being plants

Plant stress is a real thing and in a heatwave, plants will need water otherwise there is a threat of withering. Plants can survive no water to some extent but they are not miracle workers. No water along with other factors such as extreme heat or how dry the soil was to start with can make matters worse. Here’s how to keep your Plants alive during a heatwave 1.Water as early or late in the day as possible Water as early as you can in the morning (5am-8am) or if not, late evening (7pm onwards) Water evaporates quicker in heat and in the sun. Therefore during a heatwave you’ll need to be up with the bird song at 6-7am ideally to soak your plants with water. Plants can’t take up the water as quickly in the evening. 2. Soak Watering Vs Surface Watering There are two types of watering. Soak Watering Soak Watering means that you leave the hose pipe running at soil level for at least 5 mins in the raised bed. If there are any puddles forming, move the hose pipe running to another ...

In the vegetable garden at the end of June, there is a real moment of what shall I do next? Some of the early and leafy vegetable harvests have finished, garlic has been dug up and it’s time to clear the plants. But what do I plant next? End of June to July is the perfect month to think about your options for what to sow next and even pivot to a new way of thinking. Here’s the Raised Bed I need to clear Shallots – The Shallots leaves are lying flat and going brown which is the sign to harvest by digging them up and drying in the sun. The elephant garlic down the centre of the bed has yellowing leaves, so is also ready to dig up, as is the normal garlic down the side of the bed. The cauliflower didn’t do very well with the early heat and went to seed as it was too hot. The summer cabbage has been uncovered since March but the cabbage white butterflies are ever increasing in numbers so I’ve decided to harvest it now. The question is What do I Sow or Plant Next? Here are a fe...

I announce the best producing and best value berry you could be growing in your garden – The Loganberry. It started with one vine and now grows three vines every year bursting with dark red fruit than looks like a longer raspberry. It is incredible value for money and never disappoints with its harvest. What is a Loganberry? Loganberries A loganberry is a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. It has sweetness and tartness that makes it magical to eat straight off the vine or use in fruit pies. It is picked when it turns a very dark red, this is when it is at it’s sweetest. Why is Loganberry, the best berry to grow? Value for money – From one plant, it grows 2-4 vines a year which next year will bear all your fruit. Taste – The burst of sweetness and tartness rolled into one berry. Bumper Harvests – The berries just keep coming for harvest in June, keep picking them otherwise they turn to mush. Easy to Grow – A loganberry is a vine so it will need to be supported o...

5 Tips To Boost Flowering in Aparajita plant: During summer, some plants go into stress due to changes in temperature and environmental conditions. However, Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea) is a summer-loving plant, and this season is naturally favorable for its blooming. It’s in the plant’s nature to flower during this time. Yet, I often receive questions and comments from plant lovers saying, “My Aparajita is healthy, but it’s not flowering. What should I do?” So, in this post, I’ve shared 5 reasons  that might be preventing your Aparajita plant from blooming. Let’s discuss them one by one.  5 Tips To Boost Flowering in Aparajita plant   Did You Know? Insufficient sunlight leads to yellowing leaves, leggy growth and fewer blooms.   1. Provide Good Sunlight Aparajita needs 5-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for regular flowering. Where to keep? Place the plant in open balcony or terrace, where it gets good amount of sunlight. Note: Avoid keeping you...

Understanding Fertilisers: The Basics of Plant Nutrition: We often hear that plants need regular fertilization to stay healthy and grow well. But have we ever stopped to understand what fertilisers actually are? What are they made of? How do they support plant growth, and how do they actually nourish our plants? What is the basic nature and function of fertilisers? Why are they considered so important? When we understand the scientific reasons behind the things we use – such as why we are applying a particular fertiliser – it becomes much easier and more meaningful to use them correctly and effectively. So, let’s take a moment to explore the fundamentals of fertilisers and understand their real importance. Understanding Fertilisers What are Fertilisers? Fertilisers are organic, natural, or chemical substances added or sprayed onto the soil to enhance its fertility. They supply essential nutrients that help plants grow properly, promote flowering and boost the yield of fruits pl...

New for 2025 is The Veg Lab which debunks some of the most commonly asked questions when growing vegetables. I’ll be experimenting these claims in my own vegetable garden to see whether they are true or false. ‘ There are no Gardening mistakes, only experiments’ Janet Kilburn Phillips. Experiment – Does Companion Planting actually work? First up is Companion Planting. There’s lots of information about planting certain flowers or herbs with certain vegetables to keep the pests at bay and bring the beneficial insects into your vegetable garden. But does any of it really work? I’ve decided to test this with a scientific veg garden project. Hypothesis I’m testing to show whether Companion Planting works or not. I have planted summer cabbage plants into the middle of a raised bed with Shallots, Garlic, Rosemary and Calendula plants. These are widely reported to repel pests, specifically the cabbage white butterfly. No Netting on Brassicas There will be no netting protecting th...

I would be happy growing strawberries in fields forever, if I had a field, but I don’t. So I’ll have to just stick to my small raised bed for now. You don’t need big fields to get a good crop of strawberries, you only need a small space because the plants can be packed together with no problems. I grow my strawberries in a small raised bed, half on the left are bare root plants from Suttons planted in April and right are plants bought from the local garden centre last year. What can you grow Strawberries in? Troughs, Containers or pots or barrels, Raised beds, In borders, On Balconies. In my opinion, everyone should have some homegrown strawberries growing somewhere. Buying Bare Root plants or Potted plants? Cheaper Option = Bare Root plants The cheaper option is to buy Bare Root plants. These plants may not have any leaves or just some brown leaves, They are dug out of the soil and their roots are already established but are dormant until planted. Order or buy in N...

My Jasmine Mogra Is Not Flowering – Tips to Get More Blooms: Many plant lovers face the same concern with their Jasmine Mogra plant: it develops buds, but they do not turn into flowers. So, what should we do to encourage blooming in the Mogra Jasmine plant? Let’s check the key factors that may prevent your Mogra Jasmine from flowering. Jasmine (Mogra) plant Reasons Why Jasmine Mogra Is Not Flowering 1. Not Getting Proper Sunlight Mogra Jasmine needs at least 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily for blooming. Without sufficient sunlight, the plant may produce buds, but they do not turn into flowers. What to do? Place your plant in a location where it receives adequate direct sunlight every day. It is important to note : Be careful of extreme heat. If the plant gets too much intense heat, its leaves may burn, and the plant’s health will decline. 2. Not Using Organic-Rich Soil Mixture Soil quality plays a vital role in continuous flowering . If the soil lacks organic matt...

7 Essential Plant Care Tips to Keep Your Plants Healthy & Thriving:   Bringing a plant from the nursery is the easy part—but the real challenge lies in keeping it healthy and thriving for years to come. In the beginning, most plants adapt well and flourish, but as time passes and seasons change, so do their needs. One common mistake many of us make is providing the same care throughout the plant’s life, without adjusting for seasonal changes or specific plant requirements. In reality, each plant has unique needs that vary with time and weather. In this article, let’s explore some essential tips that can help your plants not just survive — but truly thrive, season after season . Top 7 Plant Care Tips for Healthy, Thriving Plants   1. Sunlight Shifts: Earth’s Rotation & Changing Environments To keep your plants happy: Know your plant’s light preferences – understand how much sunlight each plant prefers. some love full sun (like cacti), while others, like ferns,...