Plant your own foxglove haven at home Attract bees and wildlife to the garden by featuring foxgloves in your planting scheme. They’re sure to give a burst of colour to any corner of the garden. Foxgloves were a clear favourite at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live, appearing in the Beautiful Borders, Show Gardens and throughout the Floral Marquee. Popular in cottage gardens, foxgloves make a lovely addition to the garden, coming in many colours and varieties. With the help of our friends at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, we’ve put together some top tips to help you grow your own foxglove haven at home.  The Hideout, inspired by Peaky Blinders in celebration of the BBC’s 100th anniversary, designed by Alex Froggatt. Foxgloves in the Floral Marquee at BBC Gardeners’ World Live Let’s get growing!To start growing foxgloves, sow the seeds in a tray of seed compost. Instead of covering the seed, place a propagator lid or sheet of glass over the tray. Already grown plants can be plotted straight into the garden in spring or autumn.When looking for a spot to plant your foxgloves, it’s important to remember that most varieties of foxgloves prefer the shade and do best in a well-drained, moist soil. What’s more, you might not get flowers the same year you plant. To get your foxgloves to self-seed around the garden for flowers every year, plant them two years in a row.Foxgloves will self-seed on their own in the garden – just avoid deadheading the flowers until seeds have developed and ripened. You can collect the seeds and scatter them where you’d like them to grow, or sow seeds in a tray of compost. Top tipsDeadhead blooms after flowering for a second wind of flowers, or let them self seed over the garden.Protect young plants from slugs and snailsAll parts of foxgloves are poisonous, and can kill an adult human if any of the part is ingested. 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Check out some of the floral features, Beautiful Borders and Show Gardens from BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022 for ideas of where to plant in your garden, as well as colour schemes and ideas for planting. /*! elementor-pro - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 */ .elementor-gallery__container{min-height:1px}.elementor-gallery-item{position:relative;overflow:hidden;display:block;text-decoration:none;border:solid var(--image-border-width) 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.elementor-gallery__item-overlay-content__title{opacity:1}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title{color:var(--galleries-title-color-normal)}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.elementor-item-active,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.highlighted,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title:focus,a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title:hover{color:var(--galleries-title-color-hover)}a.elementor-item.elementor-gallery-title.elementor-item-active{color:var(--gallery-title-color-active)}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-gallery,.e-con>.elementor-widget-gallery{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)} Delve into garden inspiration from the 2022 Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders Discover even more top tips, inspiration and our latest news

Dig into a home-grown raspberry tiramisu There’s nothing quite like home-grown raspberries, which is why we’ve put together some top tips on how to grow them, plus a delicious recipe from the BBC Good Food Magazine, as seen at the BBC Good Food Show Summer… If you’ve already planted raspberries, now is about the time they’ll be ready for picking, washing and preparing for the kitchen, whether its a handful of the berries on your cereal, or in a tantalising dessert. With some help from our friends at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, we’ve put together some top tips on growing raspberries, accompanied by a delicious raspberry tiramisu recipe  from the BBC Good Food Show Magazine, demonstrated at the BBC Good Food Show this summer by Cassie Best on the Italian Kitchen. Planting  In late autumn, or early winter, plant raspberry canes in a sunny spot 45cm apart with 1.8m between rows, in well-drained soil. Before planting, soak the roots in water, and cover the roots with about 5cm of soil. Keep any white buds at the stem base at soil level. In springtime, feed the canes with a general fertiliser and use mulch to keep the roots moist. Summer-fruiting raspberriesThese raspberries fruit after a year. Prune out weak shoots as they develop an tie in new canes with a spacing of 15cm. After fruiting, cut the canes that have produced fruit to soil level. Summer-fruiting canes need a bit more support, so tie them as the grow. Autumn-fruiting raspberriesThese raspberries produce canes that flower and fruit the same year. Cut down the canes in the winter to allow new ones to develop in a wide row the following year. Once shorter, the canes will be able to support each other. Tips for pests and diseasesUse netting to protect the fruit from birds and other small mammalsSometimes raspberry plants suffer from rasperry nutrient deficiency – use a high nitorgen fertiliser and mulch annually to prevent this.You might spot green shield bugs on your plants – these won’t harm your plants so don’t worry about them! Harvesting and what to do nextPick the fruit gently to avoid crushing them. Ripe raspberries will tumble off the plant into your hands.For delicious results, pick and eat our raspberries on the same day.Raspberries can be stored in the fridge, or frozen in a dish to be eaten later.You can also make your harvest into a delicious jam, purée, or smoothie. Feeling inspired? Why not try making a refreshing raspberry tiramisu, using Cassie Best’s berrylicious recipe, as seen at the BBC Good Food Show Summer at the 2022 Show. Find out more below… Raspberry tiramisuThis recipe is from BBC Good Food Magazine, as seen on the Italian Kitchen at the BBC Good Food Show Summer with Cassie Best.Serves 66 egg yolks175g caster sugar300ml pot double cream500g mascarpone1 tbsp vanilla extract24 sponge fingers150ml marsala or sweet wine350g raspberriesicing sugar, to dust Method 1.Put the egg yolks and sugar into a heatproof bowl, set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk until pale, creamy and doubled in volume. Remove from the heat and whisk for 1 minute until cool.2.In another bowl beat the cream, marsala and vanilla extract until combined, thick and creamy. Fold or very gently whisk this mixture into the creamy yolks.3.Dip half the sponge fingers into the marsala and arrange over the bottom of a serving dish. Pour over half of the creamy mixture, then top with most of the raspberries. Repeat the layers, then finish by dotting over the remaining raspberries. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.4.Dust the tiramisu with icing sugar just before serving in big bowls. BBC Gardeners’ World Live will be back alongside the BBC Good Food Show Summer from 15-18 June 2023. Find out more below… Delve into garden inspiration from the 2022 Show Gardens and Beautiful Borders Find out more about the BBC Good Food Show Summer

Build a pond for wildlife in your garden, with help from an expert garden designer Small gardens can be havens for wild life, enticing pollinators, bugs and bees. Creating a pond in your garden can have instant impact, and attract a wide range of wildlife to your space.Lou Carson created a small pond in her Beautiful Border 2022, called Wildlife Oasis. Her small garden design illustrated the benefits of a garden pond to both wildlife and the gardener, and how it can be created as part of a natural looking border or small outdoor space.   Wildlife Oasis received a silver merit award from the judges. Below, Lou Carson shares some tips for creating your own pond at home. Written by Lou Carson Ponds should be included in all gardens as they provide a habitat for many animals and are always full of life.Ponds attract not just frogs, toads and newts but also numerous other small creatures such as dragonflies, damselflies, water beetles, pond snails, water fleas, water boatmen and pond skaters. The pond is also an important source of water for many mammals such as hedgehogs, as well as for many birds, which all like to come for a drink.Ponds can be a lifeline in a very dry summer when all other available water sources have dried out. Birds also like to bath in the shallow water at the edge of the pond. By surrounding the pond with pollinator-friendly plants many different insects such as bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies, and beetles are attracted.  The close-by pond will also give these insects a source of water which they will frequently visit. Some hoverflies are also particularly attracted to water and can often be found basking on stones or leaves close to the pond edge.Below outlines how to build a naturalistic pond similar to our one at the show. Step 1:  Dig a holeA pond can be any depth and width.  Start by digging a small area 60-80cm deep and at least 40cm wide.  It allows a deep area to avoid being frozen during winter for frogs to hibernate in.Start digging out wider and build a 40-50cm wide ledge about 30-40cm deep.  Ensure this is level as plants will need to balance on this.  Stamp into the ledge and pond base to compact the soil as much as possible.If the pond is wider than 2m, perhaps create another ledge 20cm deep for shallower plants to grow.Then create a 10cm wide ledge about 5-10cm deep for the edge of the pond liner to sit on.  Ensure this is level so the water does not drain away to one side.Remove as many sharp stones, roots and sticks as possible. Step 2: Lay liner and underlay Measure width + (depth x 2).  This is the minimum width of liner and underlay needed.  Add 50% contingency.Use only specialist pond liner with UV resistant coating.  The liner should come with a minimum 40-year guarantee.The underlay is a fabric which protects the liner from punctures. Cover the hole centrally with the underlay, then place the liner on top.  Do not do this in a wind – we had to secure ours with rocks and it still went flying! Step 3:  Add water and resize Add some smooth rocks or cobbles to temporarily secure the liner in place and add water, allowing the liner to flex into the shape of the pond, gently easing it into the ledges.Once the pond is 90% full roughly cut about 20cm out from the edge of the pond and keep the off-cuts of underlay or liner.  These will be used to protect the liner by placing under large rocks, and plant baskets. Step 4: Plant and decorate the edges Start adding plants.  Check the labels for how deep the plants should be place below the water level.  There should be a mix of depth sizes, oxygenators, and marginal plants.  There is space for at least one nymphaea (water lily) in the deep area and a mix of water irises, grasses and other plants scattered around the ledges.  Always include oxygenating plants.  These are plants which are submersed in the pond, creating a healthy ecosystem.  They breathe oxygen into the water and even out bacteria levels, enabling tadpoles, frogs, and insects to survive in the pond.  Below is a list of plants we used in our show pond.Place large rocks around the edge and fit in smaller rocks, cobbles and wood to cover the top ledge and edge of the liner.Do not yet tidy up and trim the edge of the liner as the pond will need a few days to settle and may shift deeper into the ground, compacting the soil. Step 5: Finish Planting and Trim Liner After a couple of days, the water will clear and the liner will have settled into place.  Finish tweaking the planting and trim the liner about 10-20cm from the edge of the pond.  Bury the exposed liner under soil, rocks, gravel, grass, etc.  It should not be exposed to sunlight as it will not last as long. Now just sit back and wait for the wildlife to come! Suggested Pond and Marginal Plants for Wildlife: Shallow or bog:Caltha palustrisRanunculus flammulaMentha cervinaMentha palustrisMyosotis scorpioidesIris Louisiana ‘Black Gamecock’Iris Louisiana ‘Dancing Vogue’Oxygenators:Ceratophyllum demersumRanunculus aquatilisMarginals:Primula candelabraLythrum salicaria Grasses:Carex elata ‘Aurea’Scirpus cernuusDichromena colorataDeep Water:Nymphaea ‘Inner Light’ If you’d like to find out more about the Beautiful Borders at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, click here. To find out more about Lou Carson, click here. Explore the other Beautiful Borders Discover the Show Gardens

Simple ways to bring wildlife to your garden Wildlife friendly gardens don’t need to be messy or overgrown. Find out more about how to integrate pollinator friendly features to encourage all sorts of creatures to the garden. The Garden Design Co, who brought the award-winning ‘Living Landscape Garden’ to BBC Gardeners’ World Live with the Michael Wheat Group, have shared some to make your garden a haven for wildlife… Find out more about their top tips below. Written by The Garden Design Co. team Wildlife friendly gardens – despite their often dated and negative connotations- don’t need to be messy, overgrown and unruly patches of land to attract wildlife.That is how ‘The Living Landscape’ garden has been designed to demonstrate. Combining both a manicured and controlled landscape with wildlife friendly features is the most practical way to introduce or encourage wildlife back into your garden. It isn’t necessary to devote your entire space to wildlife to make it friendly read on to learn how wildlife and mankind can live in harmony and flourish once again. Inspired by ‘The Living Landscape’ garden, which won the award for Best Show Garden Construction at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, here are some suggestions of simple ways to integrate wildlife friendly areas into your garden. Introduce waterWater is nature’s elixir. A water feature is fantastic way to encourage all walks of wildlife into your garden, including birds and crucial insects in the ecosystem.You will be amazed by what even a small amount of water will bring to your garden in terms of wildlife. A small tub or a big pond, just watch wildlife flood in when water is near.Top tipsLeave beaches for animals to get out of the water easily when they enter to bathe or drinkAdd plants to margins to provide refuge and habits for amphibians, mammals, and insectsUse UK native plants to support our native wildlife avoiding invasive plant species Leave grass uncutButterflies especially, benefit from uncut grass as it creates a habitat for them to lay their eggs.Leaving grass uncut provides food for developing larvae, while nectar-filled flowers feed adult butterflies, moths and other insects. Bees also benefit from reduced lawn cutting schedule as the flowers in the lawn provide nectar for them.Top tipsDedicate a strip of grass in the garden which is to remain uncut as you maintain the rest of your lawnChoose a patch at a border edge or get creative with a winding strip through the centre as a featureFor bees, reduce cutting to once every two weeks instead of one (they don’t benefit from really long grass as much). Provide native treesThere is nothing better than native plants for our wildlife. Native shrubs and trees offer the best choice for wildlife, providing habits for insects, flowers for our bees and berries and fruits for our mammals and birds, but any tree is better than none!Top tipsEven adding one small trees into your garden has endless benefits to wildlife, no garden is too small! Pick a suitable tree for your gardens size by checking its mature height and spreadSelect a deciduous tree or berry forming evergreens for best benefits to wildlife and most stunning season displays in your gardenCarefully think about the new tree’s location, it’s better to consider this carefully than having to cut it down later These simple ways will have a huge impact on wildlife in your garden and more small things we can all take part in the quicker our wildlife can recover and flourish again hand in hand with mankind. Feeling inspired? Take a look at The Garden Design Co. who designed and built ‘The Living Landscape’ garden with partners Michael Wheat Group at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022. Click here to find out more about the garden. Explore the Beautiful Borders coming to the BBC Gardeners' World Live Discover garden inspiration and take a look at the Show Gardens

Top tips for a blooming balcony garden Ahead of BBC Gardeners’ World Live this June, we spoke to Chris Collins from Garden Organic, who is helping to bring Garden Organic’s Small Space – Big Ideas Garden to the Show. The garden will show how a productive and biodiverse organic oasis is accessible to all growers, regardless of the size of their growing area.Read below to hear from Chris about all the wonderful things you could be growing at home, no matter the size of your garden. Written by Chris Collins I think people sometimes feel that gardening is the past time of a certain section of society, those with of ownership of  large spaces , more economic freedoms and of course the all important ingredient of  all, time. Changes in many peoples personal living spaces & generation rent it could be argued, also may inhibit peoples urge to grow and nurture plants. It is though quite simply not true. A pot, hanging basket,  window-sill, balcony or roof terrace no matter how small can allow you to green up  your environment, grow your own food or just simply bring colour into your life.To start out, always think of any outdoor space as a cube as opposed to being flat. For instance a 2 meter square garden massively increases in size if thought of a cubed space. Adding trellis, hanging baskets, wall baskets, why not a metal archway or obelisks? Containers of varying heights and sizes will all help fill out what looks like a small unkept space into a magnificent garden. It therefore follows that you get all your structural elements in place, take time to choose the pots and features you want. Look at upcycling, what can you recycle. If you are lucky enough to have a balcony, it is a good idea to take a piece of paper and a pen and just sketch out what you have in mind . It never hurts to plan out your garden no matter how small.To be a successful container gardener, rule one is to make sure you have decent soil . None of this three bags for a tenner from the DIY store, this type of compost is good for mulching, but you want your plant roots to be in a decent  potting compost. Spending a few pennies on compost will pay dividends in the long run. Perennial planting in containers can be top dressed with compost each year and seasonal containers and baskets can have their soil replaced by a third each season.If you have space, try composting with a wormery. They will need a steady temperature range of 15 to 25 degrees, so take care of where its sited. They will produce a decent top dress for your pots and the worm tea from run off as a foliar feed. So now the exciting part, what do you want to grow? I make the most of small spaces by mixing plant types together. I have structural containers that are perennial and create the outline of the balcony. Old English Roses make great balcony plants and I train these on the walls and underplant with Lavender. Woody herbs such as Rosemary , Thyme & Oregano also make a good perennial pot and also contribute to the  kitchen. Finally a decent climbing plant, planted on railings, will not only look good but also has a hedging effect by slowing down wind speed as it matures. For this a winter Jasmine is excellent.To get the most out of a small space nothing quite gives you your maximum results than seasonal planting. In mid-May I fill my balcony with all the old summer bedding stalwarts. From the Petunia to the Pelargonium blended with trailing Lobelia & Impatiens, these plants will cover themselves in flower from June all the way through to autumns first frost. They are the plants that just keep on giving. Once they come to pass, its time to fill the containers and baskets with bulbs. A mixture of Snowdrops, Crocus, Narcissus, Tulips and Allium will produce months of colour from February until May, bringing your seasonal planting full cycle. In among this all this colour a small space filled with containers can produce a steady supply of fresh organic food just meters from your kitchen table. Quick crops that can be grazed are particularly successful.  Grow these in close lines (drills) in a large trough and try to get one that has a reservoir built into its base. This means the soil will draw up water by capillary action and lessen the chances of the plants  drying out. Sow quick crops like cut and come again salad leaves, lettuce, rocket or perpetual spinach. Sow them densely so they produce lots of small juicy leaves that can be picked at will and added straight to a salad. It’s also good practice to sow new crops in between your previously sown drill as these can take over  as the older plants expire. Site your trough in a sunny spot where possible.  Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and chillies make great veg to grow in containers as they can be mixed with leafy herbs and seasonal bedding or pollinator plants to make ‘pottage’ containers. Plant out in mid to late May and by late July you can begin picking. To have healthy successful balcony garden is not so difficult but there are a few important rules to follow. It may seem obvious but rule one and most fundamental is attention to watering , the simple art of irrigation is the catalyst to all the other gardening tasks. Do it early in the morning before heading off to work, always water your containers one by one, water deep and give them a decent drink right to the base of the plants. Whilst doing this check how your plants are doing.  Do they need picking over? Dead heading? Have they got any unwanted visitors that need picking off? Do they need any physical support? Watering and all the other considerations that come with it is the job that gives you skin in the game. You’ll see your plants grow and your garden flourish and the fine art of horticulture will become part you. Our last considerations for our container  plants is making sure they get their nutrients. Container soil will leach nutrients as they will wash through over time, so the gardener needs to supplement them. Organic comfrey pellets are a good balanced fertiliser and can be added to the pots in spring and then again in mid -summer along with a thin dressing of compost or organic matter. A regular foliar feed of diluted seaweed extract sprayed on to the leaves little and often will keep your plants healthy and strong. Do this early in the morning on a still day. A great advantage to balcony gardens is pest and disease is usually minimal. Encourage hoverflies and small birds to control the caterpillars and aphids and pick over any mouldy looking or unwell looking leaves. With this mixture of planting from herbs, edibles and flowers, a good balanced organic garden will be created.Gardening is not about size. Its just about getting your hands in the soil and  connecting with nature so have a look at any space you have and help green our cities. Don’t miss Garden Organic’s Small Space – Big Ideas Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Click here to find out more about the garden. Explore the Beautiful Borders coming to the BBC Gardeners' World Live Discover garden inspiration and take a look at the Show Gardens

Recipe from the Veg Patch, Mary Berry's Plum Tomato, Olive and Marjoram Tart With tomato seeds started off indoors in April, they’ll be ready to plant out in May and June. With this in mind, we’ve asked our resident expert Matt Biggs for his expert tips on growing tasty toms, and paired this with Mary Berry’s delectable plum tomato, olive and marjoram tart recipe, as demonstrated at the BBC Good Food Show Summer.We’ll be joined by Matt Biggs at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, and Dame Mary Berry will join Adam Frost for a very special session on Saturday at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Tips from the Veg Patch: Matt Biggs‘s top tips for growing tomatoes If your plants are a bit ‘leggy’ don’t worry, planting tomatoes 5-10cm or more deeper than they are in the pot, so you are burying the stems. Tomatoes produce roots from the stems, so they will develop a larger root system for better uptake of food and water.  As the plant grows, shoots form where the base of the leaf joins the main stem. Pinch these out with your finger and thumb rather than secateurs, when they are 2.5cm long. This ensures that you have one main stem, all the energy goes into producing fruit and the plant remains nice and tidy. Bush or trailing tomatoes don’t need ‘pinching out’.  To guarantee a good crop of tomatoes, tap the fully open flowers with your finger around mid-day on a warm sunny day to ensure pollination takes place. You will see pollen falling from the flower. Do this every time a new cluster of flowers appears.  You can grow tomatoes indoors in growing bags, in a shallow tray, by a sunny patio doors or smaller bush varieties on a windowsill. If you are using growing bags, turn them vertically, shake the bag so the compost settles, then fold the excess plastic underneath, planting two plants in the bag rather than the recommended three. This means there is less competition for nutrients and water and avoids problems with ‘Blossom End Rot’, where the end of the fruit turning brown.  You can grow tomatoes in pots of multipurpose compost at least 30 cm in diameter. Keep the compost moist at all times to stop the fruit from splitting, watering the compost, around the base, not the foliage and feed with high potash fertiliser, according to the manufacturers instructions, to encourage flowering and fruiting. Recipe from the Veg Patch: Mary Berry‘s Plum Tomato, Olive & Marjoram Tart Serves 6For the pastry150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting75g butter, chilled & cut into cubes1 egg, beaten For the filling2 eggs200ml crème fraîche50g Cheddar cheese, grated50g Parmesan cheese, grated1 tbsp finely chopped marjoram6 large plum tomatoes, skinned and sliced into rounds12 pitted black olives, halved½ tbsp balsamic vinegar MethodFor the pastry, measure the flour and butter into a food processor and whizz until the mixture is like breadcrumbs. Alternatively, place the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips. Add the egg and whizz again until a ball of dough is formed.Sprinkle your work surface with flour and roll out the dough to the thickness of a £1 coin and large enough to fit into a 12 x 36cm loose-bottomed tranche tin with 2.5cm-3cm sides. Line the base and sides with the pastry, leaving a generous edge to allow for shrinkage in the oven, prick the pastry all over with a fork and chill in the fridge for 30 mins.Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and place a large baking sheet inside to get very hot.For the filling, break the eggs into a jug or bowl, add the crème fraîche, Cheddar, Parmesan and half of the marjoram. Season with salt and pepper and mix until combined.Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans, place it on the hot baking sheet and bake blind for 15 mins. Remove the paper and beans and return to the oven for a further 5 mins to dry out. Remove the pastry case from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.Pour the filling into the pastry case and lay the tomato slices overlapping in five or six rows widthways across the top. Arrange the olive halves in between the rows of tomatoes and sprinkle with the remaining marjoram. Brush the tomatoes and olives with the balsamic vinegar.Bake for 25–30 mins until the pastry is golden and cooked and the top is browned. Trim the edges to remove any overhanging pastry, then carefully remove from the tin and serve warm with dressed salad leaves. Find out more about BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair Find out more about the BBC Good Food Show Summer

Gardening gifts for your Valentine With Valentines Day swiftly approaching, it’s time to sow the seeds of love and get the perfect gift for the gardener in your life. Tickets to BBC Gardeners’ World Live or BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair would make a great gift, with instant delivery if you select to print yours at home. Make it extra special by pairing tickets with a gift from one of the exhibitors joining us at the Show in June. Book tickets here.See below for a selection of great gift ideas… For the eco-friendly gardenerIf you’re looking for plastic free, high quality sustainable gardening products for a hands-on gardener, e-pots is the place to go for pots, trays and more.e-pots will be at both BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. For the kitchen gardenerDoes your loved one love to cook using home-grown ingredients? Check out Kitchen Garden Plant Centre to add some flavour to their kitchen windowsill.You’ll find the Kitchen Garden Plant Centre at both BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. For the gadget gardenerThere’s always room for one more tool in the shed, right? Check out Greenworks Tools for gadgets, accessories and plenty of tools.Greenworks Tools will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. For the peaceful gardenerDerbyshire Bonsai have a wide range of bonsai trees for beginners and experienced collectors, a perfect gift for the tranquil gardener.Find Derbyshire Bonsai at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. For the bird whispererThis Valentines, show a little love to the birds by gifting your partner an extra cosy bird nester from Made By Alpacas.You’ll find Made By Alpacas at both BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. For the alpine loverTake a look at D’Arcy & Everest for a wide range of beautiful home-grown alpine and unusual perennial plants.D’Arcy & Everest will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. For the hands on gardener Glove Specialist is a family-run business, providing top-quality gardening gloves for all the essential jobs around your garden. Glove Specialist will be at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. For the glamorous gardenerThis Valentines, gift your partner a piece of handmade sterling silver jewellery from Elly Harvey Silver, inspired by the beautiful Dorset Coast and Countryside.You’ll find Elly Harvey Silver at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. For the creative gardener Designed in Devon, Beechwood Trinkets create beautiful mid-steel sculptures.The perfect addition to your garden!Beechwood Trinkets will be at both BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. Find out more about what's on at BBC Gardeners' World Live Find out more about what's on at BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair

Pantone Colour of the Year - Very Peri! The bets are off! Pantone has named its highly anticipated Colour of the Year for 2022. This is an annual trend forecast by the colour giant that determines which colour is set to appear all over our homes and gardens in the following year.This year, the Colour of the Year is, Very Peri! Considered the ‘happiest and warmest of all the blue hues’, Pantone describes Very Peri as a ‘dynamic periwinkle-blue hue with vivifying violet-red undertones’, which makes it perfect for a calming garden designed for thoughtfulness, personal inventiveness and creative thinking – the inspiration behind the colour. In terms of picking out plants for your garden in 2022’s trendiest hue, there is so much to choose from.Here are 8 examples of plants found at #BBCGWLive 2021 that cover the spectrum and would give your garden the Very Peri seal of approval!  Featured: Blue Cupidone/Catanche caerule The bright blue, cornflower-like blooms of cupid’s dart, Catananche caerulea, appear continuously from early to late summer, peaking in midsummer. Grow Catananche caerulea in full sun in well-drained soil, such as a mixed herbaceous border or gravel garden.  Featured: Woodland Sage/Salvia nemorosaPerennial sages look wonderful in ornamental borders, producing summer-long displays of spiky, nectar-rich flowers. For best results grow Salvia ‘Caradonna’ in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage flowers into mid-autumn. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure, or garden compost. Featured: Garden Dahlia/Dahlia pinnata Summer wouldn’t be summer without dahlias. Their beautiful flowers come in almost every colour imaginable, from pale pastels to hot, vibrant shades. They come in a range of flower shapes, from small tight balls to lily-like blooms the size of dinner plates. Dahlias require a fertile, moist but well-drained soil, and a sunny, sheltered spot. Featured: Anise hyssop/Agastache foeniculum Anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum, has aromatic leaves and colourful flower spikes beloved of bees and other pollinators. Its fragrant leaves can be dried and used to make a delicious tea. Grow agastache in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Featured: Bellflower beardtongue/ Penstemon campanulatusPenstemons are valuable garden plants, grown for their long-flowering season and popularity with beesGrow penstemons in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or leaf mould, and feed weekly in summer.  Featured: Anise hyssop/Agastache foeniculum Agastaches are scented perennials from North America, China and Japan, where they grow in poor, dry ground. They’re perfect for growing in gravel or Mediterranean-style gardens, and may also be grown in containers on a sunny patio.For best results, grow Agastache ‘Blue Boa’ in full sun, in well-drained soil.  Featured:  Catmit/Nepeta faasseniiCatmints add a lovely, soft, floppy, gentle touch to cottage gardens. Nepeta gigantea ‘Six Hills Giant’ has grey-green foliage, which is covered all summer in masses of short spikes of lavender-like flowers which attract lots of beesLight, well-drained soil is the key to success. After the first burst of flowers, shear over the growth to get a second crop of leaves and flowers. Featured: Lobelia / Lobelia speciosa Lobelia speciosa flowers are  a popular garden plant that particularly attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Grow in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks until mid-summer and a low nitrogen fertilizer from then on.  Are you a garden designer interested in bringing a Show Garden to BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022? Show Gardens are the editorial jewel in the crown and secure significant exposure within the event’s marketing campaign. Show Gardens can generate business or even a subliminal promotion, particularly important for a charity. We welcome gardens both small and large that encapsulate eye-catching designs with well-built construction and innovative planting.Find out more here.If you have any questions or queries about the application or Show Gardens in general, email Lucy or call her on 0207 150 5130 . Explore the Show Gardens, full of ideas and inspiration SHOW GARDENS Do you know a Midlands school that’s got what it takes to enter our school wheelbarrow competition? Find out more

Transform your space into a tranquil forest bathing haven At this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, headline sponsor Lexus created a sensory forest experience, based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, meaning forest bathing.Immersing yourself amongst trees can provide multiple therapeutic benefits, improve overall wellbeing and lower stress levels. Over the past year, many people, experienced or new to gardening, have continued to find peace and calm from tending to houseplants and the garden.Inspired by the Lexus Forest at the Show, we’ve created a list of plants you can grow as well as some top tips and tricks to bring the tranquillity of forest bathing into your home and garden space. FernsFerns can be a fantastic touch of drama in your house or garden. The outstretched leaves are a great way to bring a little forest green into your space – with minimum effort.If you want to grow your ferns indoors, make sure you choose a tender type and check if your fern prefers shade or sunlight.Choose a hardy fern if you want to plant in the garden – a wonderful way of introducing greenery and texture into your outdoor space.Top tips:Check if your fern likes moist alkaline or acidic soil.Keep household ferns away from radiatorsPlant outdoor ferns between May and September timeFor ferns that like warm, humid environments, a steamy bathroom is idealAt BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, Alchemy Ferns provided a fantastic selection of ferns for the garden and for indoor spaces – take a look here. BegoniasBegonias are usually found in bedding, pot and hanging basket displays and can be a great way to transform balcony or outdoor spaces– plant these for lovely pops of colour and add foliage such as spider plants when potting for an exotic leafy forest feel.Plant your begonias in March and April for summer flowering – your plants will have a well-needed sleep in the winter, ready to emerge again in spring.Top tips:Use peat-free, multi-purpose compost to pot your begoniasAvoid direct sunlight and place in shady areasIf you want to plant your begonias indoors, choose foliage begonias for the best results.Check out Dibleys Nurseries who joined us at the Show for a brilliant selection of exotic and colourful varieties. Succulents and cactiSucculents and cacti are a fuss free, low maintenance way to bring greenery into your home. Be it a sunny windowsill or a shaded bookshelf for those plants that prefer indirect sunlight, there is always somewhere to make a happy home for a succulent inside your space.For a tranquil forest experience, we recommend a succulent euphorbias or cacti.Top tips:Don’t over water!Position in a dry, well-lit spot. Check if your succulent prefers full sun.Add mulch to pots to prevent rottingUse a specialist gritty mix to pot your succulentsExplore Fosters Exotic and & Unusual Plants for a wide variety of plants to choose from. BromeliadsOriginating from tropical rainforests, what better plant to create a forest feel than Bromeliads? Although they’re not long-lived house plants, you can expand your house plant collection by potting the new plants that will grow at the base.Top tips!Keep in a warm, bright roomWater via the central ‘vase’Bromeliads can be sensitive to the chemicals in tap water! Try using rainwater or leave tap water standing for 24 hours before wateringVisit Every Picture Tells a Story if you’re interested in adding one of these vibrant plants to your collection. SarraceniasLooking to make your forest at home exotic? Why not try growing sarracenias? Carnivorous plants hailing from North America, these plants have long tubular pitchers which break down prey to be absorbed by the plant.Top tips:Water from beneath – keep the plant pot in a tray of waterSarracenias will not grow in normal garden compost – use a mix of sphagnum moss mixed with perliteUse collected rainwaterThis plant needs a lot of light! Grow in full sunlight.Sarracenias prefer dead or alive insects to plant food – place in the pitchers for the plant to feed.Feeling inspired? Take a look at Shropshire Sarracenias who joined us at the Show for a fantastic variety of sarracenias. The Lexus Forest was a fabulous transportation to a peaceful forest at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition. If you missed the Show, you can see what the forest environment looked like in the highlights below! /*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 */ .elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper,.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-container{position:static}.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-container .swiper-slide figure,.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper .swiper-slide figure{line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-slide{text-align:center}.elementor-image-carousel-wrapper:not(.swiper-container-initialized):not(.swiper-initialized) .swiper-slide{max-width:calc(100% / var(--e-image-carousel-slides-to-show, 3))} Are you a garden designer interested in bringing a Show Garden to BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022? Show Gardens are the editorial jewel in the crown and secure significant exposure within the event’s marketing campaign. Show Gardens can generate business or even a subliminal promotion, particularly important for a charity. We welcome gardens both small and large that encapsulate eye-catching designs with well-built construction and innovative planting.Find out more here.If you have any questions or queries about the application or Show Gardens in general, email Lucy or call her on 0207 150 5130 . Explore the Show Gardens, full of ideas and inspiration SHOW GARDENS Discover more on getting the most out of your space and relieving stress Read our blog

It's National Stress Awareness Day Today marks National Stress Awareness Day and we’d like to share with you the power of plants in combatting stress.Gardening can bring many benefits to both our mental and physical health. A great excuse to get outside, gardening helps us to connect with nature, enjoy the fresh air and soak in the sunlight. Getting outside in the garden where you can stretch those limbs and exercise while you dig, plant and pick, is an excellent form of stress relief from physical exercise. Start wrestling with the weeds instead of the frustrations or stresses from your busy week.From improving sleep, to breaking up a busy schedule, being outside in nature can bring peace, mindfulness, and calm in the face of stress. Taking the time to create a space where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings can be a great way to relieve stress. Growing and nurturing the space around you can be such a rewarding process, filling you with productivity and pride. With a Flower Power theme, many of the Beautiful Borders at BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition 2021 had mental health and healing at their heart.Here, we’ll share the inspiration behind some of these designs, with a wealth of fantastic ideas that you can use to harness the power of gardening in your own space… Reflect and Bloom by Katie SmithKatie wanted to bring a garden of self-reflection and personal growth to shine the spotlight on the astonishing power of natural spaces and vibrant colours to mental wellbeing. When we look after ourselves mentally, we allow ourselves to bloom.Taking the time to reflect can be a great way to reduce stress. Whether you’re watering your houseplants or weeding in your garden, make sure you set aside this time to clear your mind, reset and reflect. Health and Relaxation Border by Chris SellarsThis border showcased the power of plants and how they can offer both physical and mental health benefits. Using a white flower theme, medicinal herb planters and a water feature, the aim of Chris’ design was to create a setting that encourages people to step into the border and relax on the bench.Relax in a quiet space in your garden – using seating can be a great way to frame garden features and create a tranquil environment to alleviate stress. Make Do and Mend by Andy WrightAndy Wright’s border was built with the help of a number of patients undergoing military rehabilitation. The sensory use of plants and the stimulation of the senses, such as touch, smell and sound can not be overstated in the process of healing and finding calm.Pause for a moment in your garden and think about what you can hear, smell and feel. The Earth Smiles with Flowers by Jessica NichollsAre we really looking after nature or is nature looking after us?Jessica’s garden was created as an inspired representation of a calming passage to mimic a wildlife friendly rustic cottage garden walkway. A reclaimed water trough provided peacefulness in a moment of reflection while the rich colour palette, scent and the sounds of wildlife, inspired visitors to take time to breathe and reset.Create your own haven at home to relax in by planting flowers in a colour palette that inspires you -now is a great time to plot bulbs to bloom in Spring. Use a bowl or upcycled water trough to encourage nature to your spot. Garden envy by Kate MasonGardening, plants, flowers and outdoor spaces proved to be a very valuable asset to each of us in the lockdowns of 2020. Taking the time to relax and enjoy the garden gave the opportunity to find peace in stressful times, gave people the power to heal, practice mindfulness, regain self-confidence, feed themselves and to succeed.At the Special Edition, Kate’s garden was all about making gardening and its power accessible to everyone, and with just one click away. You can read about Kate’s journey building her border and how you can recreate elements of it in your own space here. Blooming Apothecary by Christine MulinderApothecary began as an ancient form of dispensing medicines for ailments. In this border, apothecary was celebrated in a showcase of flowering garden plants that had the power to heal and support wellbeing.While plants have the ability to heal physically, gardening can also be healing mentally. Watching and waiting for your plants to grow and bloom can be rewarding and rejuvenating. Find out what you could be planting this November here. The Power of Plants is Everything by Lynn CordallAt BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, Lynn’s border aimed to show that even in small space, the power of flowers can enclose and provide an escape from the busy world while taking care of many species. Using a blue/purple colour palette and rustling grasses, Lynn’s border was a haven of calm, appealing to the senses and the bees!Wildlife in the garden is not only good for the environment, but good for the mind. Having a buzz of activity around your flowers can be a great way to stimulate your senses and add sound to your garden space. Creating a space to grow and relax can do wonders in helping to manage mental wellbeing and stress. We hope that the fantastic Beautiful Borders from the Special Edition have given you some ideas for your own space at home.Interested in bringing a Beautiful Border to BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2022? This year’s theme is all about Wild Life! Be it garden ecosystems and habitats, the beauty of untamed natural planting, a garden space to let your hair down in, or a fierce colour palette – go wild with your inspiration and let your creativity flow! We want to know what Wild Life means to you. Find out more here.Get in touch with Lucy Tremlett at [email protected] or telephone the office on 0207 150 5130. Apply now to bring a Wild Life Beautiful Border to BBC Gardeners' World Live FIND OUT MORE Find out more about the Beautiful Borders, unique to the Show Beautiful borders

Autumn is a fantastic time to boost your broad bean crops.  Although broad in name, these vegetables don’t take up a lot of space in the garden. Sow your beans in large pots, raised beds or in the ground to get started. Make sure to try out the delicious courgette and broad bean risotto recipe below with your newly grown beans… Here are some tips from our friends at gardenersworld.com to help get you started on your plot to plate journey. ‘Made in Birmingham Garden’ by Paul Stone at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2018 In October and November you’ll need hardy varieties like Aquadulce Claudia for a successful harvest.Problems with mice? Sow your seeds in pots first to avoid your seeds being eaten! You can then plant them outside six weeks later.To prevent squirrels and birds eating your seeds, protect them by putting down netting. Once you see flowers appear, make sure to water your plants regularly for the best results.Broad beans can sometimes attract blackfly. Pinch out the growing tips when you see flowers appear to prevent attacks.For tender beans, harvest when the pods are around 6cm longWatch out for ‘broad bean chocolate spot!’ Common in autumn, this can be avoided by maximising air flow around plants and removed any weeds. Rosie Birkett joined us at BBC Good Food Show Summer 2019 on both the Good Food and Summer Kitchen stages. Check out her tasty recipe below for a delicious broad bean recipe!Stay tuned for line-up announcements to BBC Good Food Show Summer 2022. COURGETTE & BROAD BEAN RISOTTO WITH BASIL PESTOby Rosie BirkettServes 2 as a main; 4 as a starterCooks in Preparation Time: 25 mins, Cooking Time: 30 minsDifficulty: Easy METHOD1. To make the pesto, crush the garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the pine nuts and pound to a coarse paste, then tear in the basil and mint, pounding again until they’ve broken down. Stir in the oil and cheese, then taste for seasoning – add more cheese if you prefer.2. To make the risotto, heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the courgettes, sprinkle in the chilli flakes and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Fry for 3-5 mins until the courgettes are golden and softened. Add the spring onions and lemon zest, and stir for a minute or two. Tip in the rice and stir to coat in the oil until translucent, about 2 mins.3. Pour in the wine, then cook for a couple of minutes until it’s mostly evaporated. Add a ladleful of the stock and stir for a few minutes until it’s absorbed. Continue adding a ladleful at a time for 20-30 mins, stirring continually, until all of the stock is absorbed.4. Stir in the blanched broad beans and flowers, if using, and warm through for 2 mins. Remove from the heat and stir through the parmesan. Allow to sit for about 5 mins, then swirl through half of the pesto.Any remaining pesto will keep chilled for up to two days.5. Divide the risotto between bowls and scatter with the extra basil leaves, extra cheese and another spoonful of the pesto, if you like. INGREDIENTS3 tbsp olive oil1 tsp butter2 medium courgettes (about 350g), cut into 1-2cm dicepinch of chilli flakes or pul biberpinch of grated nutmeg2 spring onions, finely sliced½ lemon, zested150g risotto rice75ml dry white wine or vermouth750g warm vegetable or chicken stock80g broad beans, blanched and peeledcourgette flowers, stamen removed and petals torn (optional)20g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated FOR THE PESTO:1 garlic clove1 tbsp toasted pine nutslarge handful of basil leaves, plus extra to servehandful of mint leaves1 tbsp olive oil1 tbsp grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative We hope you enjoy growing and eating your delicious broad beans. For advice on grow your own from top experts, and garden and foodie inspiration make sure you book tickets to BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Tickets include entry to BBC Good Food Show Summer! BBC Gardeners' World is bursting with garden and grow your own inspiration... BOOK NOW Top chefs, treats and artisan producers at the BBC Good Food Show Summer FIND OUT MORE