Author: Olivia Drake

Much as we chicken keepers enjoy the summer months the warmer weather is not without its problems. Possibly the biggest and most irritating, to hens and their humans, is the…

A recent “what’s your favourite month” poll amongst a few friends confirmed May as the clear winner. Flowers blooming, birds singing, bees buzzing, etc were all given as reasons. But…

One good turn deserves another and bumblebees are very aware of this proverb. Encourage bumblebees to your garden and they will help to pollinate your plants, resulting in better crops.

This week a copy of the 1975 Dobies Seed catalogue landed on my desk. Found by someone clearing the home of a sadly deceased relative. Much of our archive material…

Cherry Tomatoes are the tiny, sometimes grape-sized, tomatoes much loved by adults and children alike. They tend to be sweeter than other types and are suitable for adding whole to…

When Is a Nut Not a Nut? When It’s a Tiger Nut! Despite containing the word nut in its name, Tiger Nuts are not actually nuts but rather the tubers…

Back in 2015 we launched a revolution in blight resistant tomatoes – Crimson Crush. Many allotment holders and gardeners had long since stopped growing outdoor tomatoes due to the disappointment…

Here’s hoping you enjoyed a special Christmas and found time to complete the 2016 Dobies Gardening Quiz. Interested to know how well you did? Then checkout the answers below and…

The Dobies Christmas Gardening Quiz is perfect for when there’s nothing on the TV and its too cold to go for a walk. Just settle down in a comfy chair…

Hellebores must be one of the very best winter plants. With tough, evergreen leaves they simply shrug off frost and snow and push up their stunning flowers regardless.