Garden & Growing
Grow something useful, and know what to do when things go wrong. Browse 68 carefully prepared how-to guides.
How to harvest a basil plant without stopping it growing
Harvest basil by taking the tips of healthy shoots rather than stripping a plant of all its large leaves. Find a stem wi…
Read the guide →
How to grow Brussels sprouts in the UK, from seed to winter harvest
Brussels sprouts are a long-season vegetable: sow them in spring, give them plenty of room through summer, then pick the…
Read the guide →
How to grow garlic in the UK: planting, care, harvest and storage
Garlic is one of the simplest edible crops to start in a British garden. Buy a named garlic variety intended for plantin…
Read the guide →
How to prune lavender in the UK without leaving bare, woody stems
Prune established lavender lightly and regularly while there is still green leafy growth on the stems. For most English…
Read the guide →
How to grow mint in pots in the UK
Mint is easy to grow, but it is also extremely good at spreading. The simplest approach for most British gardens is to p…
Read the guide →
How to grow strawberries in pots in the UK
You can grow a useful crop of strawberries without a dedicated fruit bed. A roomy pot, trough, hanging basket or growing…
Read the guide →
How to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK for spring flowers
Daffodils are among the easiest spring flowers to establish in a British garden, provided the bulbs go into reasonably w…
Read the guide →
How to grow rosemary in the UK: pots, pruning and winter care
Rosemary is an evergreen herb that can provide fragrant cooking sprigs throughout the year, even in a British winter. Th…
Read the guide →
How to grow tomatoes in pots in the UK
You don't need a greenhouse or a vegetable bed to grow tomatoes. A sunny, sheltered patio and a properly sized container…
Read the guide →
How to grow carrots in the UK from seed
Carrots are a good crop for a small British vegetable plot because you can sow a short row, harvest what you need and ma…
Read the guide →
How to grow radishes in the UK: sowing, care and quick harvests
Radishes are one of the quickest vegetables you can grow. For an ordinary crisp salad radish, sow seeds directly into mo…
Read the guide →
How to plant tulip bulbs in the UK for spring flowers
Tulips make a brilliant spring display when their bulbs go into well-drained soil in autumn. The simplest method is to p…
Read the guide →
How to grow lettuce in the UK for a steady supply of salad leaves
Lettuce is one of the most useful vegetables for a small garden because it doesn't need much room and you can grow it in…
Read the guide →
How to grow sunflowers from seed in the UK
Sunflowers are one of the most satisfying plants to raise from seed because the seedlings are easy to recognise and, wit…
Read the guide →
How to grow oregano in the UK, from planting to harvesting
Oregano is a compact, fragrant herb that gives you useful leaves for sauces, roasted vegetables and many Mediterranean d…
Read the guide →
How to grow cucumbers in the UK, indoors or outdoors
Cucumbers grow best when they have warmth, consistent moisture and enough space to scramble or climb. In Britain, the fi…
Read the guide →
How to grow spinach in the UK for repeated leaf harvests
Spinach is a useful crop when you want fresh leaves quickly rather than waiting all summer for a vegetable to ripen. Sow…
Read the guide →
How to grow blueberries in pots in the UK
Blueberries are attractive shrubs as well as fruit plants. They produce small white spring flowers, summer berries and o…
Read the guide →
How to grow potatoes in the UK, from seed potatoes to harvest
Potatoes are one of the easiest substantial crops to grow at home, and lifting the first young tubers from the soil is a…
Read the guide →
How to grow onions in the UK from sets or seed
Onions reward a little preparation in spring or autumn with a useful harvest for cooking and storage. The simplest metho…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Asparagus: Planting Crowns and Establishing a Productive Bed
Asparagus is unusual among home-grown vegetables because the first real harvest is something you wait for. Plant it prop…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Basil: From Seed to a Regular Supply of Fresh Leaves
Basil is one of the most useful herbs to keep near the kitchen. A few fresh leaves can change a bowl of tomatoes, a past…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Broccoli in the UK: Sowing, Planting and Harvesting
Growing your own broccoli is entirely possible in a British vegetable garden, but the first thing to understand is that…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Dahlias: Planting Tubers, Summer Care and Winter Storage
Dahlias are grown for their long season of flowers, which can run from summer into autumn when many other border plants…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Dill: Sowing, Caring for and Harvesting the Herb
Dill has feathery foliage, a fresh aniseed-like flavour and a useful place in a small kitchen garden. It works especiall…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Kale: Sowing, Planting and Harvesting Through Winter
Kale earns its place in a British vegetable garden because it can keep producing useful leaves when many summer crops ha…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Lavender: Choosing Plants, Improving Drainage and Pruning Correctly
Lavender is often described as an easy garden plant, and it can be, but only when it is growing in conditions it likes.…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Lettuce in Pots: A Practical Guide for Patios and Windowsills
You don't need a vegetable bed to grow salad leaves. Lettuce is one of the most practical crops for a balcony, patio or…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Pumpkins in the UK: From Seed to Autumn Harvest
A home-grown pumpkin is satisfying whether you intend to carve it, roast it or make soup. The plant, however, is much bi…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Rhubarb: Planting Crowns, Harvesting Stalks and Keeping Plants Productive
Rhubarb is a useful crop for anyone who enjoys crumbles, compotes or a sharp fruit-style sauce. Although it is cooked li…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Cucumbers in Pots: From Seed to Fresh Fruit
Cucumbers grow surprisingly well in containers, provided they have warmth, light and a generous supply of water. A singl…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Garlic from a Clove: Planting, Care and Harvesting
Garlic is one of the simplest crops to start because each planted clove can develop into a fresh bulb. You don't need to…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Ginger at Home: A UK Guide to Starting Rhizomes in Pots
Fresh ginger can be grown at home, but it needs a different approach from ordinary garden herbs. The part we cook with i…
Read the guide →
How to Grow a Jade Plant: Light, Watering, Pruning and Propagation
A jade plant is one of the most forgiving houseplants you can own, provided you don't give it too much water. Its thick,…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Jalapeños in the UK: Seeds, Pots and Harvesting Chillies
Jalapeños are a good chilli to grow at home because their fruits are useful in everyday cooking and they don't require t…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Jasmine: Choosing a Variety, Planting and Pruning
Jasmine can bring fragrance and elegant flowers to a garden, but choosing the wrong type is an easy way to end up disapp…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Onions from Seed: A UK Guide for Beginners
Growing onions from seed takes longer than planting onion sets, but it offers more choice of varieties and can be cheape…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Orchids Indoors: A Beginner's Guide to Moth Orchid Care
Orchids have a reputation for being difficult, but the familiar moth orchids sold in supermarkets and garden centres can…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Potatoes in a Bag: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Spaces
You can grow potatoes without an allotment. A sturdy growing bag, a sunny corner and a few certified seed potatoes are e…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Rosemary from Cuttings: A Simple Propagation Guide
If you've already got a healthy rosemary plant, you can make more without buying fresh plants. A cutting is simply a pie…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Strawberries in the UK: Planting, Care and Harvesting
Growing strawberries at home is one of the easiest ways to enjoy fruit at its best. A ripe berry picked from a sunny con…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in the UK: Starting Slips and Harvesting Tubers
Sweet potatoes are not simply ordinary potatoes with orange flesh. They come from a different plant, need much more warm…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Tomatoes: A UK Beginner's Guide from Seed to Harvest
Home-grown tomatoes are worth the effort because you can choose varieties for flavour instead of shelf life. A sunny pat…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Watermelon in the UK: Seeds, Warmth and Harvesting
Watermelons are possible to grow in Britain, but they are not an easy outdoor crop in an average summer. They need susta…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Zinnias from Seed: Colourful Flowers for a UK Summer
Zinnias are among the most cheerful flowers you can grow from seed. They produce bright, daisy-like blooms in a wide ran…
Read the guide →
How to grow coriander at home, indoors or outside
Fresh coriander is one of those herbs that can disappear from the fridge just when you need it. Growing your own gives y…
Read the guide →
How to grow eggplant in the UK: a practical guide to aubergines
Eggplant and aubergine are two names for the same vegetable. In Britain, aubergine is the usual name, but gardeners sear…
Read the guide →
How to Grow an Avocado Seed: From Kitchen Stone to Houseplant
The large stone inside an avocado can grow into a surprisingly attractive houseplant. With a jar of water or a pot of co…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Eucalyptus: Choosing a Tree, Planting and Keeping It Under Control
Eucalyptus trees are popular for their silvery foliage, distinctive bark and the fresh scent released when leaves are ha…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Hydrangeas: Planting, Watering, Pruning and Flower Colour
Hydrangeas bring big clusters of flowers to gardens where many sun-loving shrubs struggle. They can brighten a partly sh…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Irises: Planting Rhizomes, Dividing Clumps and Getting More Flowers
Irises give the late-spring garden an unmistakable splash of colour, with flowers ranging from deep purple and blue to y…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Microgreens at Home: A Windowsill Guide from Seed to Harvest
Microgreens are young vegetable and herb seedlings harvested soon after their first leaves appear. They let you grow som…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Okra in the UK: From Seed to Tender Pods
Okra, also called ladies' fingers or bhindi, is widely used in curries, soups and stews. The green, ridged pods develop…
Read the guide →
How to Grow a Pineapple at Home from the Leafy Crown
You can grow a pineapple plant using the leafy top of a fruit bought from a supermarket. It is an unusual houseplant pro…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Raspberries: Planting, Supports, Harvesting and Pruning
A handful of raspberries picked in your own garden is difficult to beat. The fruits are soft, sweet and expensive to buy…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Roses in the UK: Choosing, Planting and Caring for Healthy Plants
Roses are often treated as demanding garden plants, yet a suitable variety in the right position can flower reliably for…
Read the guide →
How to Grow Zucchini: A Practical Guide to Courgettes in the UK
Zucchini is simply the American name for courgette. Whatever you call it, this is one of the most generous vegetables yo…
Read the guide →
How to Harvest Chives Without Wearing Out the Plant
Chives are one of those herbs that reward you for using them. A healthy clump produces slender, onion-flavoured leaves f…
Read the guide →
How to Harvest Spinach Leaves and Get More Than One Picking
The first spinach leaves are often ready while other vegetables are still deciding whether spring has arrived. Harvestin…
Read the guide →
How to Plant Beetroot from Seed for a Reliable Crop
Beetroot is a satisfying vegetable to grow because you can see the roots swelling within a few weeks. It needs little sp…
Read the guide →
How to Prune Sage and Keep a Bushy, Productive Herb Plant
A healthy culinary sage plant is a small woody shrub, not a soft herb that starts again from the ground every spring. It…
Read the guide →
How to Prune Thyme Without Cutting Into the Old Woody Stems
Thyme doesn't need aggressive pruning. In fact, a quick, hard haircut can be the thing that finishes off an old plant. T…
Read the guide →
How to Repot Houseplants Without Damaging Their Roots
Repotting a houseplant is not the same as automatically moving it into a much bigger pot. The aim is to give the roots f…
Read the guide →
How to Repot a Moth Orchid into Fresh Bark Without Damaging Its Roots
Most commonly sold houseplant orchids are epiphytic orchids such as Phalaenopsis. Their roots are adapted to air movemen…
Read the guide →
How to Prune Roses in the UK: Bush, Climbing and Rambling Types
Pruning roses looks more complicated than it is because different roses grow in different ways. A modern bush rose, a cl…
Read the guide →
How to Prune a Monstera Without Damaging Its Growing Nodes
A healthy Monstera does not need constant pruning, but a careful trim can make an overgrown plant easier to manage, remo…
Read the guide →
How to Prune Rosemary Without Cutting into Old Wood
Rosemary looks tougher than it is when the secateurs come out. An established plant can tolerate regular light trimming,…
Read the guide →
How to Repot Succulents Without Rotting Their Roots
A succulent doesn't need a new pot simply because another year has passed. Many grow well in fairly snug containers and…
Read the guide →