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One Man & his organic plot - Part Two

Our Head of Organic Horticulture, Chris Collins takes us on his allotment journey...

The growing season is now well and truly underway and it's a fact that gardening is a series of challenges and this season is proving no different. Firstly, we all need to resist the temptation to go early with all those tender crops that we have raised carefully under glass or in my case, in my home.

New publication - The Principles of Organic Gardening

Garden Organic is pleased to announce the publication of a new booklet which neatly summarises the five organic gardening principles. Feed the soil, encourage wildlife, use resources responsibly, avoid harmful chemicals and keep your growing area healthy. Based on over 60 years of research, the easy to read Principles explains the thinking behind each of the above.

Worrying level of pesticides found in 'Bee Friendly' plants

New research has found that many of the plants sold in garden centres as 'Bee or Pollinator Friendly' in fact contain dangerous levels of pesticides. Dr Dave Goulson, from Sussex University explains "Garden centres frequently market nectar- and pollen-rich ornamental plants as “pollinator-friendly”, however these plants are often treated with pesticides during their production...

bee, neonics, neonicotinoid, pesticides, B&Q

B&Q announce ban on growers treating any flowering plants with neonicotinoid pesticides

To help support wildlife and address the declining bee population, home improvement retailer B&Q announced its flowering plant range, available from February 2018, will be grown free from all neonicotinoid pesticides.

One Man & his organic plot - Part Four

So suddenly the summer arrives, with blistering heat and I find my work day gaining an hour as keeping the plants on my allotment watered becomes a necessity.

I will confess after coming all the way back from Gardeners World Live, in Birmingham the idea at 8pm that I’ve got to leg to the allotment, does feel like a bit of a chore. However, it needs to be done and once down there it turns into the most pleasant hour of the day. I do enjoy talking to people in my day to day work but an hour with my plants can’t be beaten, especially now I am transporting them to the dinner table.

One Man & his organic plot - Part Three

Summer is finally here and all of Chris's hard work over the past couple of months has finally paid off...

It’s probably the most stressful month for a gardener in some respects. The buzz of spring is in full flow as April ends and anticipation of the growing season ahead sets in. It really is an exciting time. I was busy seed sowing in the first few months and my rather adventurous nature always leads me to having plenty of plants on the go, from bedding plants to vegetable heritage plants, my flat became full.