Growing your own vegetables continues to grow in popularity and the latest innovative trend is vertical gardening.

B&Q’s new Vertical Polanter is making it easier for everyone to have green fingers, no matter the size or shape of their garden space.

The planter can be easily hung on walls or fences (as pictured here) and has twelve planting holes with extra space at the top, to enable you to grow as many flowers, vegetables and herbs as possible.

At The RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, The B&Q Garden will employ vertical planting, to create a perpendicular edible garden 9M high that demonstrates how anyone can grow their own food and live a more sustainable and self sufficient life.

The garden will also show a wind turbine, solar panels and a vertical greenhouse.

The Vertical Polanter is available from B&Q in green, terracotta, black and pink. Priced at £10.

A ‘grow your own garden’ is achievable in any space - use a window box, planters or hanging baskets, it’s actually very easy.

For further information about the B&Q Garden at The Chelsea Flower Show, please visit the website.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 24th to 28th May 2011 is the world’s most famous flower show and is a celebration of the highest quality horticulture.

Why not embrace the Grow-Your-Own lifestyle to celebrate British Tomato Week (15 – 22 May)?

Botanico the award winning Grow-Your-Own and eco product supplier, offers a great range of garden accessories that are ideal to help you grow an abundant crop of tomatoes.

Tomatoes are straightforward to grow and produce a multipurpose ingredient for salad soups, pizza and sauces.

They are an excellent source of Vitamins A, C and recent research has shown that the pigment lycopene, which makes most ripe tomatoes red, may be particularly active in protecting the body against heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Growing your own crop of tomatoes couldn’t be easier!

Grow bags are a handy way to produce a wide range of home grown fruit and vegetables including tomatoes:

• The Botanico Grow Bag Watering Pots, RRP £9.99 for a set of three,( in our picture)-are a quick and easy way of watering plants in growbags: Simply fill the reservoir and leave it to drip feed your plants, to ensure your tomato plants stay hydrated.

• Once the plants start to grow taller, the Grow Bag Cane Set – Quick Fit - RRP £6.99, is perfect for supporting the plants.

• Botanico’s Tomato Greenhouse - will generate better results on a sunny patio or balcony. It’s the perfect size for grow bags and eyelets in the top of the clear plastic cover, also permit bamboo canes to be put in for support and the full length, double zip door will help to increase ventilation.

• Also of interest, is the Let’s Grow.Tomatoes Upside Down Tomato Planter, - which is a growbag that can be hung above a patio – making it ideal for gardens where space is scarce -suitable for growing tomatoes, chilli and courgettes.

Botanico products are available through home and garden retailers in the UK.

For more information on the full range of Botanico products, please visit the website.

Iconic Stone offer a wide range of fountains, benches, urns, statues and ornaments made from either cast stone, sculpted stone or terra cotta – all of which are aged and manufactured in the heart of France, by a team of highly skilled craftsmen, using a traditional process developed in the 19th century.

Many of their designs originally came from a private collection assembled from châteaux and villages across France, which included ancient moulds from which some of the original items that had been made.

The owners of the collection have put the moulds to use once more – and Iconic Stone was born.

Today, craftsmen carve and cast faithful replicas of over two hundred different designs, some dating back to the 17th century, to a standard and authenticity that even amazes experts in the field.

A fascinating range of reproduction fountains in cast stone are available, all of which are faithful copies of original period garden ornaments from various regions of France.

Featured here is a Natural carved stone centre fountain – Centrales Octogonale 300:

• Made from the finest carved stone, this stone centre fountain will be a unique addition to any garden.

• The Octogonale garden fountain will give life to your garden and where possible should be included in your landscape design, to turn the ordinary into the quite extraordinary.

• Height: 200cm / 78.7in.
  Diam: 300cm.
  Material: Limestone Process: Hand carved.
  Priced at: £8360.

Iconic Stone’s master craftsmen spend their lives perfecting the skills that produce these wonderful works of art, which are all meticulously produced in the heart of France.

Whilst adapting to modern-day constraints they are still able to offer a range of genuinely authentic finishes and always take care to age the finished product according to the era of the design.

To view the charming Iconic Stone range of fountains and garden ornaments, please visit the website.

Tel: (+44) 161 408 1023

Get more from your patio or windowsill with the Windowgrow planter, which keeps chillies, salad, herbs and micro greens perfectly watered for up to 2 weeks.
The Windowgrow ensures a constant supply of water without sitting plants in water, so plants grow stronger, healthier and faster.

It’s difficult to keep plants in pots in tip-top condition, especially on a windowsill or patio, but this low maintenance planter keeps plants in the best of health thanks to the Windowgrow’s SmartMats, which link the compost to a reservoir, delivering water when and where plants need it without standing them in water.

The removable lid, which keeps compost warm, means it’s a propagator and planter in one, so you can sow seeds directly into the Windowgrow and get them off to the best possible start.

Simply add compost and seeds and keep the reservoir topped up when the water level indicator drops down.

The Windowgrow comes with beautiful packaging; perfect gift for foodies.

Windowgrow is pecifically designed for small spaces including windowsills; drip-proof design, ideal for use indoors or outdoors.
L75cm x W19cm x H13cm.
Reservoir: 6litres. Priced at £26.90.

3 steps to growing a bumper harvest in a Windowgrow:

1. Add compost and seeds or plants.
2. Keep reservoir topped up, the water level is visible so it’s easy to see when to add more.
3. Relax whilst the SmartMats link the reservoir with the compost, providing water to the plants when they need it.
Harvest and enjoy.

Features:

• Holiday proof – the reservoir holds sufficient water to keep plants nourished for up to two weeks.
• Grow anywhere – drip-proof so can be used indoors as well as outdoors.
• Crop guarantee – in the very unlikely event of you not raising a healthy crop, we provide free plant food and seeds and one-to-one advice to get you back on track
• Transfer plants or sow seeds at any time.
• Free Gardening Angel Support -whether you’re and experienced grower or an enthusiastic novice, our gardening angels are on hand to answer any growing questions you may have.

Available online from greenhouse sensation including free delivery.

About Greenhouse Sensation
Greenhouse Sensation provides products that make it easier for anyone to grow stronger, healthier plants.

Their products are designed and manufactured in the UK and tested by a team of horticulturalists at their research and development site in Lancashire.

For more information about the Greenhouse Sensation range of windowgrow planters, please visit the website.
Tel: (0845) 602 3774

Summer is upon us, which means gardeners are struggling to strike the fine balance between under-watering and over-watering and wondering who they should get to provide holiday watering cover.

Help is at hand as a company has set up a helpline to provide free watering advice and developed a range of innovative holiday-proof watering products.

Lancashire-based gardening products retailer and manufacturer, Greenhouse Sensation has set up a free ‘Gardening Angel’ phone and email advice service, to answer watering related questions.
According to Gardening Angels, most people know that it is important to ensure plants are not under-watered, because they need water in order to transport nutrients to all parts of a plant, but most people don’t realise that it is just as damaging to over-water.

Over-watering forces air out of the root area. It is the most common cause of plant fungal infections, proliferation of pests, root rot, yellow leaves and ultimately, plant death.

The most common result of erratic watering is blossom end rot; the tell tale sign is tomatoes, peppers and aubergines with brown/black bottoms. Finding the correct middle path for specific plants in a specific garden or greenhouse is a difficult task.

For those who want a bit more certainty about their plants, the Quadgrow from Greenhouse Sensation is a set of 4 pots that keeps plants perfectly watered for two weeks at a time, banishing overwatering, underwatering and holiday plant care rotas - forever.

Plants can be taken out of their standard pots and growbags and put into a Quadgrow.

SmartMats link the Quadgrow’s massive 34litre reserve of water with the compost in the pots, delivering water to the compost when it’s needed.

The automated watering is more responsive to a plant’s needs than manual watering; it’s like standing over their plant all day adding teaspoons of water; the plants receive exactly what they need, when they need it, so that they grow stronger and healthier, producing bigger harvests.
Quadgrow.
Size: L55cm x W55cm.
Price: £52.90.
For further information on Quadgrow planters and stockists visit the Greenhouse Sensation website.

Haddonstone, the leading UK manufacturer of fine cast stone garden and landscape ornaments, is opening its acclaimed show gardens as part of the National Garden Scheme’s Yellow Book for the first time ever.

The show gardens, located in the picturesque village of East Haddon, near Northampton, will be open on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September, giving visitors a rare opportunity to view the gardens at a weekend; they are usually only open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas and Bank Holidays).

Visitors to the show gardens will be able to see Haddonstone’s impressive collection of planters, fountains, statuary, bird baths, sundials and follies ~ all in a fabulous setting.

Featured here is the Hadrian Vase. This elegant vase combines a half-gadrooned bowl with egg-and-dart rim, two scroll and foliate carved handles, a circular socle and square base. Priced at £566. It is also available without handles at £440.

Width at top: 97cm.
Width at base: 35cm.
Height: 84cm.

Haddonstone’s two-acre show gardens have developed as the company has expanded. The Jubilee garden was opened in 1998 and includes a pavilion, temple and gothic grotto.
An Orangery was constructed in 2002 and is a prominent feature on the main lawn.
A contemporary garden – showcasing the new Robert A.M. Stern Collection of planters – is currently being constructed.

The stunning show gardens attract visitors from around the world and have been featured on television programmes including BBC Gardeners’ World and BBC Wild About Your Garden.

For more information, or to request a copy of their inspirational 208 page catalogue,visit the Haddonstone website.

Tel:  (01604) 770711

The new ‘Grow’ range of vegetable growing kits from Greenhouse Sensation, promises to help gardeners develop greener fingers, produce bigger harvests and enjoy stress-free holidays.

These clever vegetable plots and pots automatically feed and water plants to prevent over and under-watering, the chief causes of many common gardening problems.

Simply top-up the growing kit’s integral reservoir and plants are automatically provided with the water they need, when it’s needed.

Plants automatically get the perfect balance of water, nutrients and lots of oxygen, so the gardener gets bumper harvests.

Gardeners can see how much water has been taken from the reservoir, and quickly learn about the amount of water plants need, according to soil dampness, plant size, light levels and weather conditions.

The Grow kits even improve harvest sizes, as the automated watering is more responsive to a plant’s needs than manual watering.

Experienced gardeners will also be relieved to learn that the Grow kits keep plants perfectly watered over extended periods – like summer holidays - no more having to rely on friends and neighbours.

The range of four styles of veg plots and pots, can be used in any indoor or outdoor sunny spot to grow almost anything; they are watered by a SmartMat mechanism, and the Solargrow is watered by a solar panel powered pump.

About Grow Products – no power supply required, all can be used indoors or outdoors:

• Windowgrow– self-watering windowsill plot with seed raising lid. Price: £26.99.
• Size: L70cm x W15cm x H15cm.

• Vitogrow – Self-watering veg plot with optional mini greenhouse. (In our Picture) Price: £34.90 to £109.90.
• Size: Square 55cm x 55cm or Long 105cm x 55cm

• Quadgrow – 4x self-watering pots for tall plants such as tomatoes, chillies and beans. Price: £52.95.
• Size: 55cm x 55cm.

• Solargrow – solar-powered large planter with solar panel and solar-powered pump to water plants 2 x every hour. Price: £64.90.
• Size: Planter 55cm x 44cm. Solar panel: 23cm x 23cm.

Every customer has access to the Gardening Angel advice service offered by the company, to call or email their experienced team of horticulturalists.

Greenhouse Sensation products are available direct from the Greenhouse Sensation website, and from a range of stockists.

Tel: (0845) 602 3774

Haddonstone, the UK’s leading manufacturer of fine garden and landscape ornaments, has completed a full costing review of its current ornament prices, which has led to over 70 price reductions.
The company has also absorbed the recent VAT price increase for both garden ornaments and fireplaces.

As a consequence there is now an increased range of planters that cost less than £100 including, the Plaited Basket, Belton Box, Etruscan Vase, House of Dun Urn and the Vine Urn; and the Small Key Planter is now only £15!

Significant savings include the popular Bayeux Fountain, which has been reduced from £1200 to £995 – saving more than £200!

Pictured here is the Bayeux Fountain HC130: Inspired by Romanesque architecture; this robust self-circulating fountain features stylish leaf moulding around the fountain bowls; this design was created by Haddonstone to act as a focal point in a sheltered garden or conservatory.
Includes Pump.

Height: 1525mm./60”; Weight 222kg./ 489lb.
Diameter of main bowl: 950mm. / 37.38”.
Diameter of base: 572mm. / 22.1/2”.

Please note: The fountain will require mechanical lifting on site in all instances.

Other designs which have been reduced in price include, the Victorian Jardinière, Florentine Urn, Tudor Jardinière, Bust of Pan, statues of Andromeda and Venus, Large Dolphin Fountain, Seasons Plaques, Haddonstone Table Supports and the Elizabethan Smokers’ Stand.

Simon Scott, Haddonstone’s Marketing Director, comments: “We have undertaken a full review of our production costs and are delighted to be able to pass on savings, wherever we can, to our clients.
By also absorbing the recent VAT increase, we are pleased that customers can continue to buy quality products at reasonable prices.”

For more information visit the Haddonstone website.

Tel:   (01604) 770711 to request a copy of their inspirational 208 page catalogue.

Delicious, fresh vegetables from your own garden on your dinner table every day – what a luxury!

It needn’t be a worry if you think your garden is too small, or if you only have a few hours to spare.

Complete kits for instant edible gardens have arrived!:

Small Vegetable Garden Plant Pack - The plant pack contains all the plants and seeds you’ll need for ONE GROWING YEAR. It doesn’t matter when you buy the pack, as you will receive deliveries through the post for a whole 12 months.

• The young plants are only sent out when they are ready for planting, so there’s no need to ‘harden’ them off or pot them up.

• With each plant pack you will be sent a Planting Plan.

• How many plants you’ll need to fill your beds, has been carefully worked out; how far apart each plant should be and depending on the weather, the best time to plant. It’s a bit like ‘planting by numbers’.

• Great for one to two people - It will fill two raised beds 1.2m x 2.4m, or a plot 4m x 4.5m. Price: £92.50 Including delivery.

The Mini Kitchen Garden Plant Pack – New from The Travelling Souk.

• Its small size means that it will fit into all gardens, raised beds or pots.

• There is something very satisfying about growing your own and with the instant edible garden kits you are helped every step of the way.

• Ready-to-plant organic young plants are delivered to you by post and a planting by numbers plan means that you get it right – an excellent way of engaging your children too.

• The mini-kitchen-garden pack is packed with veggies, salad, herbs and strawberries – just dig in!

• The kit contains 40 young organic plants and retails at £45.

Also available from The Travelling Souk are Raised Beds and Mini Green Houses.

Visit the Travelling Souk website to view more gardening delights.

Haddonstone – the UK’s leading manufacturer of fine cast stone garden and landscape ornaments – is starting 2010 by launching a new planter and fountain.

The charming West Lodge Urn, was originally replicated for the prestigious West Lodge Park Hotel in Hertfordshire and has now been added to the standard range.

The West Lodge Fountain featured here was created as an addition to the planter.

West Lodge Urn: £240.
West Lodge Fountain: £295.

Haddonstone is regarded as the UK’s leading manufacturer of fine ornaments; there are over 500 designs in the standard cast stone garden and landscape collection in classical, traditional and contemporary styles.

Fireplaces and Interiors.
Haddonstone’s range of fireplaces, mantels and chimney piece surrounds, has also been dramatically expanded to offer customers a choice of seventeen standard surrounds, from the simple and stylish to the ornate and elegant.

NB prices may vary, due to alterations in VAT from 1st January 2010.

For more information please visit the Haddonstone website.
or Tel: (01604) 770711 to request a copy of the inspirational new 208 page catalogue.