David Domoney

Category: Blog

Blogs, guides, and gardening ideas from TV Gardener and Chartered Horticulturalist David Domoney.

  • Grow your own veg with my planting calendar

    Grow your own veg with my planting calendar

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    hands picking fresh lettuce in the vegetable garden

    Are you thinking of growing your own veg this year? Put down those seeds until you have read my Ultimate Vegetable Planting Calendar. It’s a simple, easy-to-follow guide to growing all your favourite veg at home!

    The calendar shows you the best times to sow, plant and harvest your crops so you can make the most of your plants.

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    Download My Vegetable Planting Calendar Here

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    [fusion_dropcap]Q[/fusion_dropcap] I only have a small garden, can I grow vegetable crops?

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    [fusion_dropcap]A[/fusion_dropcap] Of course you can!

    I know that many people are pushed for space, with waiting lists for allotments running into years in some places. But there are loads of ways to grow veg without having acres of land.

    Many species of veg have dwarf varieties that don’t grow as tall, making them ideal for smaller gardens. Some grow best against a wall, climbing upwards to make the most of your space.

    A lot of veg is also suited to container growing – pots, planters and growbags all work well. You can put containers on patios, balconies and even in cool conservatories, and small pots can be hung from railings and walls.

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    mall-strawberry-plant-container
    small-strawberry-plant-container

    Container growing is also ideal for people who rent their homes, as landlords don’t always allow you to dig up the garden. But containers allow you the freedom to grow almost anything you want, and can be picked up and transported to the next place if you move!

    Very small plants can even be grown on sunny windowsills, providing it’s not sat over a radiator which will scorch the plant.

    So you see, where there’s a will, there’s a way. I believe everyone should have a go at growing their own. It’s easier than it looks, and there really is nothing like eating food you’ve grown with your own hands.

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    Have fun and good luck!

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    For more garden planting ideas, check out my blog:

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    Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:

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link=”https://new.daviddomoney.com/quick-guide-to-pots-planters-containers/” text_transform=”” title=”” target=”_self” link_attributes=”” alignment=”center” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”custom” button_gradient_top_color=”rgba(1,149,51,0)” button_gradient_bottom_color=”rgba(1,149,51,0)” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”#0e540f” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”#0e540f” accent_color=”#0e540f” accent_hover_color=”#ffffff” type=”” bevel_color=”” size=”large” stretch=”yes” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” border_color=”#0e540f” border_hover_color=”#ffffff” border_top=”3px” border_right=”3px” border_bottom=”3px” border_left=”3px” border_radius_top_left=”0px” border_radius_top_right=”0px” border_radius_bottom_right=”0px” border_radius_bottom_left=”0px”]Pots and 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  • Challenge David to plant weird and wacky containers!

    I’m always telling people to have fun with their containers. So, live on stage at this year’s Ideal Home Show, I’m putting my money where my mouth is!

    I will be taking part in a daily challenge creating beautiful displays of plants – in weird and wacky containers. And the best bit? YOU get to choose them for me! The funnier and crazier the better!

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    David Domoney
    Tyre plant containers! Got a better idea?

    Think of any object that can hold a plant, and tweet me your suggestions. It could be:

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    • Something found in your kitchen, like pans and teacups
    • A piece of furniture
    • An item of clothing or footwear
    • Something found in your recycling bin, like tins and bottles
    • A musical instrument
    • Something found in your shed, like a BBQ or a toolkit
    • Something found in your bathroom (including the furniture)
    • Something full of holes (make it as difficult as possible!)
    • Basically, everything up to and including the kitchen sink!

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    A wicker cot! Can you do better than this?
    A wicker cot! Can you do better than this?

    Send me your suggestions with the hashtag #IdealChallengeDD now!

    [fusion_button color=”darkgreen” size=”large” link=”www.twitter.com/daviddomoney” target=”” animation_type=”flash” animation_direction=”up” animation_speed=”0.5″]Tweet Now![/fusion_button]

     

    I will then plant up as many of your suggestions as possible in five minutes in front of a live audience at the Ideal Home Show, all while presenting tips and advice on how to choose exciting planting combinations and recycle unwanted objects as plant containers.

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    Want to see me plant a fuchsia in a hat? Get on Twitter!
    Want to see me plant a fuchsia in a hat? Get on Twitter!

     

    See times and dates of performances here.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • David promotes front gardens on the Alan Titchmarsh Show

    David promotes front gardens on the Alan Titchmarsh Show

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    I spent a fantastic day on March 7 on the Alan Titchmarsh Show with Alan and the other guests, including the Doyenne of musical theatre – Elaine Paige!

    I was on the show to share my tips on making the most of your front garden with just a few quick and easy tweaks. I also got the chance to join the other guests and try an easy Pad Thai recipe and chestnut ice cream plus a selection of wines and beers on the show (and I loved every minute of it!).

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    Behind the scenes at ITV studios
    Behind the scenes at ITV studios

    Find out about my national campaign for front gardens!

    Many people have to keep their wheelie bins in their front gardens, but that doesn’t mean it has to be an eyesore! Try covering it in adhesive vinyl to camouflage it – you can get flower and ivy patterns.

    Another great idea for front gardens is to use container planting. This gives you the freedom to grow plants without having to tend to beds!

    My top tip for having the best containers on your street is to change their contents with the seasons! That way you’ll always have lovely, colourful flowers to greet you when you get home.

    For great containers now, fill with narcissi and skimmias. Always put more plants in containers than you think they need – they should look full and overflowing!

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    Getting the narcissi ready behind the scenes
    Getting the narcissi ready behind the scenes

    TIP: Visit your local garden centre regularly to see what is in flower now. This also works if you ever find a bare patch in your garden – head to the garden centre and buy something that is currently in flower to plug the gap and get year-round colour!

    You can also plant fruit in your front garden – try trailing strawberry plants in hanging baskets and flowering quince bushes. Then you can have beautiful front gardens AND free jam!

    To attract more wildlife into your front garden, install a bird bath, but remember to regularly put fresh water out for the birds!

    And why not go the whole hog and decorate your door too! Get textured doorknobs and fun knockers – try a pine cone, a squirrel or the classic woodpecker. You can even get a doorbell that tweets like a bird!

    Create a front garden that puts a smile on your face every time you come home. If this lot doesn’t work, try this Alan Titchmarsh doormat!

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    Alan Titchmarsh doormat
    This would make anyone smile!

    I hope this show has been a little taste of what is come on this year’s Love Your Garden series. Follow me on Twitter for behind-the-scenes access as filming gets underway.

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