Matthew Biggs' Gardening Diary

There is still time in June to sow fast maturing vegetables in areas affected by late frosts, and affected by the erratic weather.  Spring onions, parsley and other salads that are harvested successionally can be sown regularly until August, to … [ Read More ]

Now May has arrived, let’s hope that the weather has settled down, even though there is a mix of displays in the garden and time for some late daffodils! Early May is a good time to plant up hanging baskets. … [ Read More ]

No one ever could have predicted that March would end up as it did – certainly not me! All of last month’s optimism, about it ‘coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb’, totally demolished by a … [ Read More ]

It’s the beginning of March and according to Peter Gibbs, BBC weatherman and gardening enthusiast, the cold, grey weather will be with us for a little while. There is a great temptation to rush out and start seed sowing at … [ Read More ]

Now February is here, spring is a step closer, what a welcome thought that is, after last month’s snow which put a stop to doing anything in the garden! Plants like peppers, chillies and aubergines needing up to five months … [ Read More ]

Where are the weather forecasters who suggested that this was a going to be a long, cold winter? Some of the borders are waterlogged, as the saturated clay soil can absorb no more rain. It certainly limits gardening activities, other … [ Read More ]

D-e –c-e-m-b-e- r say it slowly, because it has come round so quickly! Can’t believe it – is it my age? (no, cheeky!), probably because there has been so much to do in the garden and last month’s weather lurching … [ Read More ]

I hope that the end of October was not set up to give us a foretaste of things to come this month!  After soothing gardeners with unseasonably balmy weather, temperatures crashing down to zero and beyond in a single night, … [ Read More ]

Many gardeners have suffered poor fruit crops this season– especially apples; a complete contrast to last year when the cold winter and warm spring produced bumper yields. Poor cropping was caused primarily by wet weather affecting pollination and cool dull … [ Read More ]