Garden

Gifts of plants or flowers are perfect “any time” gifts. Here, our resident gardening expert Jackie French explores the best blooming plants to give as gifts for garden-lovers.

Community gardens may be hard to find in your local area but did you know you can start your very own? Here’s how to establish and maintain a shared garden.

Make the most of the abundance of seasonal autumn and winter produce with these delicious tips and recipes that are good for the body and the soul.

Sweet peas are one of the most glorious blooms to pick. The complexity of colour and fragrance is unrivalled. Here’s the ultimate guide to growing sweet peas.

Many old-fashioned herbs are still a delight to use and even better to have in the garden. We discover the joys of herb gardening with Jackie French.

There’s nothing like a freshly picked fig, soft and flavourful after ripening on the branch. While fairly easy to grow, figs are a delicate fruit that need care when picking and transporting so you can enjoy their delicious softness in one piece. Whether fresh or dried, figs are a sweet snack that conjure up images […]

Jackie French reminds us of the power of gardening to make us feel — literally — grounded again, hands in the soil, and face among the greenery and flowers.

Old-fashioned fruits may not be obvious choices, but they are almost invariably hardy, productive, money-saving and delicious — as long as you know a dozen ways to use them.

The fate of Earth’s tiny creatures is tied to our own and should concern us all. Here’s what we can do at home to help insects on the decline due to man-made forces including pesticides, habitat destruction, climate change and more.

Beans truly are a wonder, with the ability to be milked and turned into tofu, miso, or natto and eaten dried or fresh. Grow, harvest and enjoy your own delicious beans with these useful tips

In World War II citizens were urged to “Dig for Victory”. Today, as Greenland melts and smoke from Russian fires turns the snow black in Canada and the northern USA, we face an enemy that could be more dangerous than any in World War II: ourselves.

The wonderful thing about having your own grapevine is that you will get that dappled shade under your pergola. You should get some grapes and they will taste of sunlight and the earth, that ancient flavour from far, far into our past.