Tips for growing tomatoes Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops to grow and from May onwards conditions are usually just right for them. Whether you’re growing them in a greenhouse, polytunnel, or outdoors, success comes down to warmth, light and consistent care. Young tomato plants can be planted out once the risk of…
May in the garden: growing & caring tips May is one of the most exciting gardening months. With longer days, warmer soil and the risk of frost fading, it’s a time of rapid growth. Jobs to do in the garden now May is ideal for planting summer bedding such as petunias, begonias and geraniums. Harden…
Our BoT for March shows ‘robust sales’ Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) for March out today shows members recorded ‘robust sales’ and a positive year‑to‑date performance (April 21, 2026). The food hall/farm shop category topped the figures at +5.37%, followed by catering at +3.89% when compared with the same month in 2025. Variable weather Peter…
Members – join our business rates & lobbying government webinar We’re hosting a free members’ webinar examining the latest changes to business rates and the industry’s ongoing engagement with the Government. The session on April 24 at 3pm will provide insight into the financial pressures facing garden centres and associates and highlight current lobbying efforts…
Bag yourself some salad Bags of salad leaves ready-to-use are some of the first things you see in the supermarket fruit and veg sections when you stroll in – they are there all year round. Sow & grow your own But now is the perfect time to sow and grow your own salad leaves such…
GROW’s new cyber security course launched as e‑learning platform hits 99‑courses Today we’ve unveiled a new cyber security course on our award‑winning Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) e‑learning platform (March 30, 2026). This marks the 99th course to be added to GROW, which is accessible to both our members and those in the Horticultural Trades…
The moon and potato planting Gardening is rich with time‑honoured traditions and steeped in folklore, writes GCA CEO and horticulturalist, Peter Burks. One of these is that seed potatoes should be planted on Good Friday. Devil isn’t at work I always try to find the scientific reason behind such rules and, despite being told by…
April gardening jobs checklist April is one of the most exciting months in our gardening calendar. With longer days, warmer soil and plants bursting into life, it’s the perfect time to get stuck into the key jobs that will set your garden up for the months ahead. While spring is now well underway, frosts remain…
Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) February figures released today show a ‘very encouraging month’ despite the ‘poor weather’ (March 20, 2026). More than two thirds of the categories recorded by our garden centre members, were up when compared to the same month in 2025 with clothing recording +10.48% %, followed by food hall/farm shop in…
Inspiring the next generation Following our fantastic webinar last Tuesday featuring inspiring presentations from Neil Grant for the Horticultural Trades’ Association (HTA), The Children’s Gardening Coach, Lee Connelly and Linda Petrons from Greenfingers – we’re delighted to share a wonderful opportunity exclusively for our garden centre members. A lifelong love of gardening The session highlighted…