Gardening Blogs | The Hampshire Seed Company

Winter’s Green Beginnings - Seeds to Sow This December

Jane Westoby

4 min read

Winter’s Green Beginnings - Seeds to Sow This December

In the UK December is a great time to sow a variety of vegetable and flower seeds to get ahead of the season. Some can be sown directly int

Flower Farmers Guide to Harvesting Cut Flowers

Jane Westoby

3 min read

Flower Farmers Guide to Harvesting Cut Flowers

How to harvest cut flowers correctly for the longest vase life

Unlocking the Secrets of Seed Stratification

Jane Westoby

3 min read

Unlocking the Secrets of Seed Stratification

Have you ever wondered about the mysterious process that some seeds require before they can germinate successfully?

How to Grow Bells of Ireland Successfully

Jane Westoby

4 min read

How to Grow Bells of Ireland Successfully

Bells if Ireland like cool weather and cold stratification- they can be a bit tricky to germinate. Follow our step by step guide.

Understanding & Preventing Tomato Blight

Jane Westoby

5 min read

Understanding & Preventing Tomato Blight

One of the most feared diseases among gardeners and commercial growers alike. It can decimate a crop in a short time.

Jane Westoby

5 min read

How to Grow Lisianthus in the UK

Lisianthus are VERY slow growing so need to be started in the Autumn

Unlocking the Power of the Equinox: Why Timing Matters for Gardeners and Seed Sowing

Jane Westoby

2 min read

Unlocking the Power of the Equinox: Why Timing Matters for Gardeners and Seed Sowing

It is such a crucial date in the gardening calendar for zones which are not very close to the equator - the UK is a classic example and gard

Jane Westoby

8 min read

Seed Sowing for Beginners

To many there is a mysterious world out there where little fairies plant seeds on the right day of the year, by moonlight, chanting songs, w

Jane Westoby

6 min read

Growing Dahlias

Dahlias have become the rockstars of the flower world with a cult following for some specialist breeders and it’s not hard to see why.

Jane Westoby

5 min read

Growing Sweet Peas

Sweetpeas can be sowed in Autumn or Springtime offering flexibility to gardeners depending on their preferences and climate. Sowing in autum

Jane Westoby

8 min read

How to Store Dahlias Over Winter

It's is best to leave Dahlias in the ground for as long as possible to grow nice big tubers, this way they have a better chance of making it

Jane Westoby

3 min read

Growing Icelandic Poppies

The are not for whimps or beginners but if you have been growing for a few seasons and have a coldframe or greenhouse then its worth trying

Seedling Success - Top tips from a flower farmer

Jane Westoby

7 min read

Seedling Success - Top tips from a flower farmer

Let's start by saying that nothing is for sure, but given the right conditions seeds will grow.

Jane Westoby

4 min read

The Magic of Cut and Come Again Flowers

Imagine a garden where your flowers never stop blooming, no matter how much you snip, welcome to the world of cut

Jane Westoby

4 min read

Growing Cool Flowers:Hardy Annuals

Hardy annuals thrive in cooler conditions and can withstand cold temperatures and light frosts. Unlike annuals & tender annuals, which...

A Flower Farmers Guide to Growing Orlaya Grandiflora

Jane Westoby

3 min read

A Flower Farmers Guide to Growing Orlaya Grandiflora

Orlaya is one of the hardient crops you can grow to fill teh hungry gap.... but it needs cold stratification.

A Professional's Guide to Storing Dried Flowers

Jane Westoby

4 min read

A Professional's Guide to Storing Dried Flowers

Preserving the beauty of dried flowers requires more than just keeping them in a vase. To ensure they retain their color, shape, and delicat

Jane Westoby

5 min read

A Beginner's Guide to Growing Basil

Welcome to the world of basil — the fragrant herb that which transports you to Italy in just one mouthful.

Home Made Fertilizer - Afternoon Snacks with Nettle Tea

Jane Westoby

2 min read

Home Made Fertilizer - Afternoon Snacks with Nettle Tea

My primary natural fertilizer is farmyard manure, I usually apply this in spring time but after a couple of months some of the nutrients...

Jane Westoby

4 min read

A Guide to Growing Cosmos

Cosmos, with its feathery foliage and blousy blooms is one of my all time favourite flowers to grow. It is one of the most prolific crops...

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