Competitions & giveaways
A better class of cover
'Whatever you grow, we've got it covered,' say XL Horticulture. Specialist supplier of polythene tunnel covers and accessories as well as natural growing additives, the firm is a well-established family owned operation based in Devon. One of the main suppliers to polythene tunnel manufacturers in the country and a major supplier of horticultural film and other requisites to UK growers and gardeners, XL Horticulture also has agents throughout mainland Europe.
Get set, grow!
The Keen Gardener's Choice - is much more than a seed catalogue, also offering a huge range of vegetable and flower plants, fruit trees and bushes, bulbs and gardening equipment. New for 2012 is a range of vegetable 'continuity collections' - plug plants of two or three varieties selected to provide a successional harvest. The Cauliflower Summer Continuity Collection (£6.95 for 18 plants) includes 'Nessie', a vigorous grower ready 70 to 80 days after planting, 'Aviron', ready in 80 to 92 days, and 'Chassiron', ready 90 to 104 days after planting, giving you cauliflowers from July to September.
The root to success
Haxnicks' Rootrainers provide the perfect start for nearly all plants, especially those that are sensitive to disturbance or require deep root runs. Made up of seed trays divided into separate segments, they are unique because they open up like a book for easy inspection and transplanting. This month sees the launch of the Rootrainers Racking Station, which will make the system still more effective and even easier to use.
Growing show
Following its successful debut in 2011, The Edible Garden Show - one of the few national events dedicated to kitchen gardening - is back. This year's show will include a packed programme of celebrity gardeners and chefs, livestock experts, growers, unique products, and fun-filled events for the whole family.
Garden store and more
Greenfingers aims to provide 'Inspiration for your Garden', with a huge range of products including beautiful garden furniture, decorative items, barbecues, sheds and outdoor buildings, and a wide range of practical and eco-friendly items such as water butts, compost bins and garden tools. 'The UK's favourite online garden store', the site now offers nearly 7400 products, allowing you to find all your gardening needs in one convenient place. There's free UK delivery on internet orders over £29, and there are monthly promotions and special offers. The site also includes articles on popular gardening topics, and there's a section of resources including a plant finder, seasonal tips and gardening news.
Keep a gorilla in the garden!
This is the season of garden repairs and maintenance, so having heavy-duty adhesive and tape to hand isn't just useful, it's absolutely essential. One of the toughest and most versatile all-purpose adhesives available, Gorilla Glue is 100% waterproof and temperature-resistant, making it the perfect choice for use indoors or out.
Win a garden shed full of tools worth over £500
GET YOUR GARDEN SORTED FOR SPRING WITH FOREST'S 6 X 4 OVERLAP APEX SHED AND BULLDOG PREMIER TOOLS PACKAGE!
Win £100 of shopping vouchers with Churchill
A leak in the roof, a fridge-freezer packing up when you've just done a big shop, or a prang to your car... Things in life don't always go to plan, and its times like these when you could really do with a friend.
Top soil in the bag
It starts with the soil - so if yours is in need of improvement, set it up for spring with a delivery of Rolawn Vegetable and Fruit Topsoil. A consistent blend of fertile, friable, organic-rich topsoil and soil conditioner, this has been formulated to suit a wide variety of edible crops. It is typically classed as a sandy loam, with a pH of around 7.6.
Spring on show
The Harrogate Flower Shows are now the UK's biggest independent gardening events. Attracting nearly 100,000 visitors each year, they provide the perfect opportunity to find inspiration for your garden, as well as all the plants, tools and tips to make the dream a reality.
Two-minute watering
Garden Innovations had already solved the problem of how to water growing bags efficiently. The unique design of the Growtube offers easy 'one-point' watering; you just attach a bottle 'funnel' to one end, pour in the water and the watering spikes along the tube deliver it straight to the roots.
Seed spacing sorted
There's no stopping the 'grow your own' movement, judging by sales of specialist sowing equipment at Ascott Smallholding Suppliers. Managing director Mark Self reports that sales of the Earthway Precision Seeder are up 30% - and that customers now include home gardeners and allotmenteers.
All set to sow
A new season is starting and we're itching to get sowing - but the garden is not quite the place for seedlings yet. Gardeners keen to make an early start would do better to take a look at the new indoor growing sets in the Kitchen Garden collection from Stewart Garden.
Previous Winners
To see winners of previous competitions just use the link below:
Current Issue: March 2012
Grow better beetroot
Best varieties for colour and taste
Raw passions
Is a raw food diet more healthy?
Meet new plotters
In Huddersfield, Ipswich and Norwich
Toby Buckland
on growing better tomatoes
All-year cabbage
It’s easy with our expert advice!
No gaps, no gluts
Making the most of your patch
10 Free* strawberry plants
Free
Cabbage ‘Golden Acre’ & Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ seeds
Win over £2000 worth of gardening goodies
Inside: 4-page pull-out-and-keep sowing guide
Plus... 20 hand tools on test... Save on asparagus & peppers...
PLUS:
• Next issue on sale: April issue 1st March 2012
