Extend nectar sources: Plant late-blooming flowers such as asters, sedum, and goldenrod to provide a crucial food source for pollinators as they prepare for winter
Provide shelter: Create or maintain bee and insect hotels to provide safe overwintering sites
Leave some garden areas untouched: Avoid cutting back all perennials, leaving some stems and plant matter for pollinators to shelter in during the colder months
Mammals (e.g. hedgehogs)
Build hibernation nests: Create hedgehog-friendly hibernation spots by piling leaves and twigs in sheltered areas of your garden, or provide a hedgehog nesting box. Make sure the nesting boxes are safe so they don’t get stuck with their spines. Leave out food and water: Continue to provide fresh water and food such as meaty cat or dog food, or special hedgehog food until they go into hibernation.
Check bonfires: Before lighting any bonfires, check them thoroughly for hibernating hedgehogs or other wildlife. Also make sure to thoroughly extinguish bonfires afterwards and make sure hedgehogs can’t reach them as they can be drawn to the warmth
Create safe passage: Ensure gaps remain in fences and walls to allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens as they search for hibernation sites
Birds
Provide shelter: Install bird boxes to offer roosting spots through the colder months
Clean out any existing boxes to prepare them for winter use
Offer seasonal food: Supplement natural food sources with bird feeders filled with high-energy options like sunflower seeds, suet, and peanuts to help birds build up fat reserves.
Leave natural food sources: Allow berries, rose hips, and fruit to remain on shrubs and trees for birds to forage naturally as the season progresses. Leave seed heads intact: Allow some of your plants to go to seed, as these are a valuable food source for birds.
Beneficial Insects (e.g. lacewings, ladybugs)
Create overwintering shelters: Leave piles of leaves, rocks, and wood undisturbed to give beneficial insects a place to hibernate, or build an insect hotel
Plant autumn flowers: Include late-blooming plants like chrysanthemums and marigolds to offer food sources as temperatures drop
Minimize garden disturbance: Delay heavy pruning and garden cleanup until spring to avoid disrupting hibernating insects
Bats
Put up a bird house and enjoy watching nesting birds.
Support food sources: As insects start to dwindle, ensure your garden has plenty of night-scented flowers like evening primrose to attract moths, a key food source for bats.
Prepare roosting sites: Check and clean bat boxes to ensure they are ready for use. If you haven’t installed one yet, autumn is a good time to prepare for next spring.
Minimize light pollution: Continue to limit outdoor lighting, as this can help bats forage more effectively as daylight hours decrease
Remember to consider the needs of your garden’s night-time visitors.
Marigolds are an excellent companion plant.
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le up logs, stones, and of your garden to offer ibians and reptiles. nsure ponds are free of but leave some cover to tering amphibians. Refrain from tidying up al debris like fallen leaves l cover and insulation for
ife jobs:
urce for wildlife is easons Refresh them are accessible and safe areas of your garden undisturbed, allowing leaf piles, dens vegetation, and log piles to serve as shelters for various wildlife species
Maintain wildlife-friendly features: Clean out bird feeders, bird baths, and other garden features to prepare them for winter use. Regular maintenance ensures these features remain safe and effective for wildlife.
Leave some garden cleanup until spring: Postpone major garden cleanups to avoid disturbing hibernating wildlife. Consider leaving dead plant stems, seed heads, and foliage as cover for insects and small mammals.
Encourage natural foraging: Allow fruit, nuts, and seeds to remain on plants wherever possible to provide natural food sources for wildlife
Educate and advocate: Share the importance of autumn wildlife gardening with your community
Encourage friends, family, and neighbours to implement these practices in their own gardens to support local wildlife
Leave sunflower heads in place to help feed the birds.
Homegrown food contains numerous advantages, not only nutritionally but with other features as well Among many compelling reasons to think about starting a vegan kitchen garden, the highest one is probably the freshness and flavour advantages of homegrown produce If you have ever harvested and munched on a fresh carrot you will know that the taste is out of this world! Many fruits and vegetables will taste better and be fresher compared to the supermarket versions with integrated pesticide particles When you grow your own vegetables, you will be able to harvest at the peak of ripeness, gaining the best flavours and nutrients.
Growing your own food can also lead to nutritional benefits. Homegrown food is often more nutrient rich than that available commercially. That’s because you have power over the entire growing process and can choose your own way of farming, thereby avoiding harmful pesticides and herbicides In addition, with the initiation of a kitchen garden, there can be a cut in costs for fresh produce Seeds are cheap and attainable, and with a little care, luck and initiative, one can yield a bountiful harvest Over time, the savings can be substantial
Gardening incorporates a deeper connection to the land and the cycles of nature It encourages mindfulness and patience as you nurture plants from seeds to maturity This connection can be incredibly fulfilling and grounding in our fast-paced modern world Another significant advantage of growing your own food is the reduced environmental impact Transportation and packaging contribute significantly to the carbon footprint of our food. By cultivating your own fruits and vegetables, you can eliminate these food miles and packaging wastes from the final total, thus making your food supply more sustainable.
Starting a vegan kitchen garden is a very exciting and rewarding journey. To help you succeed, it is advisable to start small. If you are new to gardening, consider beginning with a small plot or even container gardening. Herbs, salad greens, tomatoes and peppers are great starter plants As you gain confidence and experience, enjoy gradually expanding and evolving over the seasons Watch your plot grow and flourish
Choosing the right location for your garden is essential, a site that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight would be ideal Make sure it has good drainage and not prone to standing water
A fantastic use of space creating vertical growing and planting.
The same photo a few months later in full bloom.
The soul of a good garden is the soil, so investing in highquality rich organic soil or amending existing soil with compost is essential This will provide the plants with the appropriate nutrients for good and healthy growth
Practicing companion planting can enhance the success of your garden Companion planting involves planting together different plants beneficial to each other Basil and marigolds are often planted near tomatoes to help improve taste and repel pests It is generally trial and error to what suits you and your garden
Watering is crucial for plant health, but over-watering can be just as detrimental as under-watering Aim for consistent moisture, and consider using drip irrigation or self-watering containers to conserve water. Additionally, adopt organic gardening practices by avoiding synthetic chemicals and utilise natural fertilisers, such as compost or worm castings, and consider natural pest control methods like homemade soap sprays or let nature do its thing.
Gardening, like learning, is a lifelong experience. Do as much research as you can on gardening. A garden journal will be very useful in keeping track of the successes and the failures in your garden Attend workshops, read books, and connect with local or the lovely gardening instagram communities There is a unique joy that comes from harvesting the fruits of your labour The act of gathering fresh produce from your garden brings a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment In the kitchen, cooking with freshly harvested ingredients enhances the culinary experience and encourages creativity in the kitchen
Living off your garden allows you to embrace seasonal eating and only harvest what you need This promotes health while aligning with sustainability, as seasonal produce requires fewer resources to cultivate Experimenting with recipes that highlight the flavours of every season, from spring greens to autumn squash, it can be an enjoyable testing out new dishes. By learning food preservation techniques such as canning, freezing, drying and storing, this can extend the life of your produce and can be exciting to learn along the way. It will allow the fruits of your garden to be enjoyed throughout the year: your taste of summer during the winter.
Embracing vegan kitchen gardening marks a journey of transformational sustainable living You experience a nourishment of body and soul by cultivating food; at the same time, there is a growing closeness to nature, connecting deeper to the environment In a time when our planet faces numerous challenges, gardening offers a viable path to a simpler life
The act of cultivating your own garden allows you to make a significant positive impact on the environment while enjoying the numerous benefits that come from growing your own food
As you embark on this journey, remember that gardening is not just about the end results; it is about the process of learning, nurturing, evolving, and connecting with the earth Each seed you plant carries the potential for growth and sustenance, and every harvest is a testament to your dedication and care Embrace the challenges and triumphs that come with gardening, and allow them to deepen your appreciation for nature and the food it provides.
Ultimately, the practice of vegan kitchen gardening embodies a philosophy of living in harmony with the land. By cultivating a garden that supports your plant-based lifestyle, you are actively contributing and moving toward greater ecological balance. This journey not only reduces your environmental footprint but also empowers you to take control of your food sources, promote biodiversity, and contribute to a healthier planet.
In a world where convenience often takes precedence over sustainability, vegan kitchen gardening serves as a reminder of the joys of self-sufficiency and the rewards of patience and perseverance So, roll up your sleeves, dig into the soil, and let the beauty of nature inspire you to grow, thrive, evolve, and live off the land As you nurture your garden, you will find that it nurtures you in return, providing not only food for your body but also nourishment for your soul Embrace this wonderful adventure and discover the profound satisfaction that comes from growing to live and living off the land
Tori has created a fantastic growing space for both flowers and food.
Just look at all these onions!
Although my interest in gardening began many years before my first pregnancy, both my pregnancies have influenced and deepened my commitment to and enjoyment of gardening and growing
I was pregnant with my daughter from March to November of 2020, a time of huge uncertainty and worry for everyone. I found great comfort in planting my garden, nurturing plants and experiencing their natural life cycle at a time when I too was experiencing something natural and cyclical, despite many of our day to day lives being so unnatural. It was at this point that I knew whatever was going on in my world or the world more widely, I wanted to be growing, outside, hands in the soil, embracing the benefits of being attuned to seasonality and reaping the benefits of working with nature
Physical and Mental Wellbeing
The world is much more recognisable now I am in my second pregnancy, and I have the added grounding experience of parenting a lively, curious and inspiring 3 5year-old who we have encouraged to be outdoors and involved in gardening and growing as much as possible She is already requesting her own allotment, so we ’ ve been successful so far! However, even navigating the common and expected challenges of a healthy pregnancy has been made so much more manageable through gardening Spring arrived in my first trimester and I found the fresh air and gentle movement of walking around the gardening, looking at what needed to be done or planning what would go where, was a great distraction from nausea, exhaustion and general nerves of early pregnancy.
Over the next few months as my energy levels improved, I was able to tackle most of the usual gardening tasks and enjoyed the physical activity when my back was already protesting against my more conventional workout habits!
Now I am heading into my third trimester and somewhat inevitably, my bump prevents me from the heavy lifting and digging that I would usually partake in but I’ve focused on sowing and transplanting vegetables for the autumn and winter (with my first pregnancy I was outside a week before my daughter was born directing my wonderful husband and mother-in-law as to which plants needed repotting and where I wanted my redcurrant bushes planted!) I also have a wonderful outdoor space to have a cup of tea and relax in without having to venture to far from home comforts
By Heather Lambert @modernwomanoldsoul
A Hobby for all seasons
Literally and figuratively, gardening is a hobby for all seasons. Although I am lucky to have a large garden with plenty of ornamentals, growing fruit and vegetables is my passion. I enjoy the feeling of creating and nurturing something that is both beautiful and productive and I’ve found the natural cycles of gardening fit in well not just with my needs and limitations during pregnancy, but also my time and energy as a parent Getting baby to sleep in the pram and then doing some gardening while they nap close by, giving a toddler a spade and a bucket and letting them dig in a patch of mud or setting aside a patch for my 3-year-old and letting her choose what she’d like to grow have all sat naturally alongside the gardening year and my approach as a parent to get my children outdoors and making the most of the natural world as early as possible
One of the reasons why I have enjoyed gardening so much during pregnancy is that I know I won’t have to give it up when my second baby is born. Of course, gardening requires time and input, but half an hour here or there during nap or snack time (or, if you ’ re obsessive like me, after bedtime with a head torch on during autumn and spring!) is usually manageable. The garden does not care if you get out there at 6 am, 1 pm or 9 pm Scheduled classes, regular commitments and finding hours at a time without the demands (and joys) of family life are a thing of the past for me at the moment, but gardening more than makes up for it
When my daughter rushes out to pick raspberries after pre-school or asks me to get her little wheelbarrow and spade out so she can do some digging, I look at her and my bump and feel content that it is not just my unborn baby that I’m growing but a productive garden for my family, a love of gardening in my children and my own passion that will last me through these busy years and beyond.
Little hands help create magic in the garden. Get them inolved with easy tasks early.
Make your own Fire Cider to help ward off those winter bugs.
How to Make Fire Cider
As the autumn chill sets in, it’s time to find your woolly socks, turn your mind to preserving what you ’ ve grown, and stock up on Fire Cider: a simple home tonic for the winter months Even if we don’t get the cold winters I remember from my childhood, it’s still the season for sniffs, sniffles, and the dreaded winter viruses. I actually wonder if we’d be healthier with the icy blast. Certainly the soil would benefit.
Don’t let its fiery name scare you off, nor indeed let the ‘cider’ part worry you if you ’ re not a drinker! It’s not that fiery, and it’s not cider! Fire Cider is a simple, traditional folk remedy, made with ingredients you quite possibly already have in the cupboard. A vinegar-based infusion, it's been passed down through generations, gaining popularity in the 1970s with the ‘back to the landers’ and making a comeback now with the homestead trend
What You'll Need:
Apple cider vinegar (500ml): It’s important to use raw, unfiltered vinegar with the "mother" for full probiotic benefits.I get mine in Lidl but health food stores will also stock it.
Horseradish root (a good handful): Fresh is best, and if you can grow it yourself, all the better! It brings heat and clears the sinuses like nothing else (You can buy it online, dried)
Turmeric Root (another good handful) I buy this online, but fresh I’ve no idea if I could grow it in the polytunnel?
Ginger root (a 3-4 inch piece): A powerful anti-inflammatory, ginger adds warmth and supports digestion You can grow ginger under glass/plastic in the UK, I’m told
Garlic (5-6 cloves): An immune-boosting powerhouse Grown a good crop this year? This is where some of it should go I use up any that look as if they may not store well
Onion (1 medium): Rich in antioxidants and immunesupporting compounds.
Chillies (1-2 fresh or dried): Add to taste, but be careful not to overpower. The heat from chillies stimulates circulation and gives the Fire Cider its kick. I use homegrown ones, which of course adds a layer of uncertainty to the heat factor!
Black Peppercorns: A tablespoon or so, I don’t even crush them, but you can, if you want
Star Anise: Totally optional, but adds another layer of spice and flavour
Lemon (1 large): For a burst of Vitamin C and a bit of brightness to balance the other strong flavours You can also use an Orange, or Lime
Rosemary ( a sprig or two, fresh): Another little immune booster, and why not add plenty!
Honey (to taste): A good local honey not only sweetens the mix but also offers soothing properties.
How to make yours:
1. Prep your ingredients: Start by washing and chopping all your roots, fruits, and chillies No need to peel them; just chop them into small pieces that will release their benefits into the vinegar. If you ’ ve grown your own, now ’ s the time to celebrate the harvest.
2. Pack a jar: Find a large glass jar, something with a good seal. Layer in your ingredients one by one. I like to start with horseradish, turmeric, and ginger, followed by garlic, onion, chillies, black pepper, rosemary, and lemon. Pack them down, but don’t compress them too tightly vinegar needs room to seep through
3. Add the vinegar: Once your jar is full of ingredients, pour in the apple cider vinegar until everything is completely covered I usually leave about half an inch of space at the top Make sure you use a non-metallic lid, as vinegar can corrode metal If you ’ ve only got a metal lid, slip a bit of baking parch between to protect it Kilner do a very pretty jar with with a plastic seal which is perfect
4. Steep: Now comes the waiting Seal the jar and g good shake, officially, you should then store it in a co place for four to six weeks, and also remember to sh to keep everything moving and infusing. For me, thes instructions are both unlikely to happen! If it’s in a co place, I’m going to forget about it. So I sit it on my co out of direct sunlight. I also write the date on the lid w sharpie, because four to six weeks is way too long fo remember when I made it!
5. Strain and sweeten: Once it’s ready, strain the liqu pan, and gently warm it while adding honey, so it lo through nicely I then bottle it, label it and add it to th medicine chest (or give some as a gift )
September is a great time to plant your garlic for next year’s harvest.
Elevate your fire cider with good quality local honey.
How to Use It:
A tablespoon or two a day is usually all you need I would advise against taking it straight, because of the potential to damage your tooth enamel You might like to dilute it with water or mix it into tea You can also use it in cooking splashed into soups or salad dressings, it adds a bit of zing and a nutritional boost to your meals. I generally pour it into a glass of sparkling water for a refreshing fizzy drink.
With your homemade Fire Cider ready to go, you ’ re all prepped for the coming winter. Keep a bottle in the lottie shed, by the kettle!
Fresh or dried rosemary can be used.
In East Suffolk, there is an extraordinary garden located at the Suffolk Punch Trust site. This is the Suffolk Heritage Garden.
Step into
In 2011, a local vet, Phillip Ryder-Davies, sparked the idea for a new, heritage-themed attraction. With the collaborative efforts of Sarah Cook and Miggie Whyllie, they brought to life the only county-themed national Plant collection registered with the Plant Heritage charity in the country.
Sarah Cook is better known for her involvement with Benton Iris at Benton End, Hadleigh Sarah designed the garden to reflect Mr Ryder-Davies' vision of a garden that reflects all things Suffolk
The garden comprises 46 Species,162 Cultivars, and 208 Taxa of Suffolk Garden plants To be classed as Suffolk heritage, the plants must be named after Suffolk places or objects The plant must be bred in Suffolk by a Suffolk company or person living in Suffolk or have a direct link to a Suffolk person
Dick Smith also worked with Mr Ryder Davies to create an orchard of Suffolk Fruit trees Each year, the apples from the fruit trees get picked and sent to Aspalls to make Apple juice, which can be purchased at the gift shop.
This garden has important floral links to famous artists, composers, and garden centres, such as Benjamin Britten, a well-known opera composer from Aldeburgh, Suffolk; Cedric Morris, a renowned painter who painted the Benton Irises from Hadleigh, Suffolk, and Roger Crompton Notcutt, who purchased his first nursery in Ipswich, Suffolk, now known today as Notcutts Garden Centre.
The glasshouse is chockful of beautiful succulents and cacti.
The Aspalls orchard in all its glory.
A truly stunning Bearded Iris in bloom.
Throughout the seasons, the Suffolk Heritage Garden goes through some remarkable changes with the different varieties of plants From Benton Irises to Suffolk Punch Dahlias, Rosemary, named after the rivers Deben, and stunning variegated Agapanthus
During the open months at the Suffolk Punch Trust, the Suffolk Heritage Garden glides effortlessly through Spring, summer, and Autumn with the help of its amazing Volunteers. A small group comes to the garden once a week to ensure it is cared for. They also rely on Helping Hand or volunteer days from Local businesses such as UK Power Networks and work closely with Hollesley Bay Prison.
Over the decade, many local companies, such as Thompson and Morgan, Ipswich, Suffolk, and Notcutts, Woodbridge, Suffolk, have donated plants to the garden, either for the collection itself or to give the garden an extra wow factor throughout the seasons.
During the open months at the Suffolk Punch Trust, the Suffolk Heritage Garden glides effortlessly through Spring, summer, and Autumn with the help of its amazing Volunteers A small group comes to the garden once a week to ensure it is cared for They also rely on Helping Hand or volunteer days from Local businesses such as UK Power Networks and work closely with Hollesley Bay Prison
Over the decade, many local companies, such as Thompson and Morgan, Ipswich, Suffolk, and Notcutts, Woodbridge, Suffolk, have donated plants to the garden, either for the collection itself or to give the garden an extra wow factor throughout the seasons
The latest addition to the Suffolk Heritage Garden showcase (yet to be included in the official collection) is the Miggie Sweet Peas by Mr. Fothergills. This sweet pea changes colour depending on the light and has a strong scent. For every packet purchased, a donation will go to the Suffolk Punch Trust to support the trust and the garden. These can be purchased on the Mr Fothergills website or at the Suffolk Punch Trust.
The Suffolk Punch Trust and the Suffolk Heritage Garden rely on Donations to finance the resources needed to maintain this beautiful site Next time you are in Suffolk, head to Hollesley and Donate to a good cause
The Suffolk Heritage Garden is free to visitors; however, to make a full day out (which I recommend), there is a ticket price for the stud farm, and you would get to experience another Suffolk wonder, the Suffolk Punch horses
This calm and relaxing garden, with lots of seating, is a gardener's dream
Head to their website and plan your visit soon!
Mr fothergills Sweet Peas in bloom.
There is so much to discover at the Suffolk Trust.
Right now is the perfect time to start saving seeds for next year.
A lot of gardeners prefer Spring or Summer: perhaps it’s because they love high colour flowers, clean and tidy (hopefully weed free) beds, or the start of Summer abundance on the vegetable patch For me, it’s always Autumn that is my happiest time I love the slightly slower pace, the chance to play with all sorts of foodie delights and the ability to prepare for the new growing year and take some of the weight off during the busier growing seasons and pumpkins- there’s always pumpkins!
Usually, I attempt to save some seeds, (although my calendula and marigolds from last year ’ s seeds have not done anywhere near as well this year!), preserve harvests (still hoping for canning tomatoes this year… but it’s getting chancy) and plant even more spring bulbs (especially ones to grow for Christmas presents indoors.) This year however, attempting to improve my soil has become one of my top priorities.
Most years, if I can, I will mulch my beds with well-rotted horse manure if I can get it, or if not, at least fallen leaves that I collect from my son ’ s primary school car parks.
The leaves will still happen this year, especially as I have now got two year ’ s worth of bagged leaves moulding quietly away dotted around the plot and the side of the house… but near me, manure is not so easy to come by.
I’ve noticed that beds I mulched with manure last year really struggled: weeds were prolific but stunted and crops did not fair very well either, even if they survived this year ’ s slug fest. I believe my local venue for manure may be using straw laced with herbicides, so I will be avoiding that entirely this year! Instead, I have started learning about green manures and cover crops Using the same theory that I use when deciding what the soil needs by what weeds grow, (deep rooted to bring up nutrients, lacework to stop soil erosion or just general gap filling) I am working on multiple options to be sown in the next week or so to protect my soil from the weather and hopefully add in some organic matter for next season
What will I be sowing? Both from Sowseeds, I’ll be using the winter mix of Ryegrass and Vetches added to Birdsfoot Trefoil
Some of my plot gets waterlogged in the winter, so I need varieties that can deal with that The rest of my plot erodes away under rain very quickly as I’m on a slope I am hoping that these three plants, added to my overwintered veg plants will keep the soil where I need it, rather than washing into the stream at the bottom of the hill. In some beds I will also be adding Field Beans as I really want to not only try them as a crop but so I can also use them as nitrogen fixers… another nutrient that I know my soil will be depleted of after the year we ’ ve had! These have come from Suffolk Seeds.
Adding these green manures to my root veg and garlic growing should mean that my six big beds will largely look after themselves this winter I just need to remember to chop and drop them come Spring! Here’s hoping I remember!
Important considerations when filling your bathroom with
plants: Check your natural light.
Whether you have a large or small window can make all the difference to which plants you choose for your bathroom. The smaller the window, the less light in your bathroom, reducing options for plant placement and meaning you’ll need to choose low-light plants.
No window, no plants.
Despite what you might read online, houseplants simply can’t live in windowless rooms. Most indoor plants are native to very warm, sunny countries, and die in rooms that have only artificial light. Unless you buy special growlights or grow bulbs, houseplants in windowless rooms can’t receive the spectrum of light they need to survive.
Does your bathroom window have frosted glass?
Many bathrooms have frosted glass for privacy, but believe it or not, this can also be great for houseplants! Frosted glass can help to filter strong sunlight, reducing the sunlight that reaches your plant’s leaves. If your bathroom has filtered light, then you can confidently place your houseplants on the windowsill and worry less about crispy foliage!
Which direction does your window face?
The direction of your window can make all the difference when it comes to how much light your plants will receive. South-facing windows receive sunlight throughout most of the day, whereas north-facing windows receive very little light at all Consider any trees or buildings that obstruct your window as this will further reduce the light
Make sure your plant has good drainage.
The humidity in a bathroom is generally great for plants, but it can mean that soil dries out much more slowly. Houseplants living in your bathroom will need a good, chunky soil mix to allow water to drain more freely. Add coconut chunks or orchid bark to bulk it up! Watch also for plants near showers, as ceramic cache pots can pool with water and drown your plant Always check regularly for standing water in your pots and empty it!
By Gemma Haigh
Photo Credit: Stock Canva Image
Photo Credit: Stock Canva mage
Best houseplants for Best houseplants for Best houseplants for bbathrooms bathrooms athrooms
Peace lilies
Peace lilies are native to the tropical rainforests of south America and love humid spaces. Famed for their serene flower-like white spathes, they are most likely to bloom in bright, indirect light Peace lilies do best a foot or two away from a large south-facing bathroom window, and east or west-facing windowsills
Parlour Palm
Popular with Victorians, the Parlour Palm makes an excellent addition to a bright bathroom. Available in sizes from small to extra-large, palms add a flash of foliage to dull, empty spaces. Place your parlour palm in a bright, frosted window, or in indirect light. Expect slow growth and low maintenance – these plants are easy going!
Maranta Tri-colour
Marantas make wonderful houseplants, as their foliage tumbles down over the lip of a pot and cascades down walls and shelves. AND they’re much easier to keep than their cousin, the calathea, being not at all fussy about light. Maranta tri-colour has green leaves with red lines. It thrives on east, west or even north-facing windowsills!
Photo Credit: Gemma Haigh
Photo Credit: Unsplash - Feey
Boston Fern
Boston ferns make excellent bathroom plants for slightly more experienced houseplant parents Don’t be scared of their bad reputation, they love a humid space and an east or westfacing window They also love a position a few feet away from a frosted south-facing window. Just be cautious about placing your Boston fern too near a radiator or window, as they dislike draughts and temperature changes!
Anthurium Andraeanum
Native to the tropical rainforests of South America, Anthurium Andraenum will suit a warm, steamy bathroom spectacularly. Place yours on a north, east or west-facing windowsill and enjoy its coloured ‘flamingo flowers’ all year round. Available with pink, red, white or black spathes, you’ll easily find an anthurium andraenum to match your bathroom décor
Still have questions that need answers?
Gemma offers bespoke, bookable online consultations to talk through all your houseplant needs. Book 30 or 60 minutes to ask all the houseplant questions you can think of. She’ll help you save sad plants, teach you about lighting, and give you tips on plant placement! Head to her website or Instagram for more.
Stay tuned for next month’s ‘Plants for Places’ instalment in Garden Folk Magazine, where we’ll be taking a look at houseplants for living rooms!
Photo Credit: Gemma Haigh
Imogen- Young Folk Champion
Across the English Channel lies a jewel in the crown of world idylls, the Channel Islands. Since my first visit to Jersey back in 2012 I have been hooked on their glistening waters, coastal walks, quiet pristine beaches, country lanes and delightful flora and fauna. On a recent whim, I escaped back to the magical islands (plural) of Guernsey and it is from there that I bring you some of what I treasured horticulturally
Upon arrival I was completely spontaneous and discovered there was an evening boat crossing due to the picturesque, car free island of Herm, so off I went I have been several times before but never during the later hours to watch the light turn It was magical; I deeply took in the sea breeze while taking to the coastal tracks that brought me so much nourishing value Guernsey cows adorning the fields with the picturesque seascape beyond, chewing away at the long grass while I stood immersed in a wild thicket of the most immersive fragrance either side of the path; drifts of Summer Honeysuckle in full bloom. It was nostalgic romance and the horticultural equivalent of the most wonderful passionate kiss imaginable. Moving on as the sun started to drop I encountered Herm’s beautiful little village and chapel, adorned with hanging baskets, roses and bedding plants with a small lookout to sea. All alone, I reflected, cried, shut down, spiritually in this setting while appreciating its cuteness. The rest of the coastal path took me on an undulating journey through wildflower meadows, banks and steep cliffs with coast tolerant plants, as I meandered back to the lonely Rossyln steps for the ferry back to St Peter Port Upon the following morning it is this, the island’s capital that stands tall for its riparian beauty from the water’s edge, but also for its flowers - baskets lining the seafront teemed with colour and the cobbled shopping streets
Both Victor Hugo and Renoir admired this island for its beauty, and so do I as a now seasoned traveller It is my 5th time to Guernsey but I’ve also been to Jersey eight times in a decade, this trip would introduce me to Alderney and provide repeat visits to Herm and Sark, for I am addicted to their charm. Talking of Sark, a highlight besides crossing La Coupee and taking both a tractor ride and horse and carriage for transport was a second visit to the RHS Partner Garden ‘Le Seigneurie’ where I stepped into a circular fruit orchard of espaliered pears lined with an uplifting hello of a ring of Erigeron Karvinskianus ground cover, in the vicinity of a gothic dovecote, signalling tower and the trickle of a remastered cider press fountain.
The gardens, laid out to an 1860s design, are charming. Particular highlights were the climbing Pelargonium ‘Alice Crousse’ beside the Victorian greenhouse, sitting amongst the cosy planting of the pergola and the herbaceous borders. The boat back came to pick me up all too quickly but I loved this garden
I spontaneously got to Alderney after 12 years of not getting there, initially by boat and then by a small 19 seater Dornier plane for a ten minute flight, what a bucket list adventure this turned out to be, literally for an afternoon In that time I managed to circumnavigate about half the island on foot, take lunch on the terrace of the Caribbean like Braye Beach and wander the Georgian cobbled streets of the capital, St Anne Horticulturally though the memories I will take from this glorious little paradise are from wildflowers adorning the sheltered coves and the discovery of a brilliant enterprise walking to the tiny airport in ‘Alderney Roots’, a small family run, chemical free mixed vegetable farm supplying routine food boxes to islanders (follow @alderney roots).
I aim to vary the landscape of Guernsey whenever I go there; sometimes choosing different parts of the island to stay, or alternating between town and coastal locations. This time I decided to stay inland at Le Pommier hotel, which unbeknown to me had five acres of gardens and big plans ahead for them
By Chris Jesson @groovygardeninguk
Wildflowers on braye beach Alderney
While I had noted the hotel drew extensively from local sources in its menus and room amenities I also did not realise until talking with staff that the hotel had taken on its own commercial sized greenhouse - perfect! Very kindly, the general manager took me around The hotel would like to invest in much more ‘growing their own ’ , providing more salad crops, foraged food and microgreens for their guests I think it is a well executed example of how a small island once famous for supplying most of Britain’s tomatoes can become more self-sufficient again and endorse that heritage as a marker for the hotel’s selling points to potential customers The payoff was that the purple potato and fennel soup with local Guernsey bread and butter was absolutely divine
You will never tire of Guernsey’s horticultural talents; big or small, all in miniature in a real ‘home from home’, less than an hour by plane or less from the mainland. I even caught Horticultural talent in the Guernsey Tapestry and the gorgeous Victorian Kitchen Garden at Sausmarez Park on my way back to the airport. You may well be completely bowled over, whether for coastal wildflowers in the Spring or sub-tropical delights at the height of Summer. Do consider it worth a visit on the basis of this article alone, it comes #groovygardeningapproved. You can catch me back there on a 39 mile circumnavigation of the coastal path in the run up to and including next year ’ s Greenfingers Charity Garden Re-leaf Day; As an ambassador of this wonderful cause to create fabulous gardens for children in hospices, I would greatly appreciate your consideration of a donation on my JustGiving page Thank you
The car free, wildlife abundant landscape of Herm Island
Sark at twilight with the trident ferry
The Victorian kitchen gardens at Sausmarez Park, Guernsey
By Kim O’Brien @dahliafarmerama
As an avid garden visitor, I am slightly embarrassed to admit that until this week, I had never visited an actual RHS garden before! I know! I know! What? I hear you cry Call yourself a gardener? Why haven’t you visited before? And what are you going to do about it?
Like you, I have visited many of the RHS Shows, Tatton Park, Chelsea, Hampton Court, and the like, and as wonderful as these shows are, I always wish the show gardens weren’t so, well… temporary. If only they had time to relax, breathe out and mature into the countryside. That’s exactly you will see when you visit RHS Hyde Hall in Essex; a garden that has been given the luxury of what the RHS show gardens have not. Time to establish, root and flourish.
Walking into the garden, it’s the maturity of the perennials that first strikes out at incoming visitors Voluminous echinaceas arranged in vast drifts lead the eye deeper towards the heart of the space, enticing and teasing about what else might be in store The great swathes of verbena that sway and elevate the borders to touch into the blue of the sky (we were blessed with the most perfect summer day) line the grassy entrance like a living wall of colour, bobbled with purple bee magnets that welcome more than just the human visitors
A flurry of Echinacea
Wild planting can be seen throughout Hyde Hall.
We were actually there as part of a tour (one of the benefits of being a member of the garden media guild) but by the time we had reached the main borders, I became flustered by a, I kid you not, 10 foot dahlia, ‘Karma Chocolate’ That beast pulled me to one side, separated me, heart pounding from the official tour, and set me in a luxurious head spin You may be aware that I have something of a penchant for dahlias (I don’t usually mention it) and I’ve seen some glorious, high reaching specimens in my time but this beauty topped the lot, especially as it’s a variety that has never surpassed 6 feet for me Was it the deep chocolate velvet red of the dahlia petals themselves or its pairing with the beautiful but deadly burgundy foliage of the Ricinus which sent my pulse racing? I guess I’ll never know
When I finally found the strength to tear myself from the dahlia, I stumbled upon the pond abundent with koi carp, carpeted with water lillies, and home to the most impressive and jurassic gunnera I have ever laid eyes on. But it was actually the dry garden that took my breath away. Steeped unobtrusively into a hillside of gravel and boulders, the stipa gigantia, chusan palms, gaura, and verbena bonariensis formed a soft tapestry of pastel hues, moving and swaying, rustling and evoking a sensory experience of fragrance, colour, form and sound. The stipa tenuissima grasses were tantalisingly tactile and cried out to be brushed and stroked. In all honesty, this area was much less a garden and more of an experience. The piece de resistance was the magnificent dry riverbed, an imposing channel of pebble and stone that affirmed the aridity of the landscape It was utterly captivating and despite its prominence, sat silently un-flowing and pulled the whole vista together as a triumph in garden design
Lost (literally) in the wonder of the garden (separated from the group and almost missing lunch) I found myself wondering why I haven’t visited an RHS garden before? If my visit to Hyde Hall gardens was anything to go by, it is not only a very pleasing day out, it’s an enrichment, an inspiration and a living lesson in garden design and landscaping Of course I will love to see the compact show gardens of the aforementioned flower shows, but will I be making it my mission to visit every RHS garden on the map from now on? Are you kidding me? I’m already planning my next visit
Some
1 Preheat your oven to 200°C.
2 If using courgettes, either cut the tops off or halve them lengthwise For other vegetables, carefully remove the tops Scoop out the insides, leaving the skins intact Set the scooped-out innards aside for the stuffing
3 Lightly spray the vegetables with olive oil Place them on a baking tray and bake for about 15 minutes
4 While the vegetables are baking, chop the scooped out innards and fry them with chopped onion and seasonings (garlic, chili, salt, and pepper) until soft
5 In a bowl, cover the couscous with hot stock (vegetable or chicken) Add lemon juice, chilli, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover and let it sit until the couscous is cooked and fluffy.
Wll you be making Charlotte’
6 Once the couscous is ready, fluff it with a fork. Mix in the fried vegetable innards, chopped cucumber, parsley, tomatoes, and feta cheese. Add pomegranate seeds if you have them.
7 Remove the baked vegetables from the oven. Spoon the couscous mixture into the hollowed vegetables Top with grated cheddar cheese
8 Return the stuffed vegetables to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly
9 These stuffed vegetables are delicious served with a fresh salad, salsa, or a slice of crusty bread Enjoy!
10 While the vegetables are baking, chop the innards you scooped out and fry them with chopped onion and seasonings (garlic, chili, salt, and pepper) until soft
11 In a bowl, cover the couscous with hot stock (vegetable or chicken) Add lemon juice, chili, garlic powder, salt, and pepper Cover and let it sit until the couscous is cooked and fluffy
12 Once the couscous is ready, fluff it with a fork Mix in the fried vegetable innards, chopped cucumber, parsley, tomatoes, and feta cheese Add pomegranate seeds if you have them.
Charlottes Top Tips:
Variation: This recipe is flexible Feel free to swap ingredients based on what you have available
Seasoning: Adjust the seasonings to your taste
Adding herbs like basil or mint are a great option that can use what you have in the garden.
Cheese: While I suggest cheddar and feta, you can experiment with other cheeses like mozzarella or goat cheese.
Bramble Baking
By Becca Finn @possibly a potager
Blackberry Flapjack
Autumn is in the air; the heat has started to wane, and the nights are drawing in We have had one of the wettest August Bank Holidays that I can remember too – with 50mph winds! We didn’t suffer too badly here and despite my ever lack of staking the dahlias correctly – There wasn’t too much damage This is on my ‘list to do better next year!’ But, on we go in our pursuit of growing!
This month – I’m concentrating on pricking out those Hardy Annuals before they head into the ground to overwinter Hopefully I’ll be planting them out around the end of this month! My biennials are already desperate to get in the ground so that is a number one priority. My first year with a truly great stock of foxgloves – a flower never managed to make work before, so one that is going to be a 2025 highlight for sure. I’ll also be sowing as much as I can to overwinter in the greenhouse. More hardy annuals coming up!
Another big focus this month is the beginning of Autumn Bulbs
Getting your displays ready for early spring And shopping for bulbs happens to be a favourite pastime of mine! Daffodils, Tulips, Iris, Alliums, Crocus, Muscari and Amaryllis Get these planted up as early as possible – so they can have as much time in the cold as possible – the more of a cold snap they are subjected too, the better they usually perform And you will certainly be thankful of those little green shoots appearing in February time! My favourite way to plant my bulbs in ‘ enmasse ’ in pots. I can never make the whole bulb lasagne thing work! But, I know I’m definitely not the only one!
The latter end of this year already feels like its going to be flying by, so stay tuned over the next few months as I take you through all the autumn and winter prep to get your gardens and allotments flower ready in 2025!
By Jen Howarth @life on the lot
ck to my allotment on plot 40a! You may that I didn't write an month's issue and this me being really with the allotment.
By Ben
a few months of World Live and some uncontrollable s in our family life, the allotments have back burner We were still visiting them ough, as we have chickens on plot 27b hings were a little sub-standard and plot cular needed some serious weeding and a However, in mid-July, we received letters s These letters were ‘Notice to Remedy’ nyone who isn't familiar with the allotment eceive these letters after an inspection by te rep, allotment officer, or indeed when spected the site and they feel your plot is xpected' standard We were mortified! ch huge passion for our plots Plot 27b is ablished and main working plot whereas ying to make plot 40a amazing and
on plot 40a, I was given a lifetime 50% hey deemed it 'unworkable' so imagine d I was when I received my ‘notice to r, stating that it wasn't at the ‘cultivated’ y expect from their allotment plots. I your mind up! Never the less, it needed for reinspection, so I set to it!
was to get the grass mown and I set to it I er and over again on multiple settings, ming everywhere I could It took a few was so long and I wanted it to look ad to recharge the battery at home
d the big no dig bed Although I put a cardboard down, I'm still getting nd some hard-core couch grass coming bindweed had decided the arches were not the intended beans. The slugs had mated those weeks before! Over three managed to get it weed free and looking d the bed and refreshed the paths with
Shutler @plot 27b bristol
I then focussed on the fence line where the wildlife area is planned. I strimmed out all the overgrown weeds, self-seeded tree babies, and anything else I found. I decided to just start again. My new plan is to plant fruit bushes, sunflowers, and spring and summer bulbs to make it a wildlife buffet. Also, this will mean, in the eyes of the allotment officer, it will be 'cultivated'. I’m going to block the holes in the fence and I was kindly given a huge amount of scaffold netting by my parents, meaning I can green net the side of the plot from the lane on the other side
I moved on to a huge project next The brassica cage! I've wanted to do this for months but it's not been the best weather to do so My son Alfie and I reassembled the old metal framed chicken enclosure and felt like real men after putting it together with no instructions I am not going to admit how many times it went wrong because obviously we got it right first time (We absolutely did not!) Once it was up and positioned in a suitable spot, we put a huge amount of cardboard down in the base and we emptied bay 1 of the compost bays This has been composting down for around 9 months I think, so isn’t perfect but totally suitable for a good base in here. Usually, I'd wheelbarrow it across but I'd taken the wheel home to fix a puncture and whilst it was at home, someone stole the bolt off my wheelbarrow so when I went to put it back together, I was unable to. We had to use buckets and bags instead. Autumn got involved, my little compost princess, and started spreading it across the cardboard as I relentlessly brought it to her. We then added a woodchip path from the entrance which created a horseshoe shaped growing bed All we need to do now is put the door on and net the frame, oh and sow some winter brassicas for it!
Now bay one was emptied of mature compost, we put in loads of chicken bedding that was in need of a space This had been piled up in the wildlife area I also had some fence panels, so I used these to create a clean edge on the compost bays, making it look much more appealing as a first impression on walking up to the plot
I then turned my attention to the area where the greenhouse will be built, hoeing the weeds and getting it ready for a big build day I won't be doing this until I know for sure that I'm not losing my plot I mean, I feel like I've lost the plot lately but I at least want to have somewhere to lose it to!
The trees are pruned, the grass is mowed again and the whole place is all tidied up and I think I have a chance of passing the allotment officers requirements. It's really made me think about how important this space is to me and the thought of losing it really hit hard. I sometimes feel that the allotment hierarchy forget that these spaces are much more than just growing food for us and that it's a place to escape, collect our thoughts and be at peace with ourselves. My classic line to people is that an allotment is a hobby, not a job. I think sometimes that is missed.
As Autumn creeps in, September can be a glorious month in the garden. There’s colour, harvests, late season blooms and quite often a fair bit of sunshine. So, get out there and enjoy it!
Things to sow/plant
Flowers
Daffodils
Crocus
Crysanthemums
Pansy
Ammi
Echinacea
Straw Flowers
Poached Egg Plants
Edibles
Garlic
Winter Salads
Spinach
Overwintering Onions
Pak Choi
Chard
Come and join the @gardenfolkmag team for live garden updates throughout the month over on Instagram.
Want to learn how to really understand your house plants and how to care for them? The journey starts here! Award-wining podcast host Jane Perrone guides you through the world of houseplant care with the help of a host of expert guests
There’s lots to keep us productive in the garden this month as the harvests (hopefully) roll in, plants start to go over and we ’ re prompted to look ahead to the big autumn tidy up
Divide Hardy perennials for new plants for free.
Plant up some seasonal pot displays to see you though till winter.
Leave sunflowers and other seedheads on the plants to provide interest and food for the wildlife
Plant bulbs.
Lift maincrop potatoes and store in sacks indoors.
Pot up herbs such as chives and parsley to keep o a windowsill indoors and use overwinter.
Keep bedding plants flowering by deadheading and feeding regularly until the first frosts.
Collect seeds and share with friends or store for next season
Pot up tender perennials and bring indoors for protection
Preserve. preserve, preserve to enjoy those hard won harvests in the months to come
Repot, clean and feed your houseplants.
Wash and disinfect bird feeders.
I've fallen in love again with the Iris hollandica hybridsespecially 'Symphony' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. �� @christophgaerlti
So many �� A deep purple Iris of unknown variety, Cornflowers and echinaceas
@welliesandwaffles
I most enjoyed beside my heritage narcissus I wrote about, while fleeting due to the lily beetle, my Fritillaria raddeana. Absolutely beautiful. Oh and I became a Galanthophile. Slippery slope? Grumpy and Diggory became part of the collection among others.
@groovygardeninguk
Good question!!! Ballerina is always one of my fav tulips and I love pairing it with Caviar or Ronaldo ��
@viewfromthepottingbench
Classic Daffodils! It's always a joy to see colour & know the tulips are on their way �� @ellas.kitchen.garden
Such a difficult decision, I love the rip van winkle daffodils for the name as much as the double ruffles but love growing citrus sorbet daffodils as a cut flower for their amazing fragrance soft toned flowers. @fiveminutegardener
Finola charming lady and palmyra tulips , sweet rocket classic romantic cornflower mix , bridal crown daffodil ranunculus giallo and lilly of the valley @norfolkbluedoorflowers
My favourites this season were all my Muscari and Tulip Claudia @my.allotment.escape
This was our first year gardening and we planted lots of different bulbs. The most impactful ones were the hyacinths (the smell) and tulips (different varieties). �� @fuffa03
Finola tulips , marriage tulips, hyacinths, and muscari . @bloomin gardening with lisa
These are some of my faves from this year, the crocus are crocus roseus, daff and muscari combo are minnow and muscari azureum and tulip Sanne @jensgardenlife
Canning is go! Blanc and freezing frenzy is dehydrating raspberri basil and olive oil in cube trays �� @mrs.r garden lif
“How
This month we asked you:
do you preserve the harvest??”
I'm hoping to try no preserving but storing veg in damp sand ove autumn/winter mont Anyone tried this meth @4mcds bloomingp
I just love making Nasturtium pesto and freezing into ice cubes for that taste of summer all through winter Ally, Garden Folk Mag Team
dogs favourite snack are erries I think I've lost half arvest to her. She pinches hem off the trug ���� @my.allotment.escape
I'm also cutting root veg into chips/roast veg chunks to use over winter
Parsnip/carrot/potato chip mixes are yummy! Soups for freezing, pasta sauce jarred or frozen I freeze herbs like mint in ice cube traysperfect for those Christmas and new year cocktails! @lottieonthehill
The biggest thing we do is cook down tomatoes and make tomato sauces. We use it in so many dishes over the winter. �� @katecoopernurturenature Next month we want to know: “ Tell us your highs and lows of the year?” Send us a message on Instagram or email us your answers to info@gardenfolkmag.com
@lottieonthehill
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