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Alan Titchmarsh: I'm not a garden obsessive — but if I were, these are the plants that would take over my thoughtsI'm not an obsessive, pleads Alan Titchmarsh, but just an enthusiast — and he tells us which plants he's most 'enthusiastic' about over the course of a year.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: In praise of climate change'Scorn the batty arguments of those who deny that changes have happened and are happening,' says our columnist. And while we'll all strive to prevent things getting worse, we might as well enjoy in our gardens the fruits — quite literally — of the change that is already upon us.
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How to grow your own rosemary — any why you'll fall in love with it when you doMark Diacono explains what you need to know about growing your own rosemary, from the best varieties to wonderful ways to use the final plant.
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John Hoyland: The flowers to grow to create your own dye — just as they do at GlyndebourneJohn Hoyland, gardens advisor at Glyndebourne, on the extraordinary dye garden that is now being used to create costumes for the famous outdoor opera.
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Everything you need to know to grow your own cucumbersFood writer Mark Diacono shares his tips on how to grow cucumbers and three of his favourite varieties to try.
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The 12 best flowering shrubs to plant for year-round colour in your gardenFor year-round structure, intrinsic beauty and sheer usefulness, shrubs–the original low-maintenance plant–are hard to beat. Charles Quest-Ritson applauds their return and picks out a dozen to ensure interest in your garden all year round.
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Alan Titchmarsh: Of all the fragrant plants in my garden, this is the one I most look forward to enjoyingThe gardener, writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh shares his favourite flowers for early in the season — including one with a simply unbeatable fragrance.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: Why nothing matches the colour or beauty of the simple primroseSometimes the simplest flowers are the best, says Charles Quest-Ritson, as he looks at primroses, cowslips and their wonderful hybrids.
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The beautiful plants to look out for as Spring bursts through across BritainExpert gardener and gardening writer Steven Desmond picks out some of his favourite sights as the winter begins to give way.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The old wives' tales of gardening that are total rubbish — and the ones with a grain of truthThere is often more than a grain of truth in gardening wisdom that comes from folklore.
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Planting big trees: What you need to knowThe old advice always used to be to plant small and wait, but recent innovations mean that gardeners can plant outsize trees with confidence, says Charles Quest-Ritson.
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The best potato varieties to grow in a British gardenIf you grow your own potatoes, you may find things are a little harder this year — but Mark Diacono picks out nine varieties that you can grow yourself which will easily outstrip what you find in the shops for flavour, texture and often colour.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The best gardening books in my library of 5,000 volumesThe best of Alan Titchmarsh's gardening books have helped shape his career — he takes a look at some very special items in his library.
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Charles Quest-Ritson: The secret to enjoying gardens in beastly cold, deepest winterOur columnist has a suggestion for enjoying January, albeit one that doesn't involve staying put in England.
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What you need to know about training fruit trees, from fans and spirals to arches, palmettes and beyondTrained fruit trees are beautiful as well as bounteous. Mark Diacono explains what you need to know if you wish to get started.
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Country Life's 10 best garden stories of 2021From Alan Titchmarsh's beautiful prose to expert advice on growing an orchard.
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Alan Titchmarsh: 'Only God’s earth — in the garden and the countryside — is capable of coming up with the goods with reliability equal to that of St Nicholas'Alan Titchmarsh's Christmas column looks at all the plants of the festive season.
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How to grow spectacular winter flowers that will make your garden smell wonderful until SpringIt's possible to plant flowers that offer beautiful sights and smells throughout winter. Steven Desmond suggests some of the best.
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Best climbing plants for conservatoriesNothing beats the sun glinting through the conservatory windows on a chilly winter day, but what to plant inside? John Hoyland recommends the finest climbers.
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Noel Kingsbury: Why it's time to reassess 'one of the great triumphs of the 20th-century English garden'Everything from climate change to the whims of gardening fashion shape what we plant, but is it time to remember our traditional strengths, asks Noel Kingsbury.
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The six varieties of poppy every gardener needs to knowFrom common poppy and the poum poppy to the bright yellow Welsh poppy, Jack Watkins takes a look at these exquisite natural flowers.
