Gardening,News

Start of our Plant Season29 Feb

Hi

Due to the great weather last weekend we have pushed the button to start our plant season. This Friday we take delivery of 3,500 herbaceous perennials. Alpines, climbers, roses and ornamental shrubs will follow next week.

Because it has been so mild I had to hurry up and prune my rambling white rose. I have attached a before and after. The first picture shows my beautiful rambling rose and Sheena my wife, no, no I must re phrase that! My beautiful wife and my lovely white rose prior to pruning. And the delight of Sheena at the rose having been pruned.

Sheena and the white rose

"Sheena and the white rose"

Sheena with the pruned rose

"Sheena with the pruned rose"

I have also added an ice crystal hanging from a cobweb during the last spell of cold weather.

Cobwebice

"Cobwebice"

I have had a couple of meetings this week with people wanting to run dog training lessons at the Garden Centre, let me know if you are interested. We will probably start this in March.

March can be warm or freezing, don’t get lulled into a false sense of security protect your plants.

We have got some early hardy broad beans and Sweet Peas in for early beans and flowers.

 

As usual loads going on, the place is starting to look great! (I would say that though wouldn’t I)

 

Regards

Ashley

Ps  The wood burner is still alight in the Cafe     

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Gardening,News

Meet Rocky our new rooster. Also, Wild flower seeds in stock.24 Feb

Welcome to “Rocky” our new multi coloured rooster (not yet multi coloured). Hatched in Hull and collected by me this week. You will see a lot more of him as he will be living in our field adjacent to the A43 / A5 roundabout. Rocky is 2.6m tall and weighs about 1 tonne and is made of cast iron. He did turn quite a few heads when I drove through Sheffield city centre visiting my son Luke at University on the way back to Towcester.

Rocky

"Rocky"

Busy, busy in the garden nearly March sow your tomatoes, cucumbers in the greenhouse. Chitt the potatoes we have got loads in stock.

I have just purchased a massive quantity of Wild flower seed (Nova-Flore) for all of you naturalists! who have a patch to dedicate to wildlife in the corner of the garden, they say its guaranteed to flower if sown correctly, we can advise.

Now hopefully we have passed the really severe weather it’s a good time to get some planting and re arranging of plants done prior to the heat of an early season.

If ever you need any help we will be pleased to assist.

 

Regards,

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Chickens,Gardening,News

Spring is just around the corner. Vibrant Primulets & Poultry housing tips.17 Feb

Hi

Spring is just around the corner, yesterday I picked up the first scent of the new season, how exciting! Potatoes earlies, Jersey Royals could be planted in the next week to 10 days. Get them chitting in a cool frost free shed/garage.

The cold weather has supressed the amount of people we have seen over the last week, so we have been able to get on with treating our poultry houses. A good pasting of creosote helps preserve the wood and kills the mites.

Mashing the mites

"Mashing the mites"

We have stocked up on watering cans and water buts following the news that there may be a drought this summer, all the more reason to mulch the shrub beds to keep in the moisture, increase the organic matter and fertility.

You can colour up your Garden with vibrant Primulets, these ones have been through all the cold weather and still look great.

Colour up your garden

"Colour up your garden"

Look forward to seeing you soon

 

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Gardening,News

Planning a vegetable garden10 Feb

There is not a lot you can do this weather apart from feed the birds and enjoy watching children in the snow.

Open for business

"Open for business"

You could prune the fruit trees and roses if you want to brave the cold.

Planning the vegetable garden is a great idea. It is nearly time to plant your early tomatoes, cucumbers in a warm greenhouse or kitchen window. You could plant your early potatoes in a pot in a warm greenhouse and benefit from very early earlies, have your own “Jersey Royals”.

Having a crop rotation in your veg patch is an advantage, this will prevent a build-up of pest and disease in one area of the garden severely reducing yield and successful cropping. You really need a minimum of a 3 year rotation depending on what you are growing. Any questions give us a call we are here to help.

 

Dream on

"Dream on"

 

Look forward to seeing you

 

Ashley

 

PS  Jacqui has made some fantastic homemade soup in the Cafe

 

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Gardening,News

Winter Gardening Tips. Frozen Pots and Tender Plants.03 Feb

This is my kind of weather -5C blue sky and sunshine. Freezing Pots, make sure your outside pots are on pot feet or off the ground so that the water drains out easily they will then be less likely to split. Having free draining soil in your pot reduces the risk of blistering and cracking as the soil will hold less moisture, reducing the expansion when it freezes.

Fleece your bedding, cover up or move to shelter your tender plants, Olives, Camellias, Phormiums, Cordyline, Pittosporum and Ceanothus if out in the open, not against the wall can be vulnerable.

Our seed potatoes are in stock in the shop so that they don’t freeze.

We have got sheep in the field grazing the grass, they will only be there for a few weeks. While they are with us the gates are tied up, we did have an incident last week with sheep all over the A5 due to the gates not being shut. The Dog walking is still open.

My favourite Weeping Silver Birch

My favourite Weeping Silver Birch

Look forward to seeing you soon

Ashley

P.S. Wrap up

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Gardening,News

This Week: Delivery of fruit trees Walnuts to Hazel nuts27 Jan

Hi

Sheena my wife had some friends around last night for supper to celebrate a 50th birthday! She cut some flowering Sarcococca confusa “Christmas box” from the garden the whole house filled with a fantastic sweet scent. It is a small unassuming  evergreen plant that punches well above its weight when it comes to scent.

In the garden
In the garden
the morning after
the morning after

 

We have nearly lost January and we are struggling to get all the jobs done to make the place look great for when you visit. All our tools and seeds etc are now in the glasshouse, very horticultural. We have moved the plant area around so we can get more plants in.

This week we had a large delivery of fruit trees Walnuts to Hazel nuts, espalier and fan trained fruit.

This week we have been recruiting for the 4 positions we have available in the Garden Centre and Café.

 

Catch up next week

Ashley

 

Ps Have you dug the Garden yet?

Chickens,Gardening,News

Happy New Year. New Garden shop in our Greenhouse. Seed Potatoes and Black Araucana in stock now.13 Jan

Hi Happy New Year to you all. Apologies for not keeping in touch Flu, Burglaries and Christmas have kept us all busy.

We have got loads happening as usual here at the Garden Centre. Our Seed Potatoes arrived yesterday are now all out on sale.

We had a new delivery of Chickens this week 250 point of lay pullets.

We have got a new variety Black Araucana that lays in excess of 220 blue / green eggs. Not quite as many as the normal hybrid but a great colour.

Brown Araucana

 

We have created a new Garden Shop in our Greenhouse all our Garden sundries will now be under one roof, this will enable us to keep a larger range of tools, fertilisers and seeds.

I hope we see you soon, we have a great team of people here to help you with your Garden or Poultry at any time.

 

Best wishes

 

Ashley

Bell Plantation Garden Centre

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

News

Happy Christmas only 7 days to go!16 Dec

Happy Christmas only 7 days to go!

We have still got a few cut and potted Christmas trees of all types and sizes in stock, we hope to sell out this weekend!

Loads of Houseplants, Orchids and Poinsettia in varying sizes.

Good practical presents abound and plenty of Gorgeous gifts.

New 16kw wood burner installed in the Café it now is even warmer!

Bell Plantation Café - New Wood Burner

Sheena enjoying the new installation!

 

Look forward to seeing you

Have fun

Ashley

News

Potted and cut Christmas trees from £9.9909 Dec

4 ways to help your tree keep its needles

  1. Don’t place the tree near a source of heat.
  2. Cut an inch off the bottom of your tree and then keep the tree in water or moist soil or sand.
  3. Buy a non needle drop tree Nordman, Noble or Fraser fir.
  4. Buy a potted tree and plant it in the Garden after Christmas.

Bell Plantation Decorations and Christmas Gifts

Remember we have loads of Christmas lights - diodes. No bulb troubles!

Decorations and gifts abound.

After Christmas South Northants Council will be recycling all unwanted Christmas trees.

Please take a look at our special offers on our website. Including a Christmas Trees voucher! www.bellplantation.co.uk

Hope to see you soon

Ashley

 

www.bellplantation.co.uk   www.poultrycentre.co.uk

News

£5 Off Christmas Trees Special Offer!24 Nov

christmas tree

Christmas trees galore from £9.99
1000 now in stock to choose from.
Early birds get the worm.

Special Offers:

£5 Off Christmas Trees Voucher on our website!

Please see: www.bellplantation.co.uk and check on the right hand side for all our latest special offers.

decorations

www.bellplantation.co.uk   www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Quick Tips: Avoid Fungi and Slug Problems.

They forecast a fine weekend?

It has been tough so far, we are not alone the weather has been bad all through Northern Europe. The wet, cold weather is affecting food production the asparagus crop this year is almost non-existent, potatoes will be cropped later as we have had no sun to warm the soil.

Anyway, take advantage of the warm dry weekend, an application of fungicide on your roses will keep black spot at bay. Regular spraying will keep roses free from aphids, mildew etc.

Cooking Herbs

"Cooking Herbs"

The wet damp conditions are great for slugs, when planting out vegetable plants it’s worth protecting them with anti-slug products.

Stale damp, cold air in your greenhouse will encourage botrytis and other fungi, fling open the doors, let the air circulate and try and keep conditions a little dryer.

resident Wild Ducks on our pond

"resident Wild Ducks on our pond"

Most Marvellous opened here this week, “A great place to shop”.

We have still got  an amazing range of lovely plants, great advice and smiley people.

The next Wednesday Morning Gardening Fun is all about Roses and ShrubsMay 16th 9.30am to 11.30am in the Café. For more information see this page: http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/wednesday-morning-gardening-fun/

Our chicken pens are full this week due to a recent delivery.

 

Have a great weekend

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

“Most Marvellous” Shop Opening in the Courtyard this Weekend. Gardening tips and events throughout May.

What else can you do but tidy your shed?

It’s not so much the rain, it’s the cold temperatures that are the problem. The lack of sunshine has not warmed your propagator or greenhouse. It’s not too late to sow vegetables, what will speed up the growth is either planting seeds in a propagator and then planting them in the garden later or planting them under glass or under a plastic garden cloche. Another alternative is to buy plants already growing in seed trays from your own top quality Garden Centre!

Ranunculus in stock in flower. Like, can tolerate wet areas!

"Ranunculus in stock in flower. Like, can tolerate wet areas!"

Remember to keep all your tender soft fleshed plants in the dry, they may start to rot if left out in the wet and cold.

I actually planted 350 bare root hedging plants during the week, they are looking good due to the cold weather, they should have been planted by the end of March. Well watered in.

We have got “Most Marvellous” opening here this weekend in the Courtyard where Countrywide used to be. They will be selling all sorts of great stuff for the Home and Garden.

Events:

Throughout May on Wednesday mornings (9.30am-11-30am) come and join our Plant expert Jo in our Café for some Gardening Fun!

Wednesday May 9th will be a morning looking at Baskets and Containers.

For more information (and to see what’s coming up in May) follow this link:

http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/wednesday-morning-gardening-fun/

 

The fire is still alight in the Café, our water retention pond is overflowing, there is great food and service available! Our spirits are high!

Remember free tea or filter coffee when you buy something at the Garden Centre.

 

Have a lovely week

Look forward to seeing you

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Free hot drink in the café with any Garden Centre purchase. Plus: Tips for water logged soil.

I wish the Government would appoint a “Minister for Flooding”.

Not many plants that we like to grow enjoy water logged soil. Organic material in the soil encourages free draining. It is essential that the soil has the right balance of air and water for good root growth. I know I keep banging on about organic matter in the soil, it helps free draining in wet and retains moisture in dry conditions.

Make sure you have pot feet under you containers, summer bedding is particularly vulnerable when too wet, rot sets in.

The heavy rain will highlight wet patches in your garden that need draining. Wet patches in your lawn will supress grass growth during winter and encourage moss. You can lift areas with a digging fork, take out core plugs and fill with sand.

We had a great dog training weekend last Saturday, thanks to Deborah Coles, DCL Dog training.

Pawsitive Dog Training

"Pawsitive Dog Training"

As usual we have got buckets of great stuff at the Garden Centre.

Get your Mac’s on and pop up for a cuppa or a coffee, remember its free if you buy something!!

The Warmest Place To Be

"The Warmest Place To Be"

Enjoy your Garden.

Best wishes

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Grow your own – Home gardening advice for the wetter weather. April Events: Dog Training & Hanging Basket Workshop.

Ah! Some rain. I had to happen sometime? Sheena, Julia and myself went away for 2 days to buy our Christmas decorations for this year and the heavens opened. Perhaps we should go away more often.

Christmas buyers having a laugh

"Christmas buyers having a laugh"

The rain will be a welcome relief for all lawn enthusiasts, lawn weed and feed and moss killers will work better with more moisture in the soil. Re seeding patches in the lawn will have a better success rate with moist soil.

When planting out veg plants in the garden plant them far enough apart to get a hoe between them, this will save a lot of hand weeding and bending. This is difficult with root crops carrots, parsnips, beetroot etc as they are planted in solid rows. With the soil very wet hoeing is difficult as the soil will stick to the hoe, you will just have to wait until the soil dries on the top and then hoe. If you have nasty weeds like docks, nettles, couch grass, elder weed etc you will have to dig out the roots or apply some Roundup – Glyphosate very carefully as it will kill anything it touches.

There is still plenty of time to sow seeds, potatoes, tubers etc

I actually planted what was left of our bare root hedging last week, couldn’t have timed it better with the rain, still very risky though being as it is mid-April.

April Events

We have the “Pawsitive Solutions Roadshow” – Dog Training for the 21st Century tomorrow (Saturday 21st April) in the courtyard. 10.30am till 3pm. Take a look at: http://www.facebook.com/PawsitiveSolutionsRoadshow for more information. ”There will be demonstrations of some training commands at 11.30am and of the relatively new sport of Rally O at 1.30pm.”

Next Wednesday (25th April) we have a Hanging Basket Workshop from 9am till 11am. If you want spectular flower arrangements in your garden this spring sign up for our hanging basket workshop session where we’ll be designing stunning hanging baskets for your dream garden. Roll up your sleeves and join us for 2 hours of planting, top gardening advice and relaxation. For more information see: http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/hanging-basket-workshop/

Joey the new male addition to my family of Beef Shorthorns

"Joey the new male addition to my family of Beef Shorthorns"

We have got more plants in than ever, would be great to see you, loads of smiles and good plant advice.

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Beautiful Plants, Bonsai Trees and 21st Century Dog Training in Towcester on 21st April

As you would expect we are stuffed to the gunnels with beautiful plants, “this is our time”!

Jo, Brian, Caroline and myself are always on hand to give you help and advice on our huge array of stock.

We have got big and small of almost every plant. For the Bonsai enthusiasts we have as you have probably seen a huge great Japanese Bonsai Ilex crenata, well now we have 2 more smaller, more affordable additions.

New Bonsai Trees In Stock

"New Bonsai Trees In Stock"

Growing veg is hugely therapeutic and gastronomically rewarding. Now is the time to sow a huge variety of seeds for veg and flowers, in the ground, propagator or small pots. We can advise there is also a lot of information on the seed packets.

Ok we have had a drop of rain but not too much, I know I keep banging on about it but a mulch of bark, peat, compost, grass clippings over the shrub bed will stop the sun evaporating the moisture and it will help keep the weeds at bay.

The Café team are working flat out to keep up with the demand for their lovely food and smiley faces.

The Café Team

"The Café Team"

On Saturday 21st April 10.30am – 3.00pm there will be a “Pawsitive Solutions Roadshow” in our Courtyard Dog training for the 21st Century. Info will be on our website.

Keep an eye on our website for plant and furniture offers. www.bellplantation.co.uk

Have a great week

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Fantastic New Plants and Easter Gifts

Hi

What a change from last week! Suddenly we are in to protecting the growth made by tender plants. Cover up, wrap up tender plants with fleece, bubble wrap or up turned pots, another alternative is to bring plants under cover if possible. We have probably had 15 deliveries of fantastic new plants for the Easter weekend mainly from British Growers, with minus 5 degrees forecast for tonight it’s a job to know where to put them all.

There is still plenty of time to sow seeds, potatoes, corms and tubers for cropping and cutting this year.

With the hose pipe ban nearly in place water butts have been flying out the door, we have still got 20 – 30 butts in store. Micro irrigation systems and leaky pipes are sometimes allowed within the ban as you know we stock Gardena.

Vegetarian Pig

"Vegetarian Pig"

The majority of our Chickens are reared in Totnes in Devon. Due to the fuel problem there has been no white diesel in the West Country so we have struggled to get our Fowl. We had 100 pullets delivered this week and have another 200 due in next week.

The shop looks great very Easter orientated, chickens bunnies and guess what no chocolate only hot stuff in the Café.

Easter Gifts

"Easter Gifts"

We have got some great new businesses moving to the site, hopefully opening before the end of April.

I’ll keep you posted

 

Have a lovely Easter, relax and enjoy the Great Outdoors

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Grow Your Own Veggies – Top tips for the dry weather

I have to keep reminding myself that it still only March! The unseasonal weather is giving us the feeling of May, June!

Resident Nesting Robin

"Our Resident Nesting Robin"

Remember there is still a lot of time for frost, potentially another 5-6 weeks. Keep all your tender plants covered at night. When your early potatoes pop their heads through the ground, put an upturned flower pot over them for the night or cover them with fleece, or use an old fashion garden cloche to cover all your veg. Sowing seeds under a small polythene tunnel creates a great micro climate for the plants to grow quickly and free from frost.

Gro Tunnel

"Gro Tunnel"

Time to plant some Dahlia tubers and Gladioli corms to give you some summer and early autumn colour.

I know I keep banging on about it but with so little rain, retaining moisture in the soil is incredibly important. Put organic matter over your boarders to keep in the moisture. Lawn clippings, compost from your bin, bark mulch will all do the job. When you water a mulched shrub bed the water will be retained for much longer.

With the looming hosepipe ban apparently you can fill your water butt/container with a hose pipe and you can use a micro irrigation system but you can’t use the hose pipe directly on your Garden. Store your own water.

As usual we are stuffed to the gunnels with great plants and goodies “For the love of the great outdoors”

Garden Shop In Glasshouse

"Garden Shop In Glasshouse"

Easter egg hunt in progress, bring the children along.

Any advice needed just give us a call .

Management Meeting

Management Meeting

Have a great week

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Spring Customer Evening This Thursday!

Thursday 29th March 6pm – 9pm

Celebrate the arrival of spring with us and get 10% off everything* for one evening only.

All your favourites for less including: herborium plants, gifts section, poultry centre and much more!

Join us at the Plantation for an evening of relaxation and bargain hunting!

http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/spring-customer-evening/

*(excludes all current offers and discounts)

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

New Arrivals: Piglets! Plus: Spring Gardening Tips and Tricks.

Sheena and I were away last week, thank you Jooles for doing the Blog.

How things change in a week away. Herbaceous growing fast, soon be time to think about getting some support up for it to grow through.

Don’t be too hasty in getting rid of frost damaged plants e.g. Ceanothus, Eucalyptus, Pittosporum they may shoot from the bottom. If they do shoot just cut off the dead top bits. It’s worth waiting at least another month to see what happens.

Raise the blade on your mower for the first couple of cuts, this will save you a lot of hard work and your mower. A few days after the first cut it is worth putting on some weed and feed. If you get it on early the April showers (if we get any, let’s hope we do!) will wash the feed into the soil to enable the roots to get it. Lawn care really is so easy to do yourself, ask us for good sound advice (as always).

Countrywide have moved out! Good luck to them! We have loads of interest from new businesses in the space they are leaving behind. We will get them occupied as soon as we can.

As usual we have loads of great stuff here for you to look at, the plants look amazing and great value. (that’s my only commercial plug).

Primula March 2012

Plough the fields and scatter

Have a good week enjoy the “Great Outdoors”

Regards

Ashley

 

P.S. As promised the photo shoot of the new arrivals!

Piglets March 2012

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Plenty of Primula Colour

Plenty of Primula Colour

"Plenty of Primula Colour"

I got into trouble last week for posting pictures of Sheena so I’ll have to give that a break for a week or two, then I’ll catch her out again.

All you dog walkers will be pleased to know that the sheep have gone from the field so feel free to let your dog’s off the lead. I suppose the muck is still a bit ripe if your dog has the urge to roll in it, best wait until it has rained.

If you have rhubarb pop a bucket over the top or buy a terracotta rhubarb forcer! This will encourage some lovely early crop able sweet growth, you only need a couple of weeks growth for a good crop from an old root.

Get some fertiliser on the garden phosphates and potash take longer to get through the soil to the roots than nitrogen, so best to get it on earlier so that the rain (if we have any) washes it through the soil to where it is needed.

We have installed 4 extra pens for our chickens, we now have 350 pullets in stock which arrived this week.

We are also getting some new piglets, which arrive before this weekend.

Jo our resident plant expert with fresh new herbs

"Jo our resident plant expert with fresh new herbs"

Have a good Gardening week

Best wishes

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Quick Tips: Avoid Fungi and Slug Problems.

They forecast a fine weekend?

It has been tough so far, we are not alone the weather has been bad all through Northern Europe. The wet, cold weather is affecting food production the asparagus crop this year is almost non-existent, potatoes will be cropped later as we have had no sun to warm the soil.

Anyway, take advantage of the warm dry weekend, an application of fungicide on your roses will keep black spot at bay. Regular spraying will keep roses free from aphids, mildew etc.

Cooking Herbs

"Cooking Herbs"

The wet damp conditions are great for slugs, when planting out vegetable plants it’s worth protecting them with anti-slug products.

Stale damp, cold air in your greenhouse will encourage botrytis and other fungi, fling open the doors, let the air circulate and try and keep conditions a little dryer.

resident Wild Ducks on our pond

"resident Wild Ducks on our pond"

Most Marvellous opened here this week, “A great place to shop”.

We have still got  an amazing range of lovely plants, great advice and smiley people.

The next Wednesday Morning Gardening Fun is all about Roses and ShrubsMay 16th 9.30am to 11.30am in the Café. For more information see this page: http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/wednesday-morning-gardening-fun/

Our chicken pens are full this week due to a recent delivery.

 

Have a great weekend

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

“Most Marvellous” Shop Opening in the Courtyard this Weekend. Gardening tips and events throughout May.

What else can you do but tidy your shed?

It’s not so much the rain, it’s the cold temperatures that are the problem. The lack of sunshine has not warmed your propagator or greenhouse. It’s not too late to sow vegetables, what will speed up the growth is either planting seeds in a propagator and then planting them in the garden later or planting them under glass or under a plastic garden cloche. Another alternative is to buy plants already growing in seed trays from your own top quality Garden Centre!

Ranunculus in stock in flower. Like, can tolerate wet areas!

"Ranunculus in stock in flower. Like, can tolerate wet areas!"

Remember to keep all your tender soft fleshed plants in the dry, they may start to rot if left out in the wet and cold.

I actually planted 350 bare root hedging plants during the week, they are looking good due to the cold weather, they should have been planted by the end of March. Well watered in.

We have got “Most Marvellous” opening here this weekend in the Courtyard where Countrywide used to be. They will be selling all sorts of great stuff for the Home and Garden.

Events:

Throughout May on Wednesday mornings (9.30am-11-30am) come and join our Plant expert Jo in our Café for some Gardening Fun!

Wednesday May 9th will be a morning looking at Baskets and Containers.

For more information (and to see what’s coming up in May) follow this link:

http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/wednesday-morning-gardening-fun/

 

The fire is still alight in the Café, our water retention pond is overflowing, there is great food and service available! Our spirits are high!

Remember free tea or filter coffee when you buy something at the Garden Centre.

 

Have a lovely week

Look forward to seeing you

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Free hot drink in the café with any Garden Centre purchase. Plus: Tips for water logged soil.

I wish the Government would appoint a “Minister for Flooding”.

Not many plants that we like to grow enjoy water logged soil. Organic material in the soil encourages free draining. It is essential that the soil has the right balance of air and water for good root growth. I know I keep banging on about organic matter in the soil, it helps free draining in wet and retains moisture in dry conditions.

Make sure you have pot feet under you containers, summer bedding is particularly vulnerable when too wet, rot sets in.

The heavy rain will highlight wet patches in your garden that need draining. Wet patches in your lawn will supress grass growth during winter and encourage moss. You can lift areas with a digging fork, take out core plugs and fill with sand.

We had a great dog training weekend last Saturday, thanks to Deborah Coles, DCL Dog training.

Pawsitive Dog Training

"Pawsitive Dog Training"

As usual we have got buckets of great stuff at the Garden Centre.

Get your Mac’s on and pop up for a cuppa or a coffee, remember its free if you buy something!!

The Warmest Place To Be

"The Warmest Place To Be"

Enjoy your Garden.

Best wishes

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Grow your own – Home gardening advice for the wetter weather. April Events: Dog Training & Hanging Basket Workshop.

Ah! Some rain. I had to happen sometime? Sheena, Julia and myself went away for 2 days to buy our Christmas decorations for this year and the heavens opened. Perhaps we should go away more often.

Christmas buyers having a laugh

"Christmas buyers having a laugh"

The rain will be a welcome relief for all lawn enthusiasts, lawn weed and feed and moss killers will work better with more moisture in the soil. Re seeding patches in the lawn will have a better success rate with moist soil.

When planting out veg plants in the garden plant them far enough apart to get a hoe between them, this will save a lot of hand weeding and bending. This is difficult with root crops carrots, parsnips, beetroot etc as they are planted in solid rows. With the soil very wet hoeing is difficult as the soil will stick to the hoe, you will just have to wait until the soil dries on the top and then hoe. If you have nasty weeds like docks, nettles, couch grass, elder weed etc you will have to dig out the roots or apply some Roundup – Glyphosate very carefully as it will kill anything it touches.

There is still plenty of time to sow seeds, potatoes, tubers etc

I actually planted what was left of our bare root hedging last week, couldn’t have timed it better with the rain, still very risky though being as it is mid-April.

April Events

We have the “Pawsitive Solutions Roadshow” – Dog Training for the 21st Century tomorrow (Saturday 21st April) in the courtyard. 10.30am till 3pm. Take a look at: http://www.facebook.com/PawsitiveSolutionsRoadshow for more information. ”There will be demonstrations of some training commands at 11.30am and of the relatively new sport of Rally O at 1.30pm.”

Next Wednesday (25th April) we have a Hanging Basket Workshop from 9am till 11am. If you want spectular flower arrangements in your garden this spring sign up for our hanging basket workshop session where we’ll be designing stunning hanging baskets for your dream garden. Roll up your sleeves and join us for 2 hours of planting, top gardening advice and relaxation. For more information see: http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/hanging-basket-workshop/

Joey the new male addition to my family of Beef Shorthorns

"Joey the new male addition to my family of Beef Shorthorns"

We have got more plants in than ever, would be great to see you, loads of smiles and good plant advice.

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Beautiful Plants, Bonsai Trees and 21st Century Dog Training in Towcester on 21st April

As you would expect we are stuffed to the gunnels with beautiful plants, “this is our time”!

Jo, Brian, Caroline and myself are always on hand to give you help and advice on our huge array of stock.

We have got big and small of almost every plant. For the Bonsai enthusiasts we have as you have probably seen a huge great Japanese Bonsai Ilex crenata, well now we have 2 more smaller, more affordable additions.

New Bonsai Trees In Stock

"New Bonsai Trees In Stock"

Growing veg is hugely therapeutic and gastronomically rewarding. Now is the time to sow a huge variety of seeds for veg and flowers, in the ground, propagator or small pots. We can advise there is also a lot of information on the seed packets.

Ok we have had a drop of rain but not too much, I know I keep banging on about it but a mulch of bark, peat, compost, grass clippings over the shrub bed will stop the sun evaporating the moisture and it will help keep the weeds at bay.

The Café team are working flat out to keep up with the demand for their lovely food and smiley faces.

The Café Team

"The Café Team"

On Saturday 21st April 10.30am – 3.00pm there will be a “Pawsitive Solutions Roadshow” in our Courtyard Dog training for the 21st Century. Info will be on our website.

Keep an eye on our website for plant and furniture offers. www.bellplantation.co.uk

Have a great week

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Fantastic New Plants and Easter Gifts

Hi

What a change from last week! Suddenly we are in to protecting the growth made by tender plants. Cover up, wrap up tender plants with fleece, bubble wrap or up turned pots, another alternative is to bring plants under cover if possible. We have probably had 15 deliveries of fantastic new plants for the Easter weekend mainly from British Growers, with minus 5 degrees forecast for tonight it’s a job to know where to put them all.

There is still plenty of time to sow seeds, potatoes, corms and tubers for cropping and cutting this year.

With the hose pipe ban nearly in place water butts have been flying out the door, we have still got 20 – 30 butts in store. Micro irrigation systems and leaky pipes are sometimes allowed within the ban as you know we stock Gardena.

Vegetarian Pig

"Vegetarian Pig"

The majority of our Chickens are reared in Totnes in Devon. Due to the fuel problem there has been no white diesel in the West Country so we have struggled to get our Fowl. We had 100 pullets delivered this week and have another 200 due in next week.

The shop looks great very Easter orientated, chickens bunnies and guess what no chocolate only hot stuff in the Café.

Easter Gifts

"Easter Gifts"

We have got some great new businesses moving to the site, hopefully opening before the end of April.

I’ll keep you posted

 

Have a lovely Easter, relax and enjoy the Great Outdoors

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Grow Your Own Veggies – Top tips for the dry weather

I have to keep reminding myself that it still only March! The unseasonal weather is giving us the feeling of May, June!

Resident Nesting Robin

"Our Resident Nesting Robin"

Remember there is still a lot of time for frost, potentially another 5-6 weeks. Keep all your tender plants covered at night. When your early potatoes pop their heads through the ground, put an upturned flower pot over them for the night or cover them with fleece, or use an old fashion garden cloche to cover all your veg. Sowing seeds under a small polythene tunnel creates a great micro climate for the plants to grow quickly and free from frost.

Gro Tunnel

"Gro Tunnel"

Time to plant some Dahlia tubers and Gladioli corms to give you some summer and early autumn colour.

I know I keep banging on about it but with so little rain, retaining moisture in the soil is incredibly important. Put organic matter over your boarders to keep in the moisture. Lawn clippings, compost from your bin, bark mulch will all do the job. When you water a mulched shrub bed the water will be retained for much longer.

With the looming hosepipe ban apparently you can fill your water butt/container with a hose pipe and you can use a micro irrigation system but you can’t use the hose pipe directly on your Garden. Store your own water.

As usual we are stuffed to the gunnels with great plants and goodies “For the love of the great outdoors”

Garden Shop In Glasshouse

"Garden Shop In Glasshouse"

Easter egg hunt in progress, bring the children along.

Any advice needed just give us a call .

Management Meeting

Management Meeting

Have a great week

Regards

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Spring Customer Evening This Thursday!

Thursday 29th March 6pm – 9pm

Celebrate the arrival of spring with us and get 10% off everything* for one evening only.

All your favourites for less including: herborium plants, gifts section, poultry centre and much more!

Join us at the Plantation for an evening of relaxation and bargain hunting!

http://www.bellplantation.co.uk/spring-customer-evening/

*(excludes all current offers and discounts)

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

New Arrivals: Piglets! Plus: Spring Gardening Tips and Tricks.

Sheena and I were away last week, thank you Jooles for doing the Blog.

How things change in a week away. Herbaceous growing fast, soon be time to think about getting some support up for it to grow through.

Don’t be too hasty in getting rid of frost damaged plants e.g. Ceanothus, Eucalyptus, Pittosporum they may shoot from the bottom. If they do shoot just cut off the dead top bits. It’s worth waiting at least another month to see what happens.

Raise the blade on your mower for the first couple of cuts, this will save you a lot of hard work and your mower. A few days after the first cut it is worth putting on some weed and feed. If you get it on early the April showers (if we get any, let’s hope we do!) will wash the feed into the soil to enable the roots to get it. Lawn care really is so easy to do yourself, ask us for good sound advice (as always).

Countrywide have moved out! Good luck to them! We have loads of interest from new businesses in the space they are leaving behind. We will get them occupied as soon as we can.

As usual we have loads of great stuff here for you to look at, the plants look amazing and great value. (that’s my only commercial plug).

Primula March 2012

Plough the fields and scatter

Have a good week enjoy the “Great Outdoors”

Regards

Ashley

 

P.S. As promised the photo shoot of the new arrivals!

Piglets March 2012

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk

Plenty of Primula Colour

Plenty of Primula Colour

"Plenty of Primula Colour"

I got into trouble last week for posting pictures of Sheena so I’ll have to give that a break for a week or two, then I’ll catch her out again.

All you dog walkers will be pleased to know that the sheep have gone from the field so feel free to let your dog’s off the lead. I suppose the muck is still a bit ripe if your dog has the urge to roll in it, best wait until it has rained.

If you have rhubarb pop a bucket over the top or buy a terracotta rhubarb forcer! This will encourage some lovely early crop able sweet growth, you only need a couple of weeks growth for a good crop from an old root.

Get some fertiliser on the garden phosphates and potash take longer to get through the soil to the roots than nitrogen, so best to get it on earlier so that the rain (if we have any) washes it through the soil to where it is needed.

We have installed 4 extra pens for our chickens, we now have 350 pullets in stock which arrived this week.

We are also getting some new piglets, which arrive before this weekend.

Jo our resident plant expert with fresh new herbs

"Jo our resident plant expert with fresh new herbs"

Have a good Gardening week

Best wishes

Ashley

www.bellplantation.co.uk | www.poultrycentre.co.uk