BBC Dig In 2010 campaign - free seeds!

Are you new to gardening? Thinking about starting a garden? This news may interest you then:

The BBC Dig In campaign is starting again (this is the second year) and they are repeating the free seeds offer.

Application form to apply for your free seeds (mixed salad, courgette, french bean, basil and carrot).

I suggest you send your application in quickly if you are interested because the seed starter packs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the offer is sure to be very popular.

The Dig In website provides information, links and tips about each of this year's Dig In vegetables.

You can also sign up for a fortnightly newsletter for advice on growing your veg (aimed at encouraging novice gardeners) and Dig In news.

The National Trust: You Tube Channel

This is cool. Thanks to twitter, I found out that The National Trust has a You Tube channel: The National Trust charity's Channel The latest video: Learn how to make a seasonal fruit crumble with the National Trust's chef Richard. You can follow The National Trust on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nationaltrust And here's another interesting tidbit of news about The National Trust: New Monopoly set gives everyone the chance to own a stately pile The National Trust has launched its very own Monopoly set – becoming the first ever charity version of the game to be created - on sale from Thursday 1 October.

Should Allotments have rules about flowers?

What's wrong with an allotment plot full of flowers? As long as you look after your allotment, shouldn't it be yours to do what you please with (link via guardian.co.uk) I think it's absolute madness that Chris Smallbone - Dig My Plot - has been given a Notice to Quit by his allotment council officer, supported by his allotment society because he filled his plot with flowers! I wonder what those of you who have an allotment, think of this judgment? Do you think it's wrong to have an allotment full of flowers? Do you have to follow strict rules about what you can and can't grow on your allotment?

My FREE seeds arrived today from BBC Dig In!

I love getting free stuff and I love gardening so I'm thrilled that my FREE seeds (lettuce, tomato, carrot, beetroot, and squash) arrived today! I will be very busy this weekend. I hope the weather is good. If you didn't apply for free seeds from BBC Dig In, it's too late to apply now unfortunately because according to the website, all the free seed packs have now gone. I think I was lucky I applied when I did. Related post from my blog: Apply for a FREE seed pack from BBC Dig In

250 Years of Kew Gardens!

Did you know Kew Gardens is celebrating its 250th anniversary this summer? I only discovered it is because I noticed the Google logo today shows the word 'Google' inside a greenhouse. Very clever. To celebrate the anniversary, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew to mark the horticultural landmark's 250th anniversary.

Six Plants I Can’t Live Without

Now this is my kind of meme! This is something fun for everyone who enjoys gardening (as I do) - share your list of the six plants you can't live without. The meme is explained in this post from the "diggin' it blog" in The Christian Science Monitor:The six plants I can’t live without These are the writers of ten garden blogs across the US taking part in the original meme: Diggin' it blog - The Christian Science Monitor The Grumpy Gardener - SouthernLiving.com Digging Defining Your Home Garden Fairegarden Fresh Dirt - list to be posted soon Gardening With Confidence Hoe and Shovel Jim Long's Garden - no list posted yet Sweet Home and Garden Chicago

I think all gardener's should feel free to participate in this meme so I've come up with my own list. It wasn't easy but I've decided these are my six plants I can't live without:

1. Lilac - We always had lilacs at my parent's house so I love them partly because of the feelings of nostalgia when I see them - and especially in the spring when I enjoy their heady scent - but also they are just so easy to grow and they are a fantastic old-fashioned plant to have in the garden.

2. Lavender - This is one of my all-time favourite plants. I love the different varieties and the fantastic scent and the way they attract bees. It can also happily flourish in containers as well as in the ground.

3. Marigold - This is another plant that I grew up with and I've always adored. I love the cheerful colours and all the different varieties. 4. Rose - I've always loved roses but found them difficult to grow in Minnesota where the growing season is so short. To be living in England where roses grow almost like weeds, I am in heaven! Roses are definitely a must-have plant in my garden!

5. Common box (Buxus sempervirens) - A beautiful, sturdy evergreen plant for topiary and hedges. I have some growing in pots and some in the garden.

6. Sunflowers - This is such an attractive plant and easy to grow and it attract bees and birds.

Okay it's your turn: name the six plants you can't live without and post the list on your blog and then put the link to your post in the comments.

I think it will be interesting to see what plants are on everyone's list!

Apply for a FREE seed pack from BBC Dig In

Thanks to a post on Little Green Blog for posting about this great offer from Dig in: apply for a FREE Dig In seed pack. If you're interested, I suggest you apply right away as the offer is good only as long as stocks last, and I'm sure it will be very popular. Also, you have to allow 28 days for delivery so it makes sense to apply now. I did! The offer includes a packet of each of the five Dig In veg - tomato, beetroot, lettuce, butternut squash and carrot. The Dig In site offers a series of helpful videos about planting the seeds and you can also sign up for a newsletter for tips on how to grow your vegetables. And the Dig In van will be travelling around the country from April to August. Perhaps it's visiting your town. We have a large garden but it's mostly shrubs (to attract birds) and flowers. We keep saying we should grow some vegetables so now the free seeds will be just the impetus to get us started! Will you be planting a new garden this year? Are you planning to grow veg? If you have grown lots of different vegetables before, which ones would you recommend are good for a beginner? Do you start your seeds indoors (a greenhouse would be a nice option but we don't have one) or do you wait until the last frost and plant all your seeds directly in the garden?

Landshare scheme - Linking gardeners with land

Meet the veg doctor is an article about a new scheme that aims to put first-time vegetable growers in touch with more experienced gardeners. It is the latest initiative of the Landshare scheme, a project originally launched by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on his River Cottage series for Channel 4 last year, but which now boasts the participation of the National Trust, the Royal Horticultural Society and Garden Organic. (link via guardian.co.uk) About Landshare: Landshare - Linking people who want to grow their own food to space where they can grow it. We are planning to go live with the Landshare website by Easter 2009. So far we have 32,000 registrations and counting in every postcode area in the UK and are getting interest from many major landowners. Helping support the growing which springs from Landshare will be 'Veg Doctors', a network of local help and know-how supported by Garden Organic, the National Trust and the RHS. EatSeasonably provides information about ‘Veg Doctors’ and The ten easiest fruit and veg to grow

Million Ponds Project

Pond Conservation launched the Million Ponds Project yesterday. What is the Million Ponds Project? The Million Ponds Project will create an extensive network of new ponds across the UK. Ultimately the aim is to reverse a century of pond loss, ensuring that once again the UK has over one million countryside ponds. I have been considering creating a pond in our back garden but I keep procrastinating. I think this is the year that I will go ahead and create one. I would like to create a traditonal pond to attract frogs and other wildlife but I might start with something small like a barrel pond. Please share your tips and advice about creating a pond if you've created one yourself.

Gardener creates giant plum pudding out of conifer

A couple from Somerset have transformed a 20ft (6m) conifer into a Christmas pudding complete with cream and illuminated holly berries on top. (link via BBC News) The tree in Roger and Valerie Holley's front garden in Yeovil is spreading the festive cheer to passers-by. I love it! What a clever, creative gardener!

A dozen gift ideas for gardeners (each under £10.00)

Grow Your Own Veg Journal by Carol Klein £5.99 PLAY. com Small Tin Seed Container £5.00 Burford Garden Company Garden Seeds - Garden Sprinkles £3.50 The Gardeners Shop Paper Potter - Seed Pot Maker £9.95 The Gardeners Shop Window Garden Plants £4.99 EcoCentric Grow your own Silver Birch Tree £5.99 EcoCentric Easy Seeda - easy seed planting £4.04 The Urban Garden Chelsea Trug 32cm £5.86 The Chelsea Gardener Compact Bypass Action Secateur £6.50 Just Green Professional Tool Oil £4.95 Garden Boutique Herbal Tea Pocket Garden £9.78 Crocus Gourmet Salad Pocket Garden £9.78 Crocus

TheWhoFarm: The White House Organic Farm Project

I think this is a very cool idea: Edible playgrounds and political vegetables From school playgrounds to digging up the lawns of the White House and Downing St, there are many wasted spaces where we could be inspiring people to grow their own food (link via guardian.co.uk) TheWhoFarm A day-in-the-life of The White House Organic (WHO) Farm Project's cross-country tour:

American public radio report about allotments in London

This is a lovely report from NPR (National Public Radio in the USA) about allotments in London: London's Gardens: Allotments for the People (link via NPR.org)

National Insect Week 2008

I just found out that it's National Insect Week 2008 (23rd to 29th June). As a keen gardener, I also enjoy observing insects - especially bees and butterflies. The National Insect Week site provides a handy page profiling twelve of Britain’s fascinating insects and I was particularly interested to read about the Black Garden Ant – (Lasius niger) and learn this fascinating fact:

This species and a related Lasius species are essential for the conservation of the declining populations of the attractive Silver-Studded Blue Butterfly (Plebejus argus) on heathland because they protect the butterfly’s caterpillars from predators in return for feeding on secretions specially produced by the caterpillars.

There are more interesting insect facts on the site and if you wonder how to attract more insects to your garden, the site provides some tips about How To Make Your Garden Insect Friendly. If you take part in their fun competition and vote for an insect in four categories – Good, Bad, Beautiful and Ugly, you will be eligible for a chance to win a book or a DVD.

Gardeners: Beware decaying organic waste

I'm sure most people know that breathing in mould spores is bad for your health but I wonder how many gardeners know about the potential health hazard from inhaling poisonous fungal spores, commonly found in decaying vegetation? I certainly never gave it a thought until I read the sad story that a man dies after inhaling fungal spores from garden compost. The risk is low but still, it's something to be aware of. (link via guardian.co.uk)

Compost clothing

The BBC reports : Fashion students in the Scottish Borders have designed a range of clothes to be worn in the garden and then thrown on a compost heap. I love it! Bio-degradable and recycled gardening clothes. How cool is that?!

Gardening in England

I'm a keen gardener so one of the best things about living in England is that I can garden year round due to the temperate climate. I'm from Minnesota where it snows every winter and the growing season is ridiculously short. It's known for its temperature extremes - very cold winters and very hot summers. England on the other hand is known for its temperate climate - so it rarely gets very hot or very cold. It's wonderful and especially for anyone who loves gardening! England is famous for all its beautiful gardens. Britain In Bloom is a popular environmental campaign, with the nation's cities, towns and villages competing to win recognition and awards. There are other smaller gardening competitons too. Our small town is getting involved in one for the first tme this year, with plenty of different competition categories:

Best small, medium and large front garden. Best school gardening project or community project. Best Commercial Premises display & Shop Window display. Best Public House floral display or pub garden. Best public open space Best Hidden Garden