There is an Irish tradition that says potatoes should be planted by St Patrick's Day

Tips as we head out of winter and into spring

Even in small gardens you can create compartments with each section devoted to a desired theme

The majority of people who mention heritage or vintage plants mean either vegetable or fruiting plants, whereas it does include all plant types

Whatever about plants that flower during the winter months, there are some that have dazzling displays of coloured stems for many months and the best is provided in the dogwood family

We have over 18 varieties in our garden, which give us apples from mid-August until the following March

It is a quiet time in the garden but it is not asleep and some plants can surprise you!

Eating your own home-grown potatoes is one of the most enjoyable eating experiences

There are many types or species of coffee but the principal one is Coffea arabica, which accounts for over 75% of the world production

While there are abundant choices from spring until the autumn, when it comes to the period outside those popular months the choices are much more limited

We grow our own holly as it is much easier than hunting for some in the countryside

There are some beautiful door wreaths available that will make your door look like a traditional Christmas card!

The search for an alternative small gift, especially around Christmas, has resulted in a mixture of food and garden-related items

We enjoy bringing in a selection of natural plant materials, which we use in making up our own decorations

The best season for extensive planting of hardy plants would be from now on until the end of March

One of the most common requests from people with gardens is about the size their plants will grow

There are a large range of plants that could be considered deadly!

It is the beginning of the season for planting fruit trees; here are some easy-to-grow, disease-resistant options

Now is a good time to review all aspects of what happened in the garden this year

We always suggest smaller displays placed in strategic areas to provide a splash of colour where it is really needed

Planting bulbs is so easy and does not take time but the rewards are great when you see them in flower

Growth in the garden has lost its rampant energy and is now slowing down. This means we can take on a more relaxed mode as we tackle those jobs before the winter

Whatever area you have to yourself, be it a balcony, small backyard or a large open garden, it is ‘Your Space’ and you can make it as intimate, private and unique as you wish

The trick for anyone who has a garden is to extend the season as much as possible

The blueberry is a plant that our ancestors would have eaten during late summer while foraging for food

We expect fruit and vegetable harvests to be good this year due to the mild spring as long as they continue to be watered and fed regularly

The choice of what to plant has been reduced to a handful as June comes to a close

If anyone asks we can always say we are leaving our garden grow to help wildlife!

For plants day length is important as it triggers growth, flowering and fruits

The calming power of nature is huge and all you have to do is immerse yourself in it - and it is free!

Planting up pots and containers are the big thing nowadays and nothing could be simpler

Top tips for the perfect climbing plants for your garden

Perennials are fairly trouble free once they become established

At this stage growing conditions are close to ideal so definitely get out there and sow

All summer plants will need new compost as last year’s will have been depleted of food and there might be a buildup of pests or diseases

Growing vegetables would have at one time been regarded as down in the social scale of gardening but it has been elevated to a higher level

This month is a period of relative calm in which to get aspects of the garden going, such as preparing areas ready for vegetables and flowers but holding back on planting those that are not frost hardy

Anyone who is interested can be good at gardening and in time earn the coveted title of ‘Green Fingers’

There is no doubt that a winter garden during our long dull days is quite beautiful and can mesmerise anyone who visits one

There are plants in the garden which might have looked insignificant before but now are coming into their own with coloured berries, stems or flowers

The Winter Solstice is one of the oldest winter celebrations dating from pagan times

I have gathered natural materials to provide decorations later on, and these include sprigs of holly, pine and larch, cones, some mossy twigs, scarlet willow, ivy and fir branches

Native plants such as the guelder rose and spindle provide reliable orange-red colours and also have berries to complement the show