I love this time of year. The mild weather over the last couple of weeks has really got things going in the garden. Over half term we had huge numbers of happy visitors enjoying the butterflies, bulbs, scented flowers and general ambience. Hepaticas in the Alpine Display House are looking wonderful this... Read more..

Our Grow Your Own weekend proved exceptionally popular on the weekend of 7-8th March. As part of the event we celebrated the 200th birthday of the famous cooking apple ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ AGM. Jim Arbury and his team in the Fruit and Trials Department planted the tree at the edge of the Fruit Field... Read more..

For the first time in over ten years an apple has been given the Award of Garden Merit. Not since 1998 has an apple received the award, and it’s gone to the very aptly named ‘Scrumptious’. ‘Scrumptious’ is an early apple, for eating straight from the tree in mid August and September. Introduced back... Read more..

What do we want from a new apple variety? Flavour must be first, and good texture as well. Disease resistance is a big help. It must crop heavily… It helps if it stores well… If it’s a good cooker as well as being a good eater straight off the tree, that’s great… And I always like an apple that simply... Read more..

Fancy learning some Norwegian? Here's a great expression for you... 'TING TAR TID' (tid - pronounced 'tee') Remember those tiny seedlings and all that bare earth? I was fortunate to spend 7 days away working at the Chelsea Flower Show and when I came back the whole thing had just... Read more..

The apple stepovers are now coming into their own, putting on a show that defies the barren soil beneath them (it's been so dry I've held off seed sowing). One of the earlier apples here is 'Katy' (syn. 'Katya') a Swedish variety, producing lovely bright red apples. I'm happy... Read more..

This is how the potager looked back in February. Box hedges dividing the plot( Buxus - no record of species or cultivars) - that one on the middle-left is completely out of proportion with the others. These plants can work beautifully in a formal potager, providing all year round interest. Also they... Read more..