Every week, Amateur Gardening is the first choice for both beginners and knowledgeable gardeners looking for advice and easy-to-follow practical features on growing flowers, trees, shrubs as well as fruit and vegetables. Be inspired, by our beautifully illustrated features covering plant and flower groups, both home grown and exotic, and take a sneak peek into some of the most beautiful private gardens around the country. Plus, every week we feature expert opinion and tips from some of gardening’s most influential exponents including Toby Buckland, Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank, Peter Seabrook and Jo Whittingham.
Editor’s Letter
Buying the right composts • There’s a growing medium for every job, said Ruth
Let’s talk about pot plants • Container plants need good drainage and lots of nutrients
Feeding and repotting houseplants after winter
Potting up tomato seedlings • ‘Tigerella’ toms are ready for a bigger home, says Ruth
Potting on pelly cuttings • Once they are established, move them on says Ruth
Dealing with waterlogging • There are ways to mitigate flood damage, says Ruth
Grow something aristocratic • ‘Duchess’ will provide bountiful border colour, says Ruth
What’s On
Grow less, grow better • Being selective with sowing and cultivating less is the best way to succeed with crops, as Bob explains
Welsh wonder • Val profiles the 2022 RHS Award-winning partner garden
Focus on… Sprouting broccoli • If you want a vibrant, reliable brassica that is easy to grow, be sure to make some room on your plot for colourful sprouting broccoli. Lucy Chamberlain shows you how
Reader offer From
Dainty Cyclamen • Cyclamen can cope with the coldest of weather and provide carpets of colour for many months, says Camilla Phelps, as she explains why these plants are a garden must-have
Splendid spuds to savour • Now is the time to think about what potato crops you’d like to plant over the months ahead, so why not branch out and try something different this year, says Sue Bradley
This week… Zinnias • For an explosion of colour in your borders, containers or as cut flowers, try zinnias
Ask JOHN NEGUS • John will reply personally to all your gardening questions
Quick questions & answers
Sow something simple & cheap • Cornflowers, marigolds, sunflowers and similar old favourites are cheap and easy flowers to grow in these difficult times, says Tony Venison. Choose them now for April sowings
The man behind the name • We look at the life of plant collector David Douglas
A gardener’s MISCELLANY • Gardening’s king of trivia and brain-teasers, Graham Clarke
AG’s Garden Wall
Word search
Crossword…just for fun!
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Long-cane raspberries • Steve and Val explain the quick way to juicy raspberries
Feeding made simple • Masterclass on: container feeding practices
Your LETTERS TO WENDY
Seed Planting • Thank you Gloria Wilding, there is a lot to be said for raising seeds, mostly, the satisfaction of watching plants develop and thrive
Amateur Gardening
Creature comforts • When Toby is made patron of a wildlife trust, he realises it isn’t just humans who appreciate kitchen garden crops