Malcolm Withnall from Hadlow College believes amateur gardeners are missing out a few tricks when it comes to growing fruit in the garden. Professional growers achieve enormous success with huge yields of high quality fruit, whereas as amateur growers are getting the exact opposite as Malcolm explained to Ken Crowther.

Malcolm Withnall from Hadlow College believes amateur gardeners are missing out a few tricks when it comes to growing fruit in the garden. Professional growers achieve enormous success with huge yields of high quality fruit, whereas as amateur growers are getting the exact opposite as Malcolm explained to Ken Crowther.

Malcolm Withnall from Hadlow College believes amateur gardeners are missing out a few tricks when it comes to growing fruit in the garden. Professional growers achieve enormous success with huge yields of high quality fruit, whereas as amateur growers are getting the exact opposite as Malcolm explained to Ken Crowther.

Brian Spencer, Secretary of the Chelmsford Beekeepers Association is a relative new comer in the beekeeping world having only kept them for 10-years most of the beekeepers have been keeping them for 30 to 40 years. He told Ken Crowther what it takes to become a beekeeper.

Autumn is a great time to visit Marks Hall in Essex as the geographical themed planting produces a spectacularly colourful display. Curator Jonathan Jukes took Ken Crowther on a tour to see some of the highlights.

Leading horticultural expert John Mason has spent the last three months researching and writing a book about curcubits, that’s your melons, cucumbers, marrows, squash and pumpkins. Australia’s spring season runs from the start of September to the end of November and makes an ideal time to plant curcubits as John explains.

September heralds the start of spring in Australia, but as the country is so large gardening jobs differ in different parts of the country. In the south, the cool temperate areas mean there is still the chance of a frost whilst the Gold Coast and Western Australia are frost free. Garden expert John Mason offers his spring garden tips.

When planting in the garden it’s a good idea to test whether soil is acid or alkaline as different plants will grow in different soils. If you have never tested the pH level of your soil or measured the level of major nutrients then your plants might struggle to grow properly as Adam Pasco explains.

Every year thousands end up in hospital or at their doctors after sustaining an injury whilst gardening. Overdoing it can lead to a range of injuries, with back and neck problems high on the list. Australian horticultural expert John Mason has advice to help avoid injury.

This year has been great for soft fruit production, with bumper crops of blackberries, raspberries and sloes perfect for making sloe gin. But when should you pick them? Many wait until after the first frosts, however, Bayer’s Anita Dent has other plans as she told Ken Crowther.