Learn to... Garden

The latest in our Learn to... series is Learn to Garden. We met up with our in-house expert, Richard Jackson to get his top gardening tips...

1. Grow spuds on the patio
All you need is a 30.5cm (12") plastic pot or poly bag, five early cropping seed potatoes and a bag of multipurpose compost.

Start the potatoes sprouting in egg boxes on the windowsill in January or February, then plant them into the pot or poly bag in March.

Keep the plants well watered and in late May you'll be harvesting the yummiest, freshest potatoes you've ever tasted!

For more tips on growing potatoes catch my gardening shows on QVC throughout January.

2. Pick some 'scensational' sweet peas!
Sweet peas are about the easiest and prettiest flowers that anyone can grow.
Buy a packet of seeds from the garden centre and sow them indoors now (be sure to keep them in a cool spot). Or even easier, order already germinated young seedlings from QVC, which will be delivered to you in March - the ideal time for planting in the garden.

Plant out your seedlings in a sunny spot, either in the garden against a fence or wall, or alternatively into a big pot. Pop in some 2m (6') high bamboo canes for the plants to grow up.
Keep them well watered and by the time May's ending you'll be picking your first of many months of these beautiful, fragrant flowers.


3. Pot up some lilies
They may look exotic, but lilies are amazingly easy to grow! Simply plant five bulbs in a 30.5cm (12") pot that's filled with multipurpose compost.

Pop the pot outside on your patio, water regularly and they'll burst into stunning blooms in July.




4. Savour the flavour of homegrown strawberries
There's nothing better on a summer's day than tucking in to fresh, succulent fruit that you've grown yourself!

All you need is 30.5cm (12") hanging basket, five strawberry plants and some mulitpurpose compost.

Plant the basket now and keep it well watered. From early April feed the plants once a week with a high potash feed such as Flower Power. By early July you'll be picking your very own juicy and sweet strawberries!



5. Perk up your patio
Looking to pack your patio with colour on a budget? Plug plants are amazing value as they're a fraction of the cost of the full grown plants plants sold in garden centres later in the spring.

The nurserymen have done all the hard work for you, so all you have to do is pot on the little plants, grow them on a sunny windowsill until after the last frosts in May, then plant them outdoors.

Canny gardeners get the pick of the crop by ordering their plug plants for early delivery from March onwards - the perfect time to grow them!


I hope these tips have inspired you to get out there, and I wish you all a year of happy gardening!

Check out our plants and flowers.

Comments

[Elizabeth Skeels]

Hi Richard,

I have bought Tree Lilly bulbs and only 1 Bulb has grown to 16 inch, however, the stem is only about half an inch thick. Will it get to 2 inch thick,? like you said.

Also, got Dilephilium planted 2 weeks ago will they flower this year? I thought they would, until Charlie came on the show 2 days ago and advise it would'nt? Please advice.

I have bought 2 x Root boosters & 3 X Flower Powers, but found no difference to my plants having more flowers. Am I doing anything wrong? Please advise! Would be very much appreciated. Many thanks. Elizabeth ( first time learner). P.S. Love your show!!!

[Gill Cross]

Dear Richard
Have enjoyed Lady Boothby but not sure whether to prune or not please help as have shoots at base of each plant.
Purchase from QVC last year.They were really lovely

[Deb Brensdal]

Hi Richard, love your shows, which are especially helpful for me as I'm disabled & can only shop on the web. Plse can you explain to me how we change all the batteries in our various solar lights we have bought from you over the years, as they no longer light up. My husband has taken them to DIY stores, which sell these kind of lights, but they said they can't help! Please could you do more cottage garden plants like hollyhocks, lupins etc in pink, white & blue? Thank you so much.

[Brenda Ankers]

Can I repot my clematis which have been in a large pot for almost 4 years?

[Jeanette Bennett]

I bought two hydranger trees from youselves 3 years ago they have been spectacular. Sadly I lost one tree - my own fault. Will you be having some more this year. I put them in a large pot and I have some lovely photos of them. If not do you know of where I can purchase another?

[di brandrick-hoult]

Hi Richard
Over the past couple of weeks I have been looking through my garden photos over the past 4 years. It has been you and QVC that have given me the inspiration to become a gardener.
I managed to make a movie (only 20 minutes long) of how the garden originally looked 4 years ago - up until summer ending 2008. I have sent you a copy of the DVD and hope that you can see the transformation of our garden. Hope you enjoy it over a cup of tea.

Would appreciate any comments

Kind regards
Di Brandrick-Hoult

[zeta]

Loved this information as I tried to grow some veg last year but nor very successful, hope you will give more tips on veg. Your programmes are very good.

[ELAINE Morgan]

A question for Richard Jackson. I bought the climbing lilies last year -but I not sure how to care for them over the winter. Should I dig them up and bring them inside or keep them planted but bring them indoors.