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With a massive skills gap in horticulture, the search to find the next generation of gardeners is on as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) launches its School Gardeners of the Year 2019 competition.

A favourite in the flower garden, as a companion plant and increasingly as an edible one … 2019 has been designated the Year of the Nasturtium.

I’m no lover of hot chillies but my stepson Ali must have no tastebuds left. He is obsessed and his fiery culinary creations have been known to make his friends cry and ruin their digestive tracts.

Do you have any photos of your family’s wartime vegetable gardens or allotments?

Do you have any photos of your family’s wartime vegetable gardens or allotments?

It’s sure to get the thumbs up from Bugs Bunny … 2019 has been designated the Year of the Carrot, but there’s more to this vegetable than its orange colour.

If the weather’s getting you down, remember gardening’s always about looking ahead – in this case, to new season vegetable crops.

I like nothing better than trawling through the new seed catalogues picking out what to grow next year – but the choice can be overwhelming.

More than six million poinsettias are sold every year in the UK, most to die a slow, horrible death, due to unscrupulous retailers.

Here’s the last instalment of gardening gifts for Christmas – presents for indoor gardeners.

It may be cold outside but Christmas gifts are an ideal way to get children into gardening – and you don’t have to spend a fortune either.

This is the second in my series of the best gifts to buy for your gardening loved ones - This week, I focus on main presents, from £10 to £50.

Gardeners from the region took home a top prize and a haul of medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Britain in Bloom awards ceremony in Belfast.

I’m not a huge fan of US-style pumpkins, which have killed off our traditional North East turnips when it comes to Halloween – which are a nightmare to carve.

There’s a plant for every occasion and a few that reflect the darker undertones of Halloween.

If you have a greenhouse, or any structure that you’re going to be overwintering plants in, your number one priority at this time is making sure it’s clean.

A top clematis breeder has unveiled four new varieties, which will be launched at the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

It’s World Animal Plant Day on October 4, and with the fashion for houseplants it seems logical to pick out varieties that both owners and pets will get along with.