Gardening Jobs For Your Allotment or Smallholding This October
It can be said that a gardener’s work is never done and this phrase is never truer than in the month of October. Before the clocks go back and our daylight hours get ever shorter, now is the ideal time to get as many jobs done in the allotment plot, smallholding or vegetable patch as possible.
Whilst many of our crops have now finished and started to die back after their growing season, we still have plenty of vegetables left to harvest. We also have an ever-increasing list of vegetables which we would like to get in the ground before winter arrives. Read on for what we will be up to in our vegetable patches over the coming weeks.

Vegetables to Harvest This Month
Amazingly we still have a few runner beans and courgettes left on our plants to pick. We will be removing the last of each crop and enjoying them over the next few weeks.

We will also be busy digging up the last of our maincrop potatoes and making sure that they are dried off...

Happy, Healthy Houseplants All Year Round
Were you one of the many people who filled their house with plants during the pandemic lockdowns?
The last few years saw a surge of interest in houseplants which shows no signs of slowing down for 2023. For many people, the interest started during the Covid-19 pandemic as they looked for ways to brighten up their home and boost their mood whilst being stuck inside for most of the day. Others have been drawn to the trend for bringing the outside in, especially if they don’t have their own garden or outdoor space to cultivate.  

Houseplants are great for your health
They don’t just look good, but they can also help with your physical and mental wellbeing.There have been various studies conducted over the last few years which have found that adding greenery to your home can help to reduce stress, improve your mental health, improve concentration levels and much more. Not only that, but many plants even have properties that help improve the air quality in your home!

How to care for your houseplants
When adding plants to your home, it is important to remember that as well as making sure they get enough light and water, they will also need nutrients to remain healthy. It’s not one size fits all unfortunately! Be sure to read the plant care labels that come with your plants to make sure you are putting them in the right environment to thrive. Some houseplants will love a sunny windowsill, whilst others thrive in the shade. Many will also have very different needs when it comes to humidity and watering.

We’ve got just what you need
Some of our most popular houseplant products include:

New to myproductstore: The My Farm Range
The My Farm range has been specially created for fruit and vegetable growers such as allotment holders, smallholders, market gardeners and professional contractors. Each product has been designed to solve your common growing problems and help you to improve both the health, quality and yield of your fruit and vegetables.
To help you to get the best growing results, we asked the My Farm technical team to share their hints and tips for how to use the following products in the range:

Gardening Tips for Late Summer
Depending on how green-fingered you are, at this time of year your garden might be experiencing a late-summer drop in colour. The combination of the July heatwave and severe lack of rain in many areas is not a good combination for many traditional British gardens. But there’s no need to threat, there are plenty of things you can do to bring your garden back to life.

The Importance of Deadheading
Regular removal of dead flower heads can help to prolong the life of your plants. Most of our common British plants such as geraniums, roses, salvias and lavender will produce more than one batch of flowers throughout the growing season. However, they will only continue to flower if you remove the dead flower heads. If you don’t regularly cut them back, then the plant will start to produce seed heads, which whilst still adding interest, won’t add much colour to your garden.
Deadheading doesn’t have to be too time consuming either. You will be amazed at how much you can achieve with just half an hour of walking round your garden with a pair of secateurs.

Feed Your Plants
As well as ensuring your plants are getting enough water, especially during the summer months, you should also continue to feed your plants on a regular basis to ensure they get all the vital nutrients they need to remain healthy. This is particularly important if you have lots of pots and containers which you planted up at the beginning of the summer. Our ecofective Organic Pour and Feed is suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants and is perfect for containers and hanging baskets.

Be Creative With Pots and Containers
At this time of year you might have gaps appearing in your flower beds as single...

How to Create a Bee Friendly Garden
Bees are one of the most important pollinators in our gardens, therefore it is vital that we provide as many plants as possible to help look after them. You don’t need to have a large garden to provide flowers for bees to feed on. There are plenty of plants which will grow happily in window boxes, hanging baskets or containers. So whether you live in a house or flat, we can all do our bit to help the bees.

Why do bees need our help?
Bumblebee populations have been in decline for a number of years due to loss of habitat as a result of changing farming practices; the development of land for housing and road verges being mowed frequently.
As bees are amazing pollinators, it is vital we do all we can to provide as much food for them as possible. Many varieties of fruit and vegetables such as strawberries, apples, raspberries, broad beans, peas and courgettes rely on bees for pollination. If bee populations decline then growers will have to rely on other methods of pollination which will increase the costs of these foods.

What can we do to help bees?
Did you know that there are 24 species of bumble bee in the UK and only 1 species of honeybee? Bumblebees can feed from a variety of different flowers as they have varying tongue lengths, whereas honeybees have short tongues so prefer open flowers.
To help provide enough nectar and pollen for all bees to remain happy and healthy, it is important to grow as many different types of plants as possible.

Perfect Plants for Pollinators
If you’re looking for some gardening inspiration to encourage more bees into your garden, then here are some easy bee friendly flowers for you to try:

• Erysimum...

How To Be A More Sustainable Gardener
Let’s talk about plastic waste. Since the UK government introduced a levy on plastic bags back in 2015, many of us have got in the habit of bringing reusable bags with us when we shop. You might also bring your own reusable mug for your takeaway coffee or carry your own water bottle when you’re out and about. However, do you think about your plastic use or carbon footprint when you’re working in your garden or allotment?

How to be more eco-friendly in your garden:

1. Choose British!
When you’re shopping for plants, try to choose plants which have been grown in Britain rather than imported from abroad. This is particularly important if you’re buying large shrubs or trees as they have been known to carry pests and diseases into the country which could harm native species.

2. Go Organic
Check the packaging on any plant feeds or bug sprays before buying them - make sure you are only choosing products which are free of harmful chemicals and fertilisers. Where possible buy organic products and make sure the packaging can be easily recycled. All of the products in our ecofective range come in recycled and recyclable packaging.

June is Perennial Gardening Month
In this month’s blog we will be focussing on all things perennial. A perennial plant (or shrub) is one which grows for at least two years, with most of them flowering between spring - autumn. Although there are some winter flowering varieties such as Hellebores, Winter Jasmine and Snowdrops.
As the spring bulbs die back, now is the perfect time for the perennials in your garden to shine. You might not realise it, but many of the plants that form the backbone of your garden at this time of year fall into the perennial category such as roses, poppies, dahlias and lavender.

Following on from last month’s National Garden Month, May is National BBQ month. If you spent April cleaning your furniture and feeding your plants, then this month you might be ready to tackle some of the problematic areas of your garden making sure it’s the perfect spot to host a BBQ.

This month at myproductstore we’ve been celebrating National Garden Month. Running throughout April, National Garden Month aims to encourage you to get outside and enjoy using your garden. If your garden is feeling a bit neglected following the long, wet winter months, then we have a range of products to help get things back on track. Is your path, patio or decking in desperate need of some TLC? Our Ecofective Natural, Path, Patio and Decking Cleaner Concentrate is just the product to bring these areas back to their best again. Simply dilute with hot water, apply using a watering can, scrub into the area and then rinse off after 5 minutes, leaving you with a grime, dirt and algae free patio or deck! The cleaner is also antibacterial and will remove 99.999% of bacteria. Even better, because it is part of our ecofective range, the cleaner is safe to use around children and pets.