How Tomato Ailsa Craig Was Named
Waiting my turn at the dentist recently I was surprised when they called the name of the next patient. “Ailsa Craig” was not however my expected shiny red tomato but…
Radiant Ranunculus
Belonging to the same genus as buttercups, Ranunculus are amongst the most beautiful of plants. The brightly coloured flowerheads have crepe paper thin petals, packed tightly together and balanced on…
Dobies Plant Nursery at Paignton
After weeks of sunshine I’m not quite sure why I visited the Dobies plant nursery on the first rainy day, but I did. Did I say rain? It was more…
Fuchsia Pink Panther
Some plants seem to be like marmite but I didn’t think that the fuchsia fell into that category. It seems that perhaps they do. Yesterday I visited nursery and was…
Red Mite Control Advice
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…
British Asparagus Month
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…
Bumblebees – Friends of Every Gardener
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.
What Dobies Seed Was Being Sown and Grown in 1975?
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…
In Praise of Cherry Tomatoes
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…
Tiger Nuts: The Easy to Grow Superfood
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…