What’s the problem?I moved my spotted begonia from the kitchen windowsill to the bathroom. It’s had a massive growth spurt, and one of the stems has grown really long. Does it need repotting, or is something else going on? DiagnosisIt sounds like your begonia is responding to the increased humidity and lower light in the … Read more
The year always seems to pick up pace in spring, with the big house and garden tidy-up becoming all-consuming. The early spring sunshine has been wonderful (for those of us lucky enough to have seen some), though it does accelerate the pressure to ready your garden for the summer ahead. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. … Read more
The sun warms my face as I pause between the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies to gaze at the rolling hills of Dumfries and Galloway beyond. I am not, surprisingly enough, in outer space. I’m at the Crawick Multiverse, a cosmos-themed land art installation in the south of Scotland that was built on the site … Read more
If you were prepping, what should be your top five things to hoard in light of the recent power outages in Spain and Portugal? Alina Ahmad, Johannesburg Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to [email protected]. A selection will be published next Sunday.
Although the purple sprouting broccoli (PSB) season has come to an end, now is not the time to stop thinking about this vibrant spring crop. If you have the room to grow it, purple sprouting broccoli started from seed now will grow through the summer, stand in the ground overwinter and be poised for picking by … Read more
She was a proto-feminist pioneer who blazed a trail for female gardeners and changed the face of London by creating “green lungs” in the capital for Victorians suffering from pollution and overcrowding. Now a charity is seeking to shine a light on Fanny Wilkinson, the UK’s first professional female landscape gardener, by unveiling the first … Read more
It is a truth almost universally unacknowledged in the UK that wearing shoes in the home is gross. More than gross, actually – there’s scientific evidence it could have serious health consequences and even, if you want to come over all dramatic about it, be life-threatening. And yet I can count on the fingers of … Read more
Descriptions of coffee pods as “compostable eco capsules” were misleading as they could not be composted at home, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled. The ASA has banned adverts by Lavazza UK and Dualit, which both made claims about the eco credentials of their coffee products. Lavazza described its coffee pods as “compostable” and “eco … Read more
What’s the problem?Should I buy houseplants from the supermarket? I’ve had mixed results – some have thrived, but others (especially herbs) have barely survived the journey home. DiagnosisWhile supermarkets often offer attractive prices and convenience, plants are treated more like fast-moving stock than living things. They are often displayed under harsh lights and watered inconsistently. Herbs, in … Read more
You don’t need a luxury patio set, a subscription to a seed club or a pair of fancy gloves to have a great garden. Some of the most charming outdoor spaces have been created with hardly any budget at all – just a bit of time, a few innovative ideas and maybe the occasional raid … Read more