Amateur Gardening - April 29, 2023

In this issue

“Nothing is cheerier than a sunflower and here are my top 13 varieties,” says Louise

“My top flowering and fruiting currants to grow,” says Graham

Important tasks to sort now

Ruth outlines some of this week’s most pressing tasks

2 mins

Restoring potted bulbs

Feed and topdress for a summer of flowers, says Ruth

1 min

Potting on leggy tomatoes

Bury stems for good growth and strong rooting, says Ruth

1 min

Sow cascades of colour

Little lobelia seeds produce big results, says Ruth

1 min

Beware honeydew

Honeydew may sound like a harmless problem, but it can stunt and smother plants. Bob explains how to tackle it

2 mins

Come what May

Fill the May gap with flowers for our pollinators, says Val

2 mins

Come what May

Fill the May gap with flowers for our pollinators, says Val

2 mins

Focus on... Growing peas

If you know the secrets of soil care, watering and root growth, then you can harvest peas from June to October. Lucy explains how to pick the perfect pods

1 min

Alternative compost challenge

AG’s Steve Bradley explains the current situation and offers his thoughts on the benefits and challenges of finding an alternative that satisfies the needs of gardeners

4 mins

Light and airy Umbellifers

Loved by gardeners, florists and pollinators, umbellifers are the frothy favourites that add a natural feel to borders and bouquets. Camilla Phelps reveals the best to try

2 mins

Cheerful and charming Sunflowers

From skyscraping stems to container-friendly options - all in a range of warm colours - it's little wonder that helianthus are hot favourites for late summer, says Louise Curley

4 mins

Flowering and fruiting currants and gooseberries

Graham Rice lists his top ten currants and gooseberries

6 mins

Trees and shrubs from seed

Alan Toogood looks at propagating from seed, particularly trees and shrubs that can be raised under glass and in the open garden

7 mins

Watery wonders

Got a small garden and want a water feature along with the plants that will bring it to life? Not a problem, says Martyn Cox, as he lists the ideal plants for a compact pond

4 mins

Understanding plant hormones

Steve and Val explain the role of plant hormones in growth and dormancy

4 mins

Making a herb garden

We've decided to make our small, Q sunny, south-facing back garden into a herb garden with edible flowers. For this, we'll need a lot of plants. What perennial herbs can we raise from seed? Sam Whittaker, Andover, Hampshire

2 mins

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Amateur Gardening Magazine Description:

Every week, Amateur Gardening is the first choice for both beginners and knowledgeable gardeners looking for advice and easy-to-follow practical features on growing flowers, trees, shrubs as well as fruit and vegetables. Be inspired, by our beautifully illustrated features covering plant and flower groups, both home grown and exotic, and take a sneak peek into some of the most beautiful private gardens around the country. Plus, every week we feature expert opinion and tips from some of gardening’s most influential exponents including Toby Buckland, Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank, Peter Seabrook and Jo Whittingham.