and also cause uncomfortable allergic reactions in people. Oak processionary moth caterpillars, which are mainly

As June moves towards its end, looking after the garden is a bit like herding cats - everything is going on everywhere, growing in all directions and the gardener is hard-pressed to know where to turn first. The beds need weeding, the greenhouse need

I am a huge fan of growing my own fruit on the plot. Strawberries are such a popular edible – definitely due to their deliciousness, but also because they crop quickly. Many fruit trees, canes and bushes only come into their own after two to three ye

The perfect way to learn to garden is to start in miniature. The hanging basket takes the same discipline as large-scale gardening with attention to watering, feeding and plant health; but … they can be hung on balcony railings and walls, so they’re

After all the rain we’ve received so far this year, the garden is looking fresh, full and fabulous. The kaleidoscope of colour has arrived, as if Mother Nature has spilled her entire paint palette on the garden. With all this variety, the struggle is

I can remember from childhood the odd, earthy smell of beetroot boiling in a saucepan before the process of peeling and slicing for salads. I wasn’t keen on the odd sweetness of its roots or the tide of red that seeped across the plate. This was one

Early summer is when garden plants are most at risk from pests. Plants are young, tender, lush and full of moisture, making them at their most appealing to pests – whether the two, four- or six-legged kinds! Let’s look at some pest curios: ◼ Female a

Turning a concrete yard into a lush, wildlife-friendly garden is a rewarding project that anyone can undertake with some planning and elbow grease. Here’s how I turned my own barren space into a thriving habitat, complete with pollinator-friendly pla

Which products, or projects would you like Adam to cover and trial in his column? Please contact editor@amateurgardening.com with suggestions. Around this time of year, when the catalogues are flowing through the letterbox thick and fast, I’ll often

Q I have had success growing various flowers from their seeds but have yet to succeed with peonies. Do you have any tips on the gardening wizardry required to harvest their seeds and grow more peonies? Ed Debaes, Henfield, West Sussex A Peonies are n

When I was growing up my dad always used to grow chrysanthemums and I never appreciated them as I should have done. To me, they lacked the glossy pizazz of dahlias and the scent of roses and I basically ignored their presence. Now that I’m older, wit

Your lovely letters, emails and social media posts continue to flow in beautifully. Every message, poem, idea and comment matters. Please keep them coming. We will send out a thank you gift for every item published in the magazine so do please send y

Of course, I love the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, doesn’t everyone? It will come as no surprise that I specifically love the Great Pavilion - I like to spend most of my day there, seeking out all the new plants, chatting to the breeders, and trying to p

The early carrots washed away, my salvias drowned, while tulips were like pound shop umbrellas in a gale, inside out as soon as they opened. Proof, if it was needed, that the weather is now officially bonkers. But there is a silver lining… it’s been