Editor’s Note: The Spectator is reaching into Michelle Smith’s gardening column archive for some weekly advice that is as relevant now as when it first appeared on 10 July 2019.   What to do this week The heavy work of planting should all be done by now. Until it’s time to plant coverRead More

Editor’s Note: This column first appeared on 29 March 2017.   What to do this week Garden planning time is the perfect time to think about what is needed for saving your own seeds. Even at the home level you want to do it properly, which means, you want toRead More

This time last year… What to do this week: This week I want to talk a bit more about days to maturity because it is a big factor in what you choose to grow in your garden. If you look at any single seed catalog, be aware that the daysRead More

Editor’s Note: Today, Michelle and Madeline mark the beginning of year two of their gardening column. The plan is to build on the advice given last year so, where applicable, the new columns will begin with links to the previous year’s, to allow you to refresh your memory. If you’veRead...

What to do this week Soon we will be getting very itchy to plant, but how do you tell for sure that your soil is ready? One of the most common questions I get this time of year is if it is time to plant yet, and I always say,Read More