Growing cucumbers is one of the most rewarding experiences in a summer garden. This complete guide walks you through every step — from choosing the right variety and planting seeds to caring for plants, solving common problems, and harvesting crisp, homegrown cucumbers.

April doesn’t ease you in gently. One day you’re in shorts, the next you’re back in your down jacket — and somehow the cherry trees are blooming through all of it. In these April reflections, I share how to live with April’s restless energy rather than against it: in the garden, at home, and in yourself.

April marks the thrilling moment when your vegetable garden truly springs to life. As soil temperatures warm and the danger of frost diminishes, this month offers a prime opportunity to sow seeds and plant out a wide range of crops that will sustain your harvest through spring and into summer. For gardeners of all skill levels, April is ideal for both indoor seed-starting—think leeks, brassicas, lettuce, tomatoes and members of the cucurbit family—and direct sowing outdoors of cool-season favourites like broad beans, peas, carrots, radishes, rocket, spinach, beetroot and salsify. It’s also a great time to transplant hardy seedlings such as lettuce, cabbage and leeks, and to set out bulbs and roots like garlic, onions and potatoes once they’ve been hardened off. With thoughtful timing and a little soil preparation, you’ll be well on your way to a productive growing season.

April marks the true beginning of the gardening season. Discover the most important garden tasks to tackle now — from sowing vegetables and hardening off seedlings to protecting young plants from frost and pests.

March is not a clean arrival — it’s a dance between winter and spring. One day the sun warms your face and the crocuses push through the soil; the next, winter takes the stage again for one last performance. In these March reflections, I share what this season of transition asks of us: in the garden, in our homes, and in ourselves.

March is spring with a hint of winter—that magical transition when my too-clean fingers start itching to dig in the dirt.
Indoors, start tomatoes for outdoor growing, greenhouse cucumbers, and pre-sprout potatoes on a sunny windowsill. Sow lettuce every few weeks for continuous harvest. Don’t forget nasturtium—it protects cucumbers from pests while adding edible flowers.
Outdoors, hardy vegetables like sugar peas, early carrots, broad beans, and spinach can handle the cold with protective fleece. Transplant February-started lettuce and strawberries after hardening them off gradually.
Label everything—you won’t recognize seedlings later. Get out and have fun in the dirt!

March arrives with frost still nipping at night, but your garden is ready to wake up. Top up raised beds with fresh compost, remove winter mulch by raking it to the edges so soil warms faster, and pull out any weeds hiding underneath.
Give potatoes a head start by sprouting them on a sunny windowsill. Try covering rhubarb with a bucket—the warmth underneath produces tender stalks in just four to six weeks. Indoors, tend your seedlings daily. Outdoors, hardy vegetables like broad beans, spinach, and early carrots can brave the chill with protection.
The months of dreaming are over. Grab your gloves—your garden is waiting.

Seed-starting saves money, unlocks incredible variety, and gives heat-loving plants the head start they need. You’ll need cultivation soil, containers, plant lamps, and proper timing based on your hardiness zone. Sow seeds at the right depth, maintain proper temperature, thin seedlings when they develop true leaves, and harden them off before transplanting. With the right light and moisture, you’ll grow sturdy plants that yield abundant harvests.

Worried about pepper plant diseases? You’re not alone. From fungal infections to viral diseases and physiological disorders, this guide covers everything that can affect your peppers and chillies — and more importantly, what to do about it. Most diseases are preventable with good care and early detection. Learn the warning signs, organic treatments, and prevention strategies that keep your pepper plants healthy from seedling to harvest.

Pepper pests are a normal part of gardening — but they don’t have to ruin your harvest. In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify the most common pests affecting peppers and chillies, how to respond calmly and effectively, and how to prevent serious infestations in the first place.

Learn how to grow peppers and chillies from seed to harvest with this complete step-by-step guide. From sowing and seedling care to pruning, harvesting and seed saving, discover everything you need to grow healthy, productive pepper plants at home.

February is the perfect time to start seeds indoors and save serious money on your spring garden. Learn which vegetables to plant now, including tomatoes, peppers, brassicas, and herbs. This guide covers 20+ crops you can start indoors, optimal temperatures for germination, timing tips for transplanting, and solutions to common challenges like insufficient light and dry indoor air. Get a 6-8 week head start on your growing season!has ,,,,

February is not my favourite month. It's still cold outside, and some days it's so foggy and gloomy that one could think Spring will never come. On the other hand, however, we can witness how the days become longer in February. Sometimes, temperatures are above zero,...

February sits between winter’s stillness and spring’s promise. In these February reflections, I share thoughts on late-winter moods, gentle garden tasks, seasonal rituals, and self-care that help us prepare—slowly and intentionally—for the season ahead.

I don’t know about you but once the festive season is over and life starts again in January, my fingers itch to dig into some dirt! Although there are some outdoor garden tasks you should do in January, it's too cold to get my fingers dirty outside. But I can always...