Knowledge Base

Pruning is often the part of rose growing that gardeners worry about most, yet it's also one of the most rewarding. In the next section, we'll explain why roses need pruning, when different types shou … read more

Even well-grown roses occasionally encounter problems. In the final practical section of this guide, we'll explain how to identify black spot, powdery mildew, rust, aphids, sawfly, rose dieback and ot … read more

Once your rose is in the ground, the focus shifts to helping it establish strong roots and produce healthy, repeat flowering growth. In the next section, we'll explain how often to water roses, the be … read more

Now that you've chosen the right rose, the next step is giving it the best possible start. In the following section, we'll explain how to plant bare-root and container-grown roses, prepare the soil, p … read more

The American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is native to much of eastern coastal areas of Canada and the United States. Cranberries are a low-growing, woody perennial plant – the growth is ma … read more

Blueberries, cranberries and lingonberries are part of the Vaccinium genus, and they belong to the Ericaceae family of heather or heathland plants, which thrive in acidic, well-drained soils. As the … read more

We grow around 230 varieties of apple in total, including cookers, cider varieties, dual purpose and dessert apples. Each one of these would be the 'best' choice for someone, depending on their partic … read more

The key characteristic to be aware of when choosing apples for cooking is the level of acidity. The main organic acid found in apples is called malic acid, and the amount of malic acid in an apple has … read more

Whilst some roses can be considered ‘low maintenance’ plants (the Flower Carpet series of modern shrub roses, for example), many do need a certain level of care and attention in order for … read more

There are between 800 and 1000 different species within the genus Allium, making it one of the largest genera in the plant world. They range from the edible - onions, garlic and leeks - through to the … read more

Tulips, like Narcissus, have been divided up into various groups or divisions - and which division each variety belongs to is generally decided by a combination of factors including flower size and sh … read more

Pears have a bit of a bad reputation. Whilst almost everyone would welcome the thought of an apple tree or a good old Victoria plum in their garden, mention growing pears to even quite experienced ga … read more

Quince have been cultivated for thousands of years. originally from the plains of Mesopotamia (an area which included present day Iraq, as well as parts of Iran, Syria and Turkey). The fruit was known … read more

Pears are one of the delights of early autumn – yet somehow, they seem to be a more exotic choice than growing apples and come with a reputation for being somewhat problematic. True, they do nee … read more

There can sometimes a lot of confusion about the differences between climbing and rambling roses. In Victorian times it used to be that a rambling rose would have had the species Rosa wichuriana somew … read more

Time to turn our attention to a fruit that has a somewhat ‘down at heel’ reputation – the gooseberry. It tends to be considered a basic, utilitarian fruit, good for pie fillings perh … read more