Alan Titchmarsh: My chickens are scatty, stupid, selfish and bullying – but I wouldn't be without them
Chickens are scatty, stupid, selfish and bullying, says Alan Titchmarsh – and yet he wouldn’t be without them.
Expert Gardening Tips
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A frosty March sunrise at Helman Tor, Cornwall Credit: Alamy Alan Titchmarsh: The joy of identifying trees in winter from the merest scrap of twig
Our columnist Alan Titchmarsh gives thanks for the tough training he received half a century ago – and how it kindled wonder and awe at the breadth of beauty and curiosity in the world’s botanical riches.
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Stunning Labyrinth Dahlias at Chenies Manor Garden, Buckinghamshire in October. Credit: Alamy From the Sweet Lady to the Crème de Cognac: Three expert opinions on the top dahlias to buy and plant now
The chase is on: if you want to grow the best dahlias in your borders this year, you need to get your orders in soon, says Val Bourne.
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Credit: Alun Callender The willow weaver: 'I like to let the host structure feed the form'
With such romantic names as Dicky Meadows, Flanders Red and Noir de Verlaine, willow is one of Nature’s most versatile materials. Jane Wheatley meet Laura Ellen Bacon, who crafts works of art from twisted stems of Salix.
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Constance Spry, David Austin's first-ever 'English' rose, went on sale in 1961 and remains a favourite to this day Credit: Charles Quest-Ritson David Austin, Britain's late, great king of roses: The man who brought about 'a revolution in taste, expectations and how we garden'
Charles Quest-Ritson pays tribute to David Austin, the rose breeder and entrepreneur who passed away at the end of last year aged 92.
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Galanthus elwesii var monostictus cinderdine white flowers green markings flower bulbs snowdrops spring flowering Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The trials of collecting snowdrops: 'Is there no love for a Heffalump or a Grumpy?'
A galanthophile’s work is never done, says Michael Heseltine, as he tells us about his family's floral hobby; collecting snowdrops.
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G2KKRJ Different sorts of potatoes on brown paper, jute and dark wood Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Why you should grow your own potatoes and the 8 varieties you need to try when you do
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Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Country Life’s best gardening tips of 2018: Wisteria, Christmas trees and getting rid of box moth caterpillars
Our panel of experts includes writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh and Charles Quest-Ritson, author of the RHS Encyclopedia of Roses as well as many others. Here are their most popular gardening tips of the year.
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Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Alan Titchmarsh: The best hyacinths and narcissi to bring flowers indoors at Christmas
Gardening writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh shares his tips on growing indoor bulbs to bring heavenly scents indoors at Christmas.
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Midwinter Fire Cornus sanguinea Valley Gardens Virginia Water Surrey England UK Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Dogwoods and willows: A new style of winter planting?
Mark Griffiths extols the merits of these bare-stemmed beauties in the world of winter planning, which are both a joy to create and easy to maintain.
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Growing your own Christmas tree: Alan Titchmarsh on what to plant and where to plant it
Why buy your Christmas tree when you can grow your own and enjoy these handsome, statuesque trees all year round? Alan Titchmarsh offers his tips.
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Credit: Alamy Across Britain, bizarre fruits have appeared – thanks to the freezing snows and blast-furnace heat of 2018
Britain's brutally-cold winter followed by a scorchingly hot summer have caused all manner of wonders to appear in our gardens, even months after the weather has returned to normal. Steven Desmond explains how it's happened.
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Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Curious Questions: Why do leaves change colour in Autumn? And why do some go yellow while others are red, purple or brown?
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Credit: Alamy Alan Titchmarsh: Cyclamen, October colour and Nature's most extraordinary colour clash
Our columnist Alan Titchmarsh reflects on the ups and downs of Autumn gardening, where this rag bag of a season occasionally gives us reasons to be joyous.
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Credit: Alamy Japanese knotweed: How a delicate bloom beloved of the Victorians became a modern British scourge
Japanese knotweed took Britain by storm in the 19th century as a beautiful and highly-prized plant that was hugely fashionable. More recently it's had a very different impact, as Mark Griffiths explains.
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Sarah Raven: '15 years ago we couldn’t sell a dinner-plate-sized dahlia for love nor money’
The expert plantswoman tells us all about dahlia trends and gives advice for the best colours to use in 2019. Tiffany Daneff reports.
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Michaelmas daisies in mid October Alan Titchmarsh: How to make your garden a riot of colour in the depths of September and October
At this time of year, most of our gardens have long since said goodbye to their most vibrant colours – but it doesn't have to be that way, as Alan Titchmarsh explains.
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Jason Goodwin: 'I think about it when I’m on the stepladder, reaching out dangerously far to tweak a ripe fig'
Jason Goodwin tells our readers why he's now decided to give a fig about the ancient fruit that's been growing in his garden for years.
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How to enjoy home-grown berries for seven months of the year
Mark Diacono offers us some berry good advice for enjoying our breakfast favourites, whatever the season.
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Credit: Corbis via Getty Images Curious Questions: What is the biggest potato ever grown?
As harvests come in across Britain, we always enjoy pictures of giant vegetables appearing at various shows. But the tale of the biggest of the lot is absolutely fascinating. Martin Fone, author of 'Fifty Curious Questions', investigates.
