Vegetable Gardening - Is It Worth It?

Yes I do confess I asked myself this question earlier in the summer. Returning from a short break I discovered there had been an intruder in the garden – the young mange tout plants had all been eaten bar five plants, as had the lettuce and the tops of all my chrysanthemums plus the broad beans were covered in black fly which had then jumped across to the runner beans.

Countless spraying with soapy water didn’t get rid of the blackfly and I only had a few helpings of mange tout from the depleted plants. The cats got a scolding for not detering the rabbits but the consensus of opinion was that this time a deer had got into the garden whilst I was away and had a healthy dinner at my expense.

All that effort, all that nurturing from seed to young plant, hardening off, transplanting, watering etc etc had all been undone within the space of 5 days and I actually said to myself – is this really worth it??

I resorted to buying (yes parted with money) some ladybirds – you can get everything on the internet these days – which met with some derision from certain quarters but I have to say they did the trick and got rid of the invasion of blackfly on the beans – hooray! Now the beans aren’t setting very well so I’m out with the sugared water to attract more pollinators.

The jobs never end when growing your own crops – it is hard work at times so back to my original question – is it worth it??  Yes said my husband – he likes eating the produce you see but not necessarily the work that goes into producing it.   However when we looked back at this seasons successes it didn’t seem so bad – we’ve had rhubarb, raspberries, a few broadbeans and mangetout, courgettes, the potatoes are magnificent, the onions look fine and the baby carrots are delicious. There are plums and apples ripening on the trees and I am sure I will get a few runners. As my old Mum used to say “You can’t win them all”

So I’m not giving up – just revamping the veg plot a bit – as soon as I said “I might like some raised beds” to Mr Woodworker he was out there sawing and drilling making me some fine new raised beds – which at the moment, filled with compost from the overflowing compost heaps are just nurturing baby foxgloves, calendulas and wallflowers.

So YES I say to you all – growing fruit and veg is worth it on so many fronts – good exercise, good for the soul and good for the body – eating often mis-shapen veggies grown by yourself, harvested and on the table ready to eat in less than an hour. Don’t give up, however many problems you incur from pests large or small: there’s nothing like serving up a meal and saying “I grew that” and I tell you what, you don’t get that taste from the supermarket.

If you want to try growing something yourself, why not take advantage of 20% discount on the Growing Kits from Plant-n-Grow and get ready for next year or buy as a lovely gift for your keen gardener.   Plus keep your eye on our website for some very special seeds coming soon.

Wishing for Warmer Weather

Well it’s not exactly been great weather for gardening recently but I have still managed to do a few bits and pieces in between the snow flurries, ice and gale force winds. 

I am very lucky to have the ever handy Andy who has now made me a new black planter which I am filling with a pyramid box and box hedging with yellow Crown Imperial - all bought from the fantastic plant stall on Hitchin Market - Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  This is work in progress as I started it on one of our slightly warmer days!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handy Andy has also made me a new mini polytunnel and rejuvenated raspberry cage.

I have also managed to get out and cover up some of my raised beds with fleece in the hope it might warm up the ground (well it’s worth a try isn’t it!).  In addition I have added some of our new products to my very own garden.  These new Eco bird feeders have gone up in my garden to keep the birds fed during the snow.  You can feed fat balls, apples, cheese etc with these feeders which are made from recycled plant pots.  A very innovative product that can be used over and over again to keep those birds well fed!

Like the rest of the UK I am wishing for some much warmer weather so I can get outside and enjoy some sunshine whilst doing a spot of gardening.  I have to say I wouldn’t have attempted any gardening at all without my gardening gloves as my fingers seem to be instantly numb in the chilling winds!  We have a super selection of ladies gardening gloves available so depending on your gardening tasks to be completed, we have a super stylish pair for every job, including the new design from Bradleys below.

Fingers crossed it won’t be too long until the sun is shining and the plants are growing- here is a lovely photo I took in my garden this time last year, bit of a difference to the colours out there today!

January Blues

Feeling blue, stuck in because of the snow or even nursing an injury if like me you have taken a tumble in the icy conditions!!  Then light the fire, make a hot drink and browse the gardening catalogues to your heart's delight!
Today, apparently is classed as Blue Monday - when it has been calculated (not sure who by) that we are at our lowest ebb so what better reason could there be to take time out, put your feet up and dream of bright spring days in the garden when we will all be once again sowing and growing.
At Garden Divas HQ we are busy finding new products for our website and scouring umpteen catalogues in preparation for our annual trip - weather permitting - to Spring Fair trade show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Already tho we have deliveries arriving with new products - a brand new design Backdoorshoe called Stir Fry. gift packs of Twool - a very British and eco-friendly alternative to twine

and  Gardener's Therapies Outdoor Tapwash and No Gel Hand wash - essential for the greenhouse and allotment.
We have also sourced some stylish seed packs from the London Seed Company which should be arriving soon and are looking forward to ordering more of the new Sophie Conran range for female gardeners, including a pretty garden kneeler, garden stationery, mugs and flasks - well we all like a cuppa even when we are not snowed in!
So sit back, let us do the hard work and keep an eye on our website for all the new products and some of your old favourites too.

View from office window!!

When gardening is a challenge

Since I wrote my last blog which admittedly is a long time ago I have struggled to stay on top of my gardening!  Plodding out in kagouls and wet weather gear is not this diva's best way to garden and I know from listening to lots of you that keeping on top of your gardening has been a struggle this year.  Carrots failed to germinate - probably rotted as they hit the soggy soil and  shrubs have put out long leggy arms - searching for some sun I should think.  Plants such as foxgloves and poppies have grown sky high and then been bashed to the ground by the torrential rain and sometimes hail.  Some of the raspberries have rotted - we have to dash out between showers to grab the best of them and what can be said about the slugs!!  Seems it just their kind of weather!!
Although I sound glum there have been some good results too -when the sun does shine the garden looks wonderfully green and abundant, the mange tout in the green house were brilliant - I am now digging some lovely new potatoes and at long last my sweet peas have come into flower (planted them a bit late!)    So all is not lost and I am hoping for an Indian summer that goes on through the whole of September and October when maybe I might just be able to sit and ponder - bring it on!  In the meantime I am just thankful for my faithful pair of backdoorshoes as there was no nipping out in my flipflops or slippers this year!

 Priced at just £17.95 and extremely flexible they must be one of the most comfy garden clogs around and oh so useful to leave by the door - and not only the back door!!   I think I will treat myself to another pair - we have roses, tulips, vegetables, bluebell and grass designs all available from our website.  And if your chosen design/size is not available don't worry as new delivery is coming very soon -

Here's hoping that we get a bit more summer and can enjoy our gardens but, guess what, I have just looked out of the window and it is pouring!!

Where have I been??

Wow - where has all that time gone since I last wrote here?? Well I can tell you now that we have bought a brand new house and it has taken an awful lot of time and effort to get sorted. Am exhausted but loving it too. However juggling a busy business, home life and a new property has stretched my brain to it's limits, so it's high time I got out in the garden, back to my therapy for unwinding. Hopefully this year's blog will again chart my trials and tribulations in the garden peppered with some successes of course.

I've managed to prune my roses, using the new Radius Bypass pruner - proving good so far and no exposed spring clip to catch your skin in!!.
The Radius Transplanter also featured recently in the Mail Weekend magazine and I am loving the ergonomically designed handles. If you do a lot in the garden these will help ease hand strain.
In the veg patch I've only set 6 new potatoes - Charlotte, so far. Ground is a little cold and now very soggy since it has rained here everyday since the hosepipe ban!!

At least my water butts are nice and full and all watering cans are kept topped up - have quite a colourful awray of them here including a beautiful pink Haws can, alongside the Daisy and Thoughtful Gardener cans

In the greenhouse I am nuturing along a few Mangetout plants which are not looking too bad at the mo and there are also some baby tomato plants and lettuce coming along nicely.

The rockeries are looking good although the tete a tetes daffs were over very quickly due to that hot spell in March I think. I've also added three of the new bird feeders in orange which are a colourful addition and are already attracting small birds into the garden which I can watch from the window as I work!!
Hopefully tomorrow the rain will hold off and I can enjoy a few hours outside before it's back to work on Monday but at least I'm doing something I enjoy!! Will keep you updated too! Enjoy your gardens whatever the weather this weekend.

Is gardening just for oldies??

Earlier this week I read an article about sure fire ways that suggest you are getting old - you know the sort of thing - moaning when you get up cos your knees/hips hurt, you can't hear so well, hair appearing where it shouldn't, policemen/doctors getting younger etc etc.

Yet some way down that list it also said that as you age you take up gardening???

Well I'm no spring chicken but I have been messing about in gardens for ages, growing my own veg in my mid twenties even before it was fashionable and just loving the outdoor life. Did that make me old before my time - I don't think so and if the Garden Divas customer base is anything to go by then I would say there are loads of trendy young (well youngish) gardeners out there.

I can't see Grandad on his allotment wearing this funky toolbelt

You also have to be pretty fit to be a gardener, all that mowing, digging, pruning and sowing - taking up gardening in later life could be a real shock to the system for some.

So to all you gardeners out there whether male, female, young or old - keep up the good work and just enjoy a fab hobby and remember you don't have to be old to take up gardening.

Ups and downs of gardening

I love gardening, really I do, but sometimes it is a bit of a challenge to stay "on top" of everything.
First of all there was a really dry spring at a time when sowing and planting is at it's peak and now as I write this blog at the end of June it is raining heavily and the roses outside my window are taking a bashing, their perfumed petals falling to the ground. I know I shouldn't complain about the rain - it's just it's the wrong type of rain!!
I meant to nip out the tops of my broadbeans (as suggested in an earlier blog) but the business was extra busy (not complaining about that) and I forgot so yes they got covered in blackfly. Still I've taken out the tops now and the broadbeans lower down the plants are fine and really rather nice.
I dug up some Aaron Pilot potatoes (resistant to scab) - well these weren't but I confess they were from a bargain basement store so won't be doing that again. Always buy Scottish certified seed potatoes. Next I dug up some Charlotte potatoes and they were amazing and delicious par boiled and sauted for tea.
Here they are in a pink Burgon & Ball Garden Trug
- so useful for bringing in the veg and featured in a recent Daily Mail Weekend Magazine as one of the best trugs.
My runner beans were put out too early and succumbed to a rather chilly easterly wind so have had to re-sow (twice) cos the slugs got the second lot.
My wisteria died but has left me a brilliant frame work for an alternative climber .
My tagetees got too leggy in the greenhouse but have nipped out the tops with the deadheads so they are bushing out nicely, although a little late.


My husband (bless him) has never been a keen gardener leaving "that sort of thing" to me but just lately he has discovered he enjoys weeding (only in the veg plot tho) and is even going out into the garden after work.
Now that really is an up!!

My garden hands!!

Walking back from yet another visit to the dentist this week made me wish I had taken more care of my teeth even though my dentist gleefully informed me that they are now past their sell by date - ie I'm getting too old - what a cheek!!

It then got me thinking about the other parts I may have have neglected including my hands!! I gardened for years without using gloves and I don't recommend that either!! Then about 6 years ago I discovered the Floreo 370 Garden Gloves.

- a godsend for someone who likes to garden but who also likes to really feel what she is doing. Now there is a plethora of gloves available to protect our hands ( and I have garden gloves for all occasions) and whats more they are pretty and comfortable to wear too. And even if you are suffering from arthritis ( and I confess my thumb joint hurts a bit now) there are the Bionic Blooms Gloves with their special padding and support.

What a pity I didn't discover any gloves I felt I could garden in for years - the result - my nails and finger tips were always ingrained with a little dirt - not a good look when going out for the evening! They're still not that great now after years of potting, sowing and general digging in the dirt but at least they stay clean plus I now have a great hand care set from Gardener's Therapies
which includes a liquid glove barrier cream - how cool is that!! So there is no excuse - if I don't feel like wearing gloves I can just slap some of this on and away we go.

Then when all the work is done for the day I can nourish my hands with this wonderful handcream
- a customers favourite and featured in the Daily Mail Weekend supplement as one of the best 5 handcreams for gardeners. Really with all this pampering I should have beautiful hands although nothing can make them long and elegant and they still remain a pair of small, wide gardener's hands but they are a whole lot better than my teeth!!)

Mothers Day

It has been pretty busy here at Garden Divas HQ with orders for lucky Mums ranging from the ever popular Floreo 370 Garden Gloves to the fab new Tulip & Rose Garden BasketBut as I write this blog on a Sunday afternoon my house has been invaded by the smell of Dettol!! My beautiful daughter succumbed to a sickness bug overnight and the Mother'sDay lunch out has been cancelled . Oh well these things happen - all part of being a Mum!! Instead of going out I've treated myself to a long soak in the bath using the beautiful Gardener's Bath & Shower Gel which makes a lovely bubbly bath and certainly helps to relax and unwind (And after all I am a special gardener)!! Now I think I will head off into the garden for a while, maybe plant my second lot of potatoes - Aaron Pilot. I've already set some Charlotte potatoes which are a salad variety - my family tradition has always been to set the first lot of potatoes on Good Friday but as Easter is so late this year I have already got going - but don't worry I will still be setting some then - "Cara" which make nice jacket potatoes. And that is just what my daughter is saying she will be living on this week - jacket potatoes until her tum has settled down. My late Mother used to say if you have a potato and an apple, then you have a meal - a simple one at that but if grown in your own garden absolutely delicious!!! And Mums really do know best!!

NIP N SNIP

I have had withdrawal symptoms from the lack of gardening over the winter so have been making the most of the (slightly) better conditions to get outside.

I've lost quite a few of my shrubs in the cold snap - hebes, in particular several shrubby veronicas, a Sun King - look at these poor things

and even the lavenders which is such a shame as I had a lovely lavender pathway. They will all have to be nipped out and replaced. Think I'll try box hedging as that's pretty hardy with just a lavender at the front edge so I can brush past and get that wonderful smell.

I also set some Broad Beans last November and now have only 3 plants remaining due to the harsh weather!!! Fortunately we have a brilliant market nearby and I managed to pick up some young plants quite cheaply so will be setting them out this weekend. Broad Beans do tend to get covered in blackfly which is such a nuisance - but I am going to snip out the tops of the plants when they are in flower to try and deter them as the aphids always love the soft new growth at the top. Fingers are fine for this job but I think the Deadheads Mini Snips with their sharp blades will be better.

They should also be good for the tagetees I grow every year as I tend to be a bit clumsy when nipping out the tops to make a bushy plant and end up ruining the young growth.


Just pop them in a pocket to keep them to hand and at £3.95 they are a bargain!! Lots of our customers think so too so snap them up before they are gone

Ouch!!!

Most people understand that spending time in the garden can deliver a host of health benefits and so, feeling rather stodgy after the Christmas break, I recently headed outside for a bit of a tidy up. The sun was shining as I set about raking up leaves, removing dead plants ruined by the snow and icy blasts (Sprouting Broccoli was a write off). But looks were deceptive and there was a cold north wind blowing right across my back and even though I was suitably attired (well I thought I was) I ended up the next day feeling like an old crock bent over with a pulled muscle brought on by the cold.

The trouble is I do most of my gardening from a standing position rather than using a kneeler which is daft really as I have a fabulous selection of Kneelers right on my doorstep. So which one of these should I choose as they are all lovely.


The Fleece Garden Kneeler is as great as it's snuggly and can hang on your wheelbarrow.
The Laura Ashley Kneelers are so pretty and feminine and give a lot of support to old knees


And the new Kneelo - well I'm getting some really good feedback on that and it's nice and light to carry round.




Maybe I'll have one of each in different colours - well a girl can never have too many handbags or shoes so maybe a gardening girl can never have too many kneelers!!

Any way no time to ramble on today as it's my BIRTHDAY!!! So off to blow out the candles on my cake - just hope I don't put my back out again doing that -there are rather a lot of candles!!!

Laura Ashley range

We have been very busy bees at the Garden Divas camp just lately with loads of new products coming on board and customers shopping early for Christmas. It's not leaving much time for anything else at the moment but I did manage an hour in the garden on Wednesday morning this week and I still say it is the BEST therapy - felt really energised by the fresh air. Just did a bit of weeding and potted up some planters with dwarf tulips and violas - I prefer violas to larger pansies myself. My supplier was selling the bulbs off so they were a bargain - I am always a bit late in setting spring bulbs but they don't seem to come to any harm!!


Anyway Christmas is coming and I am delighted to say that we now have a few pieces from the Laura Ashley range including this beautiful Heart Shaped Gift Basket
on offer until Christmas at £34.95 (RRP £39.95)

More Gift Sets from Laura Ashley are expected early 2011 - not in time for Christmas sadly but keep an eye on the site in the New Year - they are lovely.

Another brill new product which we think will fly out is the Kneelo - a revolutionary modern garden kneeler from Burgon & Ball which comes in stunning colours and should be very kind to your knees! A sure hit Christmas present at £14.95

We have also introduced a small Wildlife section with MiniBugs habitats for ladybirds and other insects, posh Birdie Bistros and a cute Bird Seed Tree (with added snow)!! I have a Norwegian Spruce in the garden and I am going to hang several of these on it- should look lovely and Christmassy and it will keep the birds happy.

Go on - be nice to the birds in your garden too.

So little time, so much to do

How many women feel the same way?? I thought that an early September break in the sun would set me up nicely for the busiest months of our trading year and returned home feeling truly relaxed. Since then my feet haven't touched the ground and there's not even been a lot of time for gardening - until today that is. I've managed to squeeze in a couple of hours in the garden when the rain stopped for once and the sun came out. I've mainly been weeding - those weeds have certainly grown in the last few weeks - what was it that someone said?? "Weeds are only plants in the wrong place" Mm - not sure about that one - they are certainly in the wrong place in my garden at the moment!!

So what have I been up too since coming back from my hols - well basically (apart from the various domestic issues that feature largely in a women's life) I've been busy sourcing some fab new products for our website. Lovely chintzy items from the Garden Girl range- the Garden Plant Bag is my favourite,

a beautiful pink Petunia apron from Dotty Designs which is oh so pretty

and a cute Robin Watering Can

which should make a very appropriate gift at Christmas.

Loads more on it's way, including the Laura Ashley garden range and a beautifully boxed Indoor Watering Kit from Haws.

Oh and we've just taken delivery of the White Christmas Grobox Garden

which can be planted from now and all through the winter months. If it will make my gardening life easier I'm certainly going to be planting some of these easy peasy boxes for lovely early Spring colour and it may save me some time too!!

How to Look Luscious in Lime?!

I don't know about you but i've always found lime a rather difficult colour to wear. Well now i've found a rather fab way to get away with it- its all about the accessories! And of course i'm not talking about fashion on the high street, i'm refering to style trends in the garden...

Add a glimmer of lime to your life with this fantastic Luscious Lime Mobile Phone Sock. This is great to protect your phone from scratching whilst gardening or will in fact help you find your mobile in the depths of your handbag or gardening toolbelt!!

And it doesn't stop there, now you're phone can match your gardening gloves with the lime Floreo 370 Gardening Gloves or the Foxgloves Grip Gardening Gloves in lime. How glamourous!

Plus If you want to go all out, you can even match your gardening tools if you use these Thumb Hand Tools from this great Dogo gardening set. But remember...less is more!

Come dine with me

Come dine with me – or not when it’s so hot. After a busy week working the last thing I want to do is spend ages in the kitchen so at the end of last week we just had salad – no ordinary salad mind you as I had plenty of salad leaves in the garden courtesy of The Seedbed Roll an ingenious method of growing. The seeds are impregnated onto a rather bright blue matting which you just lay down onto well cultivated soil and then water it. But what I really like about it is that it has its own miniature polytunnel built in – brilliant - as I found all my yummy leaves were clean, slug free, and not nibbled by the countless rabbits that seem to congregate in my garden until my lazy cats decide to chase them away. And you can just cut it to size to fit into a planter or small space.

So here is the finished result,


looking rather delicious if I may say so, with the addition of some spicy chicken courtesy of good old M & S, crispy bacon, new potatoes, broad beans (from my garden of course) plus cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, celery – basically anything decent found in the bottom of my fridge. Just add salad dressing of your choice and tuck in.

I love this time of year in the garden when all my hard work is coming to fruition – picked a few raspberries yesterday for breakfast, had broccoli for Sunday lunch and have had broad beans galore (– a favourite dish with these is to fry a chopped small onion with crushed garlic if desired, and bacon lardons, lightly cook the beans, then stir it all together and serve piping hot.)

Luckily I’ve always been able to grow some veg or fruit even when I only had a postage stamp sized garden – growbags were the norm then. It can be time consuming I suppose but at this time of year it sure is worth it.



My veg patch!

How did we end up here?!

There are often times in life when we ask ourselves such questions and a wave of panic comes across us (or is that just me)! However with Garden Divas it is more of a positive end of a somewhat shaky start. For the full Garden Divas story you may want to check the great article on the Giddy Limits Website telling you how I turned my Midlife crisis into a fun n fab Gardening Business!
Giddy Limits is a great website full of info for the over 50s. Why not take a look at some of their other fab articles or follow their New Facebook Page.

In addition if you're really interested in how Garden Divas blossomed, why not check out our Press Releases Page for all our up to date info!

Chelsea Flower Show 2010

I was lucky enough to enjoy beautiful weather on my visit to Chelsea Flower Show last month and even though I arrived home exhausted having walked halfway across London to find a taxi – it was worth it.

Local garden designer Philippa Pearson’s Victorian Aviary garden was just one of the amazing show gardens and the sights and scents in the pavilion were just amazing. Harkness Roses based near Hitchin had a beautiful display and everywhere I looked there was an abundance of colour. And we Garden Divas do love colour!!

I also met up with Claudia from Dig It™ who manufactures the only Ladies DIY/Garden Gloves to protect your manicure – now at a special price in our June Offers.

It was great to learn about the idea behind these gloves, their development and the girls’ appearance on Canada’s Dragons Den. Claudia and I spent most of the day together and I believe she was quite overwhelmed by the experience which is Chelsea Flower Show!
If you were unable to visit Chelsea check out these funky tool belts and garden bags which were also hot sellers !!!

FREE Competition

Morning!

The good news is Garden Divas is running a FREE COMPETITION to win a DOGO Gardening Hand Tool Set and some coordinating Foxgloves Elle gardening gloves. How do I enter I hear you ask??? Well all you need to do is head to http://www.gardendivas.co.uk/ and enter your email address to join our mailing list. It's that simple!

The winner will be selected at random during the first week of June when we will contact the lucky person for their delivery address! This prize would make a gorgeous treat for yourself or a fab present for a loved one.

Good luck and remember to tell your friends!

Are you one of the 41% that grows your own? If not why not?!

Why not start the New Year as you mean to go on and join the 41% of family stage consumers that are already growing their own produce or planning to in 2010. New Year is all about fresh starts so why not make this one of yours and ensure your vegetables are a lot fresher!

The Horticultural Trades Association has published a recent Garden Industry Monitor Consumer Insight investigating the trends in the gardening World. We are pleased to see that the population are not only growing more but spending a lot more time in their home and garden, though we doubt many of you have been recently pottering around the flower beds in this snowy weather!

To support this growing trend we want the percentage of people growing their own to rise to over 50%! Every little bit counts so in amongst our grow your own range you will find The Girl’s Guide To Growing- perfect for the beginner lady gardener who wants to get started! We know we’ve raved about this book in our previous blog so we won’t repeat ourselves but...it is now available at a Seasonal Offer Price! You can order the book online for £10.95 (was £12.95) for a limited time only so be quick. You may not be able to get outside right now but you can enjoy reading all these hints and tips by the fire with a hot cuppa tea until the ice melts and then get gardening!