May 2024

BBC Gardeners' World

Britain's best-selling gardening magazine

BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
More From Gardeners' World Magazine
Join us… for a new podcast series on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in conversation with Monty Don and all your favourite gardeners, plus a few surprise guests, as they share their gardens and the secrets of beautiful borders, great veg, mental wellbeing an
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Welcome
We’re excited here at GW Towers, as we’re celebrating 30 years of our 2 for 1 Gardens scheme. That’s three decades of 2 for 1 entry to gardens across the UK and Ireland for countless GW readers. It’s three decades of friends and family coming togethe
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
We love May
Deutzia x elegantissima ‘Rosealind’ This is one of those shrubs that, due to the unfathomable vagaries of fashion, has slightly fallen from grace over the past couple of decades. There was a time when every suburban park and garden boasted a perky pi
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Expert’s choice Dryopteris
Male fern: “virile-looking”; Lady fern: displays “female grace and delicacy”. So says a classic book on ferns published in 1908. Times, of course, have changed. These days, the editor would be reaching for the delete key and probably tearing up the a
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Have Your Say
I quite agree with Flo (GardenersWorld.com/premium), encouraging us to be less controlling in our gardens. We have half an acre in total, with a small patch near the house that I tend a lot. The rest, apart from a small veg plot, is allowed to do wha
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Indulge In The Gardens Of Yorkshire
Join our bespoke three-night tour, uncovering some of Yorkshire’s beautiful gardens and spectacular buildings, all in the company of gardening expert, David Hurrion. ◼ DAY 1 Check in at the 4* Ripon Inn from 3pm and enjoy a welcome drink and talk by
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
Over The Fence
Access to nature is a fundamental right that every child should enjoy and those who are fortunate enough to have a garden should be encouraged to revel in it. Science has shown that forging a connection with nature is a vital part of positive develop
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
The Full Monty
After a long and particularly wet winter we have arrived at the most exciting time of year, when the world is unfolding daily in clouds of floral glory in the season of tulips, forget-me-nots, alliums, irises and above all blossom – blossom spilling
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Digging Deeper
Garden visits raise record funds for charity For gardeners, May is a time of optimism and goodwill. The sun is out and the horticultural calendar is peppered with charitable events. One such event is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21-25 May), which thi
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
2 for 1 Gardens 2 for 1 Gardens turns 30!
The Savill Garden is set like a jewel in the heart of Windsor Great Park, filled with colour at every time of year. The various gardens flow into one another like the changing seasons. Highlights include the modern rose garden, with its raised walkwa
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Get Growing Top Tips For Beginner Gardeners
Ready to tackle your first garden? Or perhaps you want to build on your basic gardening skills? Either way, spring is the perfect season to practice a range of gardening essentials, from sowing seeds, pricking out and planting to transplanting, pruni
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Subscribe And Receive A Set Of Niwaki Secateurs
FREE SEEDS until June issue! ‡ FREE SEEDS‡ for subscribers Last chance to get a free double pack of seeds. Subscribe by 9 May to get a pack of Foxglove Excelsior Mixed and Carrot Chantenay Red Cored 2 Offer ends 23 May 2024 SUBSCRIBE USING OFFER CODE
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Salsola soda (agretti)
If you’re on the hunt for an unusual crop that adds a tasty accent to savoury dishes, then look no further than agretti, says Gemma Sturges – it’s the Mediterranean vegetable everyone is talking about Salsola soda has many common names, including agr
BBC Gardeners' World6 min read
Clay Pot Classics
Wherever you sit in your garden, be it just outside the kitchen door or at the far end of a winding path, you must have pots. Lots of pots. Spanish patios are crammed with pots and that is, without doubt, the right approach. I don’t really buy into t
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Flowers for The Future
There are few things more pleasing than a garden filled with herbaceous perennials. These hard-working flowers are simple to grow, easy to care for (with usually just one cut-back a year), and fill your garden with colour, nectar for pollinators, sce
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Plants With The Wow factor
Subtlety is all very well in a garden, but every now and then it’s good to have a shot in the arm, a blast of colour or scent that really does cause you – or a visitor – to say ‘Wow!’ Now you’re never going to get the wow factor from those stalwarts
BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
We Want To Know What You Think
We’re inviting you to take part in some research that will help us understand your relationship with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, and how we can continue to make improvements. Whether you’re a subscriber or prefer to pick up a copy from your local
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Space For sanctuary
Irene Berry started her garden in 2018, after moving from Singapore to a relatively isolated spot in the Scottish Borders. Despite never having gardened before, she has turned a small cobbled courtyard into a slice of South-East Asia. Inspired by vis
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Could You Be a Winner?
Our Gardens of the Year competition is open for entries until 10 June 2024, which means there’s still plenty of time to assess your space, make any final design or planting tweaks, and send your photos in via our entry form at GardenersWorld.com/gard
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Get Ready To Shop!
Join us! 13-16 June 2024 NEC Birmingham Inspiration | Expert advice | Shopping | Entertainment See you there! Go home with a new plant addition, or several, from the Floral Marquee and Plant Village as as a memory of your day out! Explore the NEW Orc
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Pots To Spring Into Summer
Spring is the time for new life in the garden, but that doesn’t mean you need a huge plot – lots of favourites can grow perfectly well in a container. The following four pots include shade-tolerant plants, coloured or textured evergreens, cascading e
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Explore The Gardens Of Kent And Sussex
Join our tailor-made tour exploring the beautiful gardens of Kent and Sussex while indulging in the comfort of the four-star East Sussex National Hotel. ◼ DAY 1 Arrive independently at the East Sussex National Hotel from 3pm. Enjoy an evening welcome
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WIN! An 8-day Holiday To Slovenia And The Gulf Of Trieste
Home to the spectacular Lake Bled and the charming capital city of Ljubljana, Slovenia has quickly become a holiday destination of choice in Europe. Together with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, Travel Department is offering one lucky winner the chanc
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Secrets Of A COLOURFUL GARDEN
Lots of us can be a bit reserved when it comes to colour choice in our homes and clothes, but gardens are a great place to throw caution to the wind and really experiment. The placement of colour in a garden can radically change the way it feels, fro
BBC Gardeners' World6 min read
The Happy House Plant Guide Part 6: Propagation
If you want to get to know your house plants on a deeper level, propagate them. You’ll learn their inner workings, and along the way create extra plants to use as back-ups when things go wrong, gifts for friends and family, and material for swaps as
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Gardeners’ Cruise To Spain And France
Take in the lovely scenery of France and Spain as you discover fine gardens and vineyards on this spring cruise. Our exclusive onboard experience includes welcome get-together, two illustrated talks, horticultural Q&A session, and afternoon tea – all
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Your Wildlife Month
My favourite month of the year, May is a riot of birdsong and blossom, of a pond full of tadpoles, and leaves dripping with aphids and caterpillars. By day, bees visit flowers, fill my bee hotel and make tunnels in my lawn to lay their eggs. Sparrows
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
Bite-sized Bounties
It’s been a couple of years since I started growing vegetables in my own space and sharing recipes with you in BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, and this year feels like the most exciting of all, with the knowledge of what works where in the garden, whi
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
It’s Almost Show Time!
at Beaulieu, Hampshire 3 - 5 May 2024 LAST CHANCE TO BOOK! See you there! You can explore three woodland-themed gardens at this year’s Fair. Marc Buirski’s ‘The Retreat’ brings the peace of trees to a school garden, ‘A Forest of Calm’ by Leigh Johnst
BBC Gardeners' World7 min read
Part 3 GROW WITH GAZ
May has arrived – so the days are longer and there’s some warmth in the Welsh air that feels so comforting and needed. My garden in May looks neat and organised, and all this extra light and warmth is like rocket fuel for my children – aka my plants.
BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
Hardy Gerbera ‘Garvinea’Sweet collection
Supplied as 3 established plants in 7cm pots £14.99 +P&P BUY THREE GET THREE FREE! We’re delighted to bring you a limited supply of the world’s first Hardy Gerbera in a range of bright neon colours. The ‘Garvinea’ Sweet Collection was specially devel
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Colourful Japanese Maple
Pretty and compact, Acer palmatum ‘Taylor’ is perfect for smaller gardens, pots and patios, and will provide impact and colour throughout the year. In spring, the dainty, dissected leaves emerge salmon-pink, covering the bush in a soft peach glow, be
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Hassle-free Harvests
Perennial edibles are, in theory, nirvana for the hassle-free gardener. Plants that produce food every year without the need for repeated sowing or planting? Yes please! They’re less effort and can also reduce our environmental impact, by avoiding th
BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
May Growing Guide
Visit GardenersWorld.com/what-to-do-now for more advice on the best crops to sow and plant this month, and how to do it A new and exclusive variety, this red-pink fleshed apple has a unique appearance and a delicious flavour. Very hardy, its pink blo
BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
What To Do Now
PLUS Planting out lettuce ◼ Transplanting dahlias ◼ Tying in clematis ◼ Watering pelargoniums ◼ Earthing up potatoes Sign up to our Newsletter for more helpful tips and advice for the month at GardenersWorld.com/newsletters ■
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Around The Garden
Prepare areas of ground that will be planted up with summer bedding. Fork it over to remove any perennial weeds, then rake it level to make planting easier. Planting in uneven ground can result in plants going in at different depths and water accumul
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Grow Your FREE Seeds
This month’s FREE parsley Moss Curled 2 and cosmos Sensation Mixed seeds can be sown outdoors now or in a pot indoors. Sowing parsley little and often in the next couple of months will bring a continuous crop to flavour salads and home cooking, while
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
Flowers
Plant out hardened-off dahlias, checking for low temperatures or pending storms. Soak plants before planting. Stake taller cultivars and add a top dressing of high potassium fertiliser to encourage flowering. 1 SUPPORT the plant with your fingers spl
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30 Free* Border Perennials
*Just pay £5.95 postage (KF8636FFP) This collection will fill sunny borders with colour throughout the summer. The collection comprises: Verbena bonariensis x 6 Tightly clustered, rich purple florets at the top of long stalks. Attracts bees and butte
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Adam’s Essentials
The end of May is usually a good time to plant some climbing French beans. If the plants are hardened off you can risk putting them out earlier, because out of all the climbing beans, the French types are the hardiest. Add plenty of organic matter to
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
Greenhouse
Plant a basket with succulents to make a low-maintenance display which will need less water than a traditionally planted basket. Keep it in the greenhouse in May, then hang it somewhere it can be enjoyed up close where it will receive plenty of sunli
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Pretty Salvia Lips Collection
This collection of fragrant salvias is not only visually appealing with its striking two-tone blooms, but it’s also beloved by bees and butterflies. Equally at home in containers and borders, these versatile plants have a colour palette that brings r
BBC Gardeners' World4 min read
Fruit And Veg
Get some lettuce plugs outside now that they’ve had a chance to acclimatise to the warmer weather. Soak the roots thoroughly before you plant them into the bed. Unlike hearting types, loose-leaf lettuce can tolerate a bit of shade so it’s a useful cr
BBC Gardeners' World3 min read
Your Pruning Month
There is a sense of optimism around the garden during May. I get a little giddy at the thought of those frosty nights becoming a distant memory, and we can dare to dream about unleashing flamboyant tender plants into our gardens. When it comes to pru
BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
3 For 2 On All Wildflower Plants
Wildflowers play a vital role in supporting our native insects, providing them with plentiful pollen and nectar to feed upon. Easy to grow and care for, they’ll naturally self-seed, providing colour for many years. Why not help native insects and tak
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
SAVE 10%* On Your Spring Essentials
DT BROWN CODE: D24DGW 0333 003 0869, dtbrownseeds.co.uk One of the UK’s leading seed suppliers, it sells everything you need for your garden or allotment, offering great quality and value. FARMER GRACY CODE: GW24PRDR farmergracy.co.uk (online orders
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Your Questions Answered Q&A
Somehow camellias are both familiar and exotic. Commonly spotted in winter gardens when covered in flowers, they originate thousands of miles away from Britain. However, if you have free-draining, neutral to acid soil, their natural habitat is easy t
BBC Gardeners' World9 min read
GQT Gardeners’ Question Time
Q How can I grow crops in my very hot greenhouse? Vikki Summers, Lancashire A BOB SAYS Tomatoes will seldom find it too hot or bright if given enough water, so grow them in the greenhouse border or in larger containers with trays underneath them. The
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
Crossword
1 The delicate beauty of fruit __ may need protection from late frosts (7) 7 Watch out for these tiny sap-suckers on shoot tips (6) 8 Put up __ in the greenhouse to reduce the risk of scorching (7) 9 ‘Early __’ is a popular, versatile carrot variety
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
FREE* for Every Reader
WORTH £24.95 Add fragrance and beauty to your garden with this collection of English lavenders. The fragrant flowers are highly attractive to bees, and excellent for cutting and drying. Perfect for scented patio containers or growing as a low hedge o
BBC Gardeners' World1 min read
NEXT Month
Follow Monty’s guide to beautiful agapanthus displays PLUS… BBQs on test ◼ Pots of summer edibles ◼ Backdoor fruit and veg recipes ◼ Creative ways with house plants FREE foxglove and carrot seeds ■ Not a subscriber? Join the Subscriber Club before 9
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Tales From Titchmarsh
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” Maria von Trapp had it absolutely right, but you don’t have to wait until the moment “When the dog bites, when the bee stings” to remember your favourite things. It does no harm at all to think of them at
BBC Gardeners' World2 min read
BBC Gardeners' World
Managing Director Jemima Dixon Head of Content Kevin Smith Head of Digital Delivery Daniel Haynes Marketing & Commercial Director Sephora Jinks Commissioning Editor Adam Duxbury Digital Editor Catherine Mansley Horticultural Editor Emma Crawforth Rev

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