Mwillis

LATEST ARTICLES ( 1426 )

• Revitalising Soft Fruit

  

  A couple of days ago I paid another visit to my plot at Courtmoor Avenue - the first for two weeks, because the weather has kept me away. Read more

  Posted on 09 March 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Hellebores - Reluctant Stars

  

  When you think of Spring flowers, what comes to mind first? Is the Daffodil? Or the Primrose? I bet it isn't the Hellebore. Which is a shame. Read more

  Posted on 07 March 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• The Aftermath of "The Beast From The East"

  

  After the spell of really bad weather brought to us by the so-called "Beast From The East", followed by Storm Emma, things are gradually getting back to... Read more

  Posted on 05 March 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Re-emerging

  

  Over the last few days we have been enduring some atrocious weather - very cold temperatures, strong winds, and several inches of snow. My plants have not... Read more

  Posted on 03 March 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Germination Begins...

  

  My house is beginning to fill up with trays and propagators full of seeds and seedlings! I'm trying hard to be sensible and not sow seeds too early, which... Read more

  Posted on 25 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Potato-growing Jargon-buster

  

  This article explains some of the terminology concerned with growing potatoes – such as “First Early”, “Second Early”, etc and provides advice on when to plant... Read more

  Posted on 23 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Planting Shallots

  

  Last October, when I first visited my new plot at Courtmoor Avenue, the garden was full of over-mature vegetables, rapidly rotting in the Autumn rain. Read more

  Posted on 21 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Sowing Chilli Seeds

  

  I'm sure most of my regular readers know by now that I usually delay sowing my chillis until after Valentine's Day. My view is that if they are sown any... Read more

  Posted on 19 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Sourdough Workshop

  

  A couple of months ago, Jane and I attended a pasta-making course, and it proved to be a huge success. In view of this, our expectations were high yesterday whe... Read more

  Posted on 17 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Irrigation Device Brings Chilli Success

  

  Each year for the past several years I have tried to keep some of my chilli plants throughout the Winter, so that I can get an earlier harvest, compared to... Read more

  Posted on 14 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Winter Fungi

  

  Many readers will know by now that I am very interested in fungi. I'm not, and never expect to be, a great expert on this subject. For me it is just a hobby, bu... Read more

  Posted on 11 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Pruning Currant Bushes

  

  For this week's session at the Courtmoor plot it was too cold for digging. The ground was frozen:Instead of digging I decided to have a go at re-vitalising... Read more

  Posted on 09 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Do You Have Too Many Seeds?

  

  Are you one of those gardeners who keeps seeds FOR EVER, or do you buy new ones each year? Seed-merchants want us to believe that seeds deteriorate very... Read more

  Posted on 07 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• A Waiting Game

  

  At this time of year, many people get what is rather dubiously referred to as "Gardener's Itch". Sounds horrible, doesn't it? And it's very contagious - much... Read more

  Posted on 05 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• The New Plot - End of January Progress Report

  

  Each week I spend a couple of hours at my new plot at Courtmoor Avenue. At present, the work is almost entirely "ground-preparation", i.e. digging.Is that shed... Read more

  Posted on 03 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Broad Bean Medley

  

  Last weekend I attended the Hampshire Potato Day event at Whitchurch, and (unsurprisingly) came away with enough nice seed-potatoes for the needs of my new... Read more

  Posted on 01 February 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Over the Hump

  

  If I had to describe in one word how my plot looks right now, the word I'd choose is "bleak".It's almost colourless, and if it has any colour at all, that colou... Read more

  Posted on 30 January 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Seed-potatoes

  

  Just for the record (mainly for my own benefit), this is a list of the potatoes I bought yesterday at the Hampshire Potato Day. (Skin colour is shown in... Read more

  Posted on 28 January 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Growing Potatoes in Containers

  

  Most people think that growing potatoes needs a lot of space. It doesn’t. You can grow potatoes on a patio or balcony or in the smallest of gardens, if you use... Read more

  Posted on 26 January 2018 GARDENING, HOME

• Success with Parsnips (or Not)

  

  The Parsnip, like the proverbial Marmite, is a vegetable that people seem to either love or hate.I'm in the former category. I have some reservations though:... Read more

  Posted on 23 January 2018 GARDENING, HOME