Gifts of plants or flowers are perfect “any time” gifts. Here, our resident gardening expert Jackie French explores the best blooming plants to give as gifts for garden-lovers.

Community gardens may be hard to find in your local area but did you know you can start your very own? Here’s how to establish and maintain a shared garden.

Sweet peas are one of the most glorious blooms to pick. The complexity of colour and fragrance is unrivalled. Here’s the ultimate guide to growing sweet peas.

Many old-fashioned herbs are still a delight to use and even better to have in the garden. We discover the joys of herb gardening with Jackie French.

Our resident gardening expert Jackie French walks us through the process of growing and harvesting ginger, with two delicious gingery recipes to enjoy!

Jackie French reminds us of the power of gardening to make us feel — literally — grounded again, hands in the soil, and face among the greenery and flowers.

Old-fashioned fruits may not be obvious choices, but they are almost invariably hardy, productive, money-saving and delicious — as long as you know a dozen ways to use them.

Did you know that trees can absorb the CO2 and the pollutants from air and soil, and cool the world with dappled leaves. Their susurration, that gentle sound of rustling leaves, calms us, soothes us and gives us joy.To save the world, we could plant trees.

Beans truly are a wonder, with the ability to be milked and turned into tofu, miso, or natto and eaten dried or fresh. Grow, harvest and enjoy your own delicious beans with these useful tips

In World War II citizens were urged to “Dig for Victory”. Today, as Greenland melts and smoke from Russian fires turns the snow black in Canada and the northern USA, we face an enemy that could be more dangerous than any in World War II: ourselves.

Planting a tree is an act of optimism. With it comes hope that a seed or stick will grow, find the water and food it needs, soak up CO2 from our planet and grow strong and healthy. When you plant a tree, you expect it to cool the land with its shade, provide a home for birds and beetles, offer food for countless creatures and, when it blossoms, offer fruit and seeds for all living things, including humans.

The wonderful thing about having your own grapevine is that you will get that dappled shade under your pergola. You should get some grapes and they will taste of sunlight and the earth, that ancient flavour from far, far into our past.