Originating from Central and South America, sweet potatoes are large, starchy, sweet-tasting tubers packed with goodness. High in fibre, vitamins and minerals yet low in calories, the sweet potato is an unsung superfood that will happily thrive in the UK climate.  Here, experienced allotment grower Lee Senior generously shares practical tips to help you grow these attractive, nutrient-rich vegetables at home. Browse our full range of sweet potatoes if you’re tempted to have a go. What is a sweet potato?  Unlike regular potatoes that belong to the nightshade family, sweet potato plant ..read more

Plants are like people, they prefer good company, and companion planting is simply about growing the right plants beside one another so that each benefits from its neighbour. We asked experienced allotment grower, Lee Senior, for his top tips on what to grow with your vegetable plants to keep pests at bay. Here’s his expert advice. This article was reviewed by the Suttons horticultural team and updated on 2 April 2024. How does companion planting work? Companion planting works in several ways: Masking: Pests like carrot fly rely on smell to find their host plant. Some companion plants help to ..read more

The boom in English sparkling wines is proof that it’s perfectly possible to successfully grow grapes in the UK. Whether growing them outdoors, in the greenhouse or even in patio containers, there are plenty of varieties adapted to suit our colder climate. Not only do grape vines produce delicious fruit, but they also make attractive climbing plants for walls, arbours and trellis – their large, palmate leaves lend shade to sunny pergolas and provide attractive autumn colour.  Viticulture can be a complex subject, but lots of sun and regular pruning is the key to success. Here, our horticu ..read more

To enter, simply click on the buttons below and follow the instructions. Increase your chances of winning by completing all of the entry methods. Suttons Grape Giveaway – March 2024 Thank you for entering and good luck!  One lucky winner will receive Suttons’ brand new Grape ‘Pixie’ Collection consisting of three potted mini grape plants – perfect for preserves, cordials and juices! Prize includes: Grape Pixie ‘Pinot Noir’ Grape Pixie ‘Cabernet Franc’ Grape Pixie ‘Riesling’ Keep an eye out for an email from blog@suttons.co.uk just after the closing date. In the meantime, find out how to ..read more

You can plant dahlia tubers or grow them from seed, but if you want to know how to grow dazzling dahlias, start with this collection of carefully curated content from the internet. Our comprehensive guide is filled with tips and tricks from those who know dahlias best – experienced garden bloggers and dahlia enthusiasts. Learn the basics from these experts and you’ll soon be growing award-winning dahlias in your own garden or allotment. This article was originally published on 15 February 2021 and reviewed by the Suttons horticultural team and updated on 29 February 2024. Contents Best advice ..read more

Let’s talk about berries and how to grow them. We’ve collected a wealth of helpful tips courtesy of bloggers, YouTubers and Instagrammers who are happy to share their knowledge of soft fruit plants. Their excellent advice will help you grow bumper crops of the most delicious soft fruit you’ve ever tasted, including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and gooseberries. This article was reviewed by the Suttons horticultural team and updated on 21 February 2024. Contents:  Best general advice on growing soft fruit Best advice on growing blackberries Best advice on growing b ..read more

Raising flowers from seed is a low-cost way to fill your garden with beautiful blooms, and many flower seeds can simply be sprinkled straight onto the ground where you want them to grow.  Armed with some top tips from our team, and a selection of 10 easy flower seeds to direct sow, your patio pots and garden borders will be bursting with blooms before you know it. When is the best time to direct sow flower seeds? The best time to sow flower seed outdoors is spring, when the days are lengthening and warming up. You can usually start direct sowing your hardy annual flower seeds from late Ma ..read more

Author: Rob Smith Seeds are crucial to every gardener’s successful growing journey – whether that’s fruit, vegetables or flowers. There are two main categories of seeds: F1 hybrid and open-pollinated (OP). In this article, horticultural expert Rob Smith explains the main differences, along with advice on which type is best suited to your purposes. Browse our full range of vegetable seeds and enjoy our handpicked collection of flower seeds for F1 and OP varieties. What are F1 hybrid seeds? This F1 variety of tomatoes produces high yields of flavoursome fruits Image: Tomato Seeds – ‘F1 Sweet Mil ..read more

Sowing onion seeds or growing your own from onion sets is relatively easy and incredibly satisfying. Here, we’ve brought together the best onion-growing content from the internet, including articles, videos and instagram posts to help you plant, care for and harvest onions at home. Whether you want to cultivate brown, red, salad, pickling or exhibition-sized onions, here are some expert tips to ensure you succeed.  This article was reviewed by the Suttons horticultural team and updated on 19 Feb 2024. Contents Best advice on growing onions from sets Best advice on growing onions from see ..read more

Branded Garden Products (BGP) is excited to announce that it has become a Planet Mark Certified organisation – a reward for its commitment and efforts towards combatting climate change. By reporting its carbon footprint for the period 1st September 2022–31st August 2023 and engaging its stakeholders, BGP is committed to significantly reducing its carbon emissions annually as part of the global movement towards a net-zero future. Through Planet Mark Business Certification, BGP is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 2.5% annually, targeting a 5% reduction. On average, certified busines ..read more