bags of ideas for growing

So everyone is growing vegetables and herbs – grow your own is massive!

As usual we like to encourage people into the garden with some simple projects, I always say gardening should be fun and experimental. With the World Cup coming up even those who don’t really like gardening will probably be looking for some sort of garden improvement or mini makeover ready for those lovely summer days, lounging and barbequing! Well we can hope can’t we!

so what’s new?

Well, we always try to cater for all sizes of garden and if you are like me and have no garden why not try some of the New Erin eco range of growing products such as Herb Growing Kits or Mushroom Growing Kits.

I think they look very cool and I’m going to try and grow mushrooms in a cupboard – legitimate ones I would like to add!

According to the box they need to be in a dark place at about 20-25 degrees but they can’t go in the airing cupboard – my first thought! So to start with the kit is heading for a cupboard in the kitchen and then when a cooler temperature is needed it will move to my ‘cupboard of doom’ home to join odd boots, games and old junk I haven’t got around to throw- ing away.

Check out my photographs next month and I will let you know how I have got on. If anybody has any experience or would like to join me in my ‘Great Mushroom Grow’ then email me your pictures and

tips and I’ll let everyone know how we got on. In the same range there is a wicked looking Chilli Growing Kit, Mixed Herb and Mixed Salad Growing Kit.

The smaller herb growing kits are available in Basil, Corriander, Chives, Parsely, Rosemary and Thyme as individual pots. The 100% Bio degradable Coloured Pots with matching saucers are made from natural bamboo fibres bonded with rice ‘resins’ with 2-3 year life. These pots are great for growing on the window sill and cropping times vary from 6-10 weeks to 12-14 weeks depending on the herb. You can also buy a Mediterranean kit with three different pots. They are simple to use, clean and tidy and children will love waiting for their crops to appear!

To get you growing there is a voucher to get 10% OFF any ERIN ECO Product in April for readers (see box opposite).

For those with bigger gardens or patios I would suggest growing veg in pots or raised beds this year. Raised beds were quite popular last year, but we are already seeing an increase in sales

They are all about £19.99 each for a basic square 1m by 1m bed. We have set up a whole ‘Grow Your Own’ area to try and link all these different products together complete with fruit and veg projects for pots and raised beds.

Evergreen

garden, tree & fencing services

◆ Private and commercial premises ◆ Free estimates ◆ Grass cutting ◆ Hedge trimming ◆ Tree removal ◆ Stump grinding ◆ Stump removal ◆ Turfing ◆ General maintenance ◆ Tree and hedge reduction ◆Soft landscaping ◆Clearances ◆All aspects of fencing ◆ Micro digger hire with or without driver

garden design & construction

◆Retaining walls ◆Patios ◆Feature patios ◆Brick paving and Driveways ◆Paths ◆Steps

◆Raised beds ◆Borders ◆Decking ◆Stone work ◆Planting ◆Low maintenance

The complete landscape and maintenance service

Free quotations, fully insured

01752 336775 or

60 the plymouth magazine

07977 193804

children’s gardening

There are some brilliant ideas for kids gardening too, including a great range of tools in the Yeo Minis Range which are very reasonably priced. I really love the New Sticklebag Growing Bag. It has a fun bag, with canes and cane topper. It’s perfect for patios, small gardens and balconies. All you need to do is add compost and seeds and watch things grow.

Growing sunflowers is a great project for children but you could try tomatoes, peppers, peas, clematis , sweet peas, raspberries, blackberries and lots more. There are adult versions too with different designed bags.

On of the easiest projects is growing herbs or strawberries in a planter. There are a number of different planters available from bags, plastic units and terracotta or glazed planters.

We have set up some displays to inspire you and we will always be happy to advise you. Look out for the ‘Grow It’ Range of planters and ‘Grow Your Own’ Products Including: Hanging Strawberry and Tomato Planters in Twin Packs Planter, Pea and Bean Planter, Salad and Herb Planter all about the £4.99 mark. There is also a re-usable growbag.

protecting your crops

So, if like our new gardener last year who started growing his own, you found the birds were helping themselves to your crops before you could enjoy them – have a look at Botanico’s’ Crop Cages . If you aren’t keen on making your own protection

plant of the month –

acacia dealbata

‘gaulouis astier’

A lovely Mimosa. It is a great evergreen shrub or small tree with pretty elegant fern – like silvery green foliage. It has masses of wonderfully fragrant bobbly yellow flowers in early spring. Plant in light, well drained or sandy soil, in full sun. It is a perfect plant for sheltered spot in the garden or try planting in a large blue pot which would look lovely on a sunny patio.

by

Fiona Newton

of Plymouth Garden Centre

as they are relatively cheap, a good size and easy to put together. We stock Gardman, Botanico and Jagram raised beds of various sizes. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64