Well, the snow put paid to the judging of winter foliage of bergenias at Wisley this week. Here they are, entirely covered with snow! There's over three hundred bergenias, in over a hundred species and varieties there, but not much to assess at the moment The judges will be back to look them over... Read more..

Last year the Wisley dahlia trial was one of the most colourful - and interesting - of the season. It usually is. It's always worth seeing just to admire the dazzling display. But of course there's a purpose to it: finding the best. Out of a grand total of one hundred and forty nine different... Read more..

Last year the Wisley dahlia trial was one of the most colourful - and interesting - of the season. It usually is. It's always worth seeing just to admire the dazzling display. But of course there's a purpose to it: finding the best. Out of a grand total of one hundred and forty nine different... Read more..

The icy and snowy weather earlier this month revealed one way in which the Wisley trials are so useful. One of the most valuable features of bergenias is their winter foliage colour and the recent weather has put them to the test - some retained their foliage and were revealed in glorious colour when... Read more..

Climbing French beans must be one of the top crops for yielding the most food, and the tastiest food, from the smallest space. But of course, it's not just about kilos on the scales - it's about flavour, table quality and how easy the plants are to grow. The recent trial revealed those that combined... Read more..

Trials of outdoor carnations and chrysanthemums take place every year at Wisley. It's a long standing tradition and even after so many years fine new varieties are still being recognised and receiving the Award of Garden Merit . The latest awards have just been confirmed. Although attracting a fervent... Read more..

As the mild weather brings the crocus season to a close, I can bring you the results of the visitors' vote for their favourite in the Wisley crocus trial. For a couple of years the trial was grown in the Alpine Department where there is, unfortunately, limited access for visitors. So, for its final... Read more..

Cauliflowers are not the easiest vegetable to grow but they are amongst the relatively few vegetables that can be grown to cut in late autumn and winter. And fresh food from the garden at that time of year is always a treat so this cauliflower trial, recently ended, was especially useful. Twenty eight... Read more..

Many of the trials at Wisley are composed of two parts: the trial of all the varieties in contention for an Award of Garden Merit and, alongside, a demonstration and those which already hold the award. So visitors not only get to see all the newcomers but also those whose standard they have to reach... Read more..

Last summer was not really an ideal one for French marigolds so those that did well in the Wisley trial really must be good. There were 132 in the trial altogether - both French marigolds and Afro-French hybrid marigolds and this week the eight that were especially outstanding had their Awards of Garden... Read more..