Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i BBC Gardeners' World

“It all starts with a date: February 15th. This is when we start sowing our first spring seeds” Gardening is shot through with all kinds of rituals. Some are ancient, connected to our forefathers and an instinctive yearning for the land. Others are neuroses that we harmlessly – though solemnly – enact. But they’re there in every garden and gardener. They are, I believe, a helpful part of connecting us to what we’re doing, how we do it and the rhythm and pace of land and seasons. It was the writer Aldous Huxley who said that all religious precepts could be distilled to the two words ‘pay attention’. Without doubt, it’s the best advice for any gardener. Rituals are primarily aids to focusing attention but the danger is when we…

It is my habit to keep a daily diary when travelling abroad: time passes quickly when on the move and details are easily forgotten. During a month-long family road trip through Spain, I managed to fill an entire notebook with such details of what was proving to be – especially for the gardener in me – a uniquely inspiring holiday: colourful cities, eclectic gardens and herb-strewn landscapes. One entry in particular is a joy to revisit: an afternoon’s escape to the Real Alcázar de Sevilla. Spending three nights in lively, citrus-scented Seville, and granted a few hours parental recess by a charitable wife, I disappeared into the regal avenues and lavish courtyards of the Alcázar’s deeply immersive garden, and indulged every whim of the gardener at leisure. I paused at…

SOURCE: BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD WILDLIFE RESEARCH, IMMEDIATE INSIDERS PANEL OCTOBER 2024. TOTAL SAMPLE N=1,893. “Climate change is an increasing worry for gardeners, as more of us are noticing the weather patterns affecting wildlife” The year 2024 was not good for our wildlife. The charity Butterfly Conservation declared a Butterfly Emergency and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust announced bumblebee were in crisis, after both insect groups suffered their worst year on record. No surprises, then, to see that respondents to our latest wildlife review reported similar crashes in insect numbers – overall, 47 per cent saw fewer insects and invertebrates in their gardens in 2024 compared to 2023. But how did the birds and hedgehogs get on? After a wet winter, a cold, wet spring and then a largely wet summer, were…

If you’re embarking on a big pruning job, a mini chainsaw might be just what you need. A small battery-powered saw, it will take the hard work out of cutting trees, shrubs and firewood, and is also ideal for gardeners with limited mobility or strength. Mini chainsaws bridge the gap between manual loppers and full-size chainsaws, and thanks to their lithium-ion batteries, there’s no need to deal with the noise, weight or maintenance of a petrol engine. They’re not designed for heavy-duty work because they are meant to be lightweight and easy to handle, but they will help you prune and chop firewood without breaking a sweat. Some can also be combined with long-reach extension poles to cut high branches with ease. While they won’t take the place of a…

“2020 brought me the most precious Valentine’s gift of all: the keys to my long-awaited allotment” February is a time of celebration in our home – in particular, the 14th day. My husband Andy, who narrowly escaped being called Valentino, and I begin the day with small gifts and cards, then make his birthday the primary focus. A well-known saying amongst poultry keepers is ‘Valentine’s Day and they’re back in lay’, reminding us that – as the days start to get longer and more light hits the back of their eyes – chickens start to lay eggs again after their winter break, knowing that warmer days are to come. However, 2020 brought me the most precious Valentine’s gift of all: the keys to my long-awaited riverside allotment. I had been…

Start harvesting cavolo nero Take the netting off cavolo nero and harvest some fresh leaves. Snap them off cleanly with a sharp, downward tug or cut them using secateurs. Work around the outer leaves first, leaving the inner leaves to harvest later. The plants will run to flower when the weather begins to warm up, so the very last harvest is often the innermost ring of leaves, cut off as a clump. Don’t forget to secure the netting back over the plants after harvesting to protect them from being stripped by the pigeons. Last chance to prune apples Finish pruning apple trees before the buds start to burst open. First, stand back and study the framework of the tree, making sure that branches are well spaced with plenty of light…

SAVE £17 These specially selected varieties are the perfect way to easily grow potatoes at home – in the garden, on a patio or even on a balcony. This selection features three varieties of seed potato, three heavy duty, re-usable grow pots for growing and a 1kg pack of potato fertiliser – all you need to do is add compost and water. You could be harvesting your first crop after 10-12 weeks. Seed potato varieties include: ◼ ‘Charlotte’ (x 6) A delicious salad potato. ◼ ‘Desiree’ (x 6) Perfect for roasting, mashing, boiling, chipping and more. ◼ ‘Rocket’ (x 6) An early variety ideal for boiling, steaming or salads. 18 tubers (6 of each), 1kg fertiliser, 3 grow pots (30L each) £23.95 SAVE £17 (350007) COMPOST OFFER Twin-pack peat-free multipurpose compost Get your spuds…

32-page tomato supplement ✔ Packed with expert tips ✔ Simple sowing instructions ✔ Growing know-how ✔ Harvesting techniques Find fresh ideas from all your favourite experts FREE SEEDS* for every reader ■ March free seeds: Cornflowers and carrots For more details go to GardenersWorld.com/free-seeds 200 FREE† summer bulbs when you buy a hardy geranium collection Purchase a collection of versatile hardy geraniums and you’ll also receive 200 summer-flowering bulbs to bring colour to borders and containers – 40 bulbs each of: ◼ acidanthera ◼ alliums ◼ freesias ◼ liatris ◼ gladioli † £4.95 postage applies PLUS ◼ Crops in pots ◼ Gardens of Madeira ◼ More than 50 things to do in the garden ◼ Best new gardening kit…

WORTH £27.96 This summer bedding collection features four popular varieties and six plants of each: ◼ Pelargonium Best Red Large, shapely, scarlet flowers that retain their form and create a stunning splash of colour in sunny borders and containers. Height x Spread 45cm x 35cm Flowers Jun-Oct ◼ Busy Lizzie Beacon Mix A versatile mix of colours, ideal in partial shade. Plant as an edging to beds or in window boxes, hanging baskets or pots. H x S 45cm x 35cm F Jun-Oct ◼ Petunia Frenzy Mix A vibrant blend of more than 20 different types, these weather-resistant blooms dazzle all summer, come rain or shine. H x S 25cm x 30cm F Jun-Sep ◼ Begonia Organdy Mix Bronze and green foliage contrasts with the colourful blooms. Low maintenance and…

Rain gardens to play a key role as flood risks rise Rainfall in the UK is increasing, in frequency and intensity, resulting in longer dry spells followed by more intense rainfall, with significant variation in local areas. The sudden deluges overwhelm drainage systems, leading to surface water flooding. Research from the University of Bristol warns that flood risk in the UK has been increasing by 1.4 per cent each year since 1990. In 2024, flood reinsurance scheme Flood Re estimated that the £2.9 million UK gardeners spend annually on their gardens is at risk of being washed away. However, gardens have a role to play and can function as an effective flood-prevention tool, as Dr Ed Barsley, founder of The Environmental Design Studio, explains: “The majority of people aren’t aware…

Winter woodlanders This container is full of plants that thrive in shade. Evergreen ferns and Cyclamen coum ‘Album’ are low growing and a useful understorey to richly hued hellebores, while the white flowers ping back the light. The wide rusty metal tub has plenty of room for the plants and its colour hints at the humus-rich soil that these plants enjoy. Pack the plants closely together so their foliage covers the potting compost completely from the start and allow the stems of the tall plants to overlap. Stand the tub in a shady spot. After the flowers fade, either leave the plants in place for evergreen interest and a display next winter or move them into the garden to free up the tub. TOP TIPS…

“I love how you feel when you’re sitting in the garden, the surprise views and the things you stumble across” Sunil Patel has been creating his garden in Berkshire for the past nine years. Romantic in style, it features herbaceous borders, roses and sculptures. There’s a playful contemporary twist too, with succulents in hanging baskets and pots, and whimsical details hidden among the greenery. The result is a garden that’s as surprising as it is inspiring, welcoming visitors on NGS open days to enjoy its blend of tradition and creativity. Sunil shares his gardening journey at sunilpatel.co.uk What was the garden like when you moved here, and did you have a plan? When we moved in, the garden was mostly a blank canvas, with some areas of plants and shrubs…

If I can’t get out in the garden as often over the winter, then much of my time will instead be spent cooking. So getting the most out of my kitchen garden is really important to me – it’s where I go and play, experiment and lose myself. I get a huge amount of joy from being able to wander out into the kitchen garden and pick a few bits for the Sunday roast. I’m still cutting herbs, chard, kale and kalettes – a hybrid between kale and Brussels sprouts that I tried last year. Plus, I have garlic and onions stored. It’s also great to spend time now planning how the space is going to look this year. “Just a few hours a week in the garden this month…

How to make a still water feature I would never design or create a garden without including water – it plays such a vital role. A pond, for instance, is one of the best features you can add for biodiversity, while a beautiful fountain provides tranquil sounds that make the garden a calming space. A strong water element can transform a garden, but you don’t need anything elaborate. This still water feature is one of my favourite additions to the garden. I use it for soaking trays of seedlings, hydrating bare-root plants, and quickly filling up watering cans. It’s a practical and beautiful way to recycle rainwater and provides a habitat for wildlife. ■ Total cost: £100-£200 ■ Time taken: 1 day if suitable base present; 2 days if building…

◾ What size of branches will they cut? The length of the guide bar dictates the diameter of the branches that a saw can cut, and the longer it is, the thicker the branches it will get through. A heavier saw can be more powerful, but a brushless motor is also usually more efficient. ◾ Are they safe? All the saws in our test come with a bar cover to keep the chain safe when not in use, a protective hood and handle to protect against kickback and a two-switch start for safety. To ensure you’re working safely keep the chain sharp, oiled and tensioned correctly and use the right safety equipment. ◾ Are they easy to use? Operating a mini chainsaw is as simple as pushing a trigger. However,…

Cherry tomatoes are the ultimate ‘pop-in-the-mouth’ treat for gardeners keen to grow their own delicious edibles. If you’re feeling bewildered by the hundreds of varieties listed in seed catalogues and are wondering which are the best varieties to choose, let us help you! This trial takes all the hard work out of selecting the top performers, because we’ve compared those that claim to produce the sweetest-tasting crops, to see if they really do live up to expectations. What’s more, we’ll guide you through training them as high-yielding cordon plants, taking up little room yet cropping phenomenally. Tomato sweetness is measured on the ‘Brix scale’, which records the percentage of soluble sugars within the fruits. All our trialled varieties claim high Brix ratings, yet some fell short of the mark. Other…

Cut back deciduous grasses As soon as signs of new green growth appear on deciduous grasses, it’s time to cut them back. How soon new growth appears this month is weather dependent, so keep any eye on your plants. Use secateurs or shears to cut each old stem back to ground level. Gather up all the old stems and add them to the compost heap. Add them a little at a time if you’ve got a large amount of material from your grasses to compost. Alternatively, chop up the stems and spread them 5cm thick over rough areas as a mulch. 30 MINUTES TO SPARE Cut buddleia plants back hard now, 10cm from the ground. This will encourage lots of new flowering growth this year. Or prune it back by half…

ACROSS 1 Improve soil for sowing by spreading a thick layer of __ (7) 7 Erica × veitchii ‘__’ is a winter-flowering heather (6) 8 Cercis canadensis is also known as __ redbud (7) 9 Lift and __ clumps of snowdrops after flowering (6) 11 Everlasting __ is a name for perennial lathyrus (3) 12 ‘__ of Hearts’ is a variety of 8 across (3) 13 Type of sieve, ideal for separating soil particles (6) 15 __ poker is a descriptive name for kniphofia (3-3) 19 Large, round, juicy fruits with a tough rind (7) 23 Bird known for its love of winter brassicas (6) 24 Daphne cneorum is commonly called __ flower (7) 25 Zea mays is better known as sweet __ (4) 26 Sweet oval-shaped fruit, like a small plum (9) DOWN…

It was 1960 when Hayley Mills popped up on the silver screen in Pollyanna, the story of a young American orphan who is sent to live in Vermont with her severe aunt. Ever cheerful, despite challenging circumstances, Pollyanna invents ‘The Glad Game’ in order to cheer herself up when she feels sad and the outlook is bleak. She encourages the gloomy Mrs Snow, played by the wonderfully waspish Agnes Moorehead, to do the same. The story resulted in the term ‘Pollyanna’ being applied to anyone who could put a positive spin on the darkest of prospects. It strikes me that at the start of 2025, when gloomy 24-hour news is the order of the day and many of my friends and family have simply switched off the TV and radio…

“While it is February… spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch”Patience Strong STAR OF THE MONTH Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double, white speckled The hellebore is a beacon of light on the hillside of winter. Evergreen leaves and the most delectable flowers help us through until spring. They happily hybridise so they are now available in a great swathe of colour, from virgin white, through sunbeam yellow, white with speckles (as here), pink with freckles, red, purple and all shades in between. You could have a favourite but, in my opinion, you just need lots of all of them. Ideally, plant them on a bit of a mound so you can more easily see the flowers – they have a tendency to dangle. Semi-evergreen and best…

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Essential spring bundle: ■ Niwaki snips worth £14 ■ Gold Leaf gloves worth £22.95 FREE SEEDS* until June! Offer ends 28 February 2025 2 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWNP225 Call 03330 162123‡ and quote code GWNP225 Free UK delivery Money-back guarantee Worldwide delivery Secure online payments FREE SEEDS* for subscribers Subscribers will receive an expertly selected mix of seeds with each issue until June 2025 issue. Subscribe before 1 February 2025 to receive your March issue, which includes a packet of cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ and a packet of carrot ‘Nantes 5’ seeds. †This offer is only open to new UK customers subscribing to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine by recurring payment. The closing date for this offer is 28 February 2025. You will pay £26 every 6 issues, saving 36%…

“Raising your own plants is always a good way of saving money, especially if no specialist equipment is needed” I really can’t understand why more gardeners do not propagate shrubs and soft fruit bushes by hardwood cuttings. I mean, in the words of the late, great Andy Williams: “It’s so easy”. So, what are they? How do you prepare them? And when? Simply, hardwood cuttings are exactly as their description implies: cuttings consisting of mature shoots which have hardened and become woody – as opposed to softwood cuttings (taken from tender shoot tips) and semi-ripe cuttings (taken in summer when the shoots are firm but not yet woody). It follows that the time to take hardwood cuttings is late in the season – from late autumn to late winter, when…

Discover a natural world on and immerse your senses on this summer gardeners’ cruise around the British Isles EXCLUSIVE ONBOARD EXPERIENCE Join plantsman David Hurrion for a special Q&A, attend an illustrated informative talk and meet for drinks at an informal get-together. Plus, join David on three included garden visits. ◼ DAY 1 London Tilbury Join your cruise ship, Ambience, at London Tilbury docks. Enjoy dinner and evening entertainment. ◼ DAY 2 At sea Meet your host at the welcome get-together followed by an illustrated talk. ◼ DAY 3 Aberdeen The 16th-century Crathes Castle, set within its own glorious gardens, will host our visit today. Explore the Walled Garden and hear from the garden team themselves about their work. ◼ DAY 4 Lerwick, Shetland Isles* Take leisurely walks through Lerwick’s…

Spring is just around the corner, but with another month of gloom still to endure, why not cheer yourself up with a little colourful creativity? This month’s pot recipe shirks the damp and cold with a bright mix of beautiful foliage and flowers in tones of purple, burgundy, lavender and silver. And the best thing about this pot is that it will continue to bloom well into spring, while elevating its colour palette as the perennials and shrubs burst into fresh growth. Go on, lift your spirits and illuminate February with some unseasonable cheer! This powerhouse potted combo is all about foliage and flowers combining to create a delicate, near-monochromatic planting. Each of the chosen species has a colour link to the others. The pale flowers of the perennial wallflower…

Riviera Travel’s award-winning river cruises include everything you need for an exceptional experience. Cruise Europe’s most beautiful waterways aboard the finest ships, featuring superb dining on board and spacious suites and cabins – many with a French balcony for unrivalled views. Choose from 43 fascinating river cruises that take you to the iconic highlights, as well as lesser-known gems in destinations such as Cologne, Trier, Koblenz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Basel, Lucerne, the Douro Valley, Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Avignon, Arles, Bruges, Paris or Rouen. The Blue Danube – Vienna, Budapest and Salzburg Unwind on our magical European river cruise and enjoy an escorted tour to imperial Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube. See Bratislava, Melk, Esztergom, Salzburg and Vienna along the course of Eastern Europe’s mightiest river. Your cruise includes ◼ 7…

SAVE £14.95! Whether you have a small patch, a border or a meadow, planting wildflowers is essential to give nature a helping hand. Fothergill’s range of wildflowers provides an important source of pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies. Wildflowers are easy to grow – just plant direct into the final position. They also make brilliant cut flowers to enjoy indoors. Choose from our picks here or from the full Fothergill’s range online Greater knapweed Native perennial suited to wildflower meadows. Loved by pollinators. Height x Spread 75cm x 40cm Flowers Jul-Sep ◼ 5 young plants £14.95 (52487) Salad burnet Young leaves have a fresh, cucumber-like flavour. The deep red flowers are a magnet for pollinators. H x S 60cm x 30cm F May-Sep ◼ 5 young plants £14.95 (52489) Bird’s foot…

FREE SEEDS* until June! Essential spring bundle: ■ Niwaki snips worth £14 ■ Gold Leaf gloves worth £22.95 FREE SEEDS* for subscribers Subscribers will receive an expertly selected mix of seeds with each issue until the June 2025 issue. Subscribe before 1 February 2025 to receive your March issue, which includes a pack of cornflower ‘Blue Ball’ and carrot ‘Nantes 5’ seeds. Offer ends 28 February 2025 2 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE Call 03330 162123‡ and quote code GWNP225 Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWNP225 Subscriber CLUB Your friend can experience more as a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Club member with: 1 FREE SEEDS* Free double pack of seeds with each monthly issue until the June 2025 issue 2 FREE delivery direct to their door 3 GardenersWorld.com Premium, for access to special subscriber-only content 4 Exclusive money-saving offers plus…