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 was first written. This column was first published on 26 June 2019.   What to do this week By now, the bulk of the spring planting should be accomplished,Read More

Editor’s Note: This column last appeared on 1 May 2019.   What to do this week It is tempting on a bright sunny day to get out to the garden and start to dig. A psychiatrist friend once told me that soil contains natural anti-depressants, which made a lot ofRead More

Editor’s Note: We’re re-running another of Michelle Smith’s timeless farming columns, this one originally published on 24 January 2018.   There is a country proverb that the best fertilizer is the footsteps of the farmer. Anyone who follows me through an average day could be forgiven for taking this literally,Read More

Editor’s Note: We’re dipping into Michelle Smith’s archives to provide timely tips for gardeners.   What to do this week This week,  I have been trying to get a jump on the perennial weeds. My soil has dried up a bit with the sun and warmth we have had theseRead...

Editor’s Note: The Spectator is reaching into Michelle Smith’s gardening column archive for some tips about weeds which apply as much today as when they were written in April 2017.   What to do this week Let’s talk a bit about garden weeds. The particular weeds you struggle with inRead More

What to do this week I’m putting my squash in and you should too. The weather is settled and warm, and they will be happy. They are heavy feeders, such big plants after all. Plant them in your richest soil or add lots of compost. They could grow in pureRead More