BBC Gardeners' World May 2021

Warming rays of spring sunshine and the earliest shoots of summer have never felt more welcome than now. While we’ve not yet felt the last nip of frost, there’s an energy in the air and coming up through the ground that’s irresistible. April into May is the most exciting time to garden – and even a few minutes spent now reaps rewards in the months to come. But where to start? We’ve all the reminders you need to stay on track in our What To Do Now section, ideas for every size of plot plus free seeds to sow now. And with more of us now growing in small spaces, we’ve launched a Creative Containers masterclass – and it’s free for you. But we also take time, in this issue, to slow…

Win… Transform your garden with an 8ft x 10ft Rhino greenhouse – bags of space to grow. Turn to p71 for your chance to win, in our exclusive competition worth £4,250 Join us… Discover the gardens of the Cotswolds this September, on our bespoke reader holiday. Enjoy a private tour and dinner at Highgrove, where you’ll be joined by Alan Titchmarsh. See p68 Learn… Take your containers to the next level with our Creative Containers Masterclass, online. Worth £15, it’s available to watch for FREE at any time for all readers of this issue – see p120 Listen… Season 2 of our podcast is out now, with lively chat from Adam Frost, Chris Packham, Monty, Alan and more. Find them on Apple, Spotify and gardenersworld. com/podcast Save even more... Subscribe today at £26 for six issues and receive…

Can’t locate your card? It’s printed inside the coverflap at the front of your 2 for 1 Guide . Simply cut it out and enjoy unlimited use until April 2022. Check before you travel We’ve endeavoured to bring you the most up-to-date information available at the time of going to press. However, as the gardens’ circumstances may change during the year, we recommend that you always check with the gardens before travelling. Also, in many cases, booking may be required or recommended. You’ll find the gardens’ websites in the 2 for 1 Guide , as well as in our online directory at gardenersworld.com/ gardens. If you can’t find the information you want, then phone the garden direct. Stay up to date Register for our 2 for 1 Gardens Newsletter at gardenersworld. com/gardens and you’ll get…

There’s no better year to enjoy 2 for 1 entry to some of the greatest gardens in the world. They’re the perfect places to get outside, soak up some fresh air, and spend precious time with friends and family – and all in a safe and carefully managed way. Our 360 gardens offer something for everyone, so if you’re a wildlife lover, flower fanatic or veg-growing enthusiast you’ll find lots of gardens to tickle your fancy in our nationwide selection. There’s something for all generations too, so look out for gardens with family-friendly attractions for that ideal staycation day trip. You can use your 2 for 1 Card as many times as you like, so start your garden visiting year now. Enjoy these special places with your loved ones, and share your…

“You are as welcome as the flowers in May”Charles Macklin STAR OF THE MONTH Digitalis purpurea ‘Pam’s Choice’ One of the most enchanting sights of summer is to see a fuzzy bee bottom waggling away as the owner of said bottom gets stuck right into the deep-pocketed flower of a foxglove. We major on them in our garden (both bees and foxgloves), mostly because once you plant one then they will be with you forever, due to their rather libertine attitude to self-seeding. Every year they pop up in unexpected places and we let them do their thing because we know that wherever they are they will look wonderful and draw the wildlife in from far and wide. Best in partial shade. Allow to self-seed or sow in seedtrays in late spring or early…

So many different varieties of tulip have been grown in Britain over the years – more than 2,500, according to the RHS – that they’ve been divided into 15 groups. That’s all very well if you can remember what the groups are, but Group 5 is not difficult to get right – the Single Late Group. Distinguished from the Single Early Group by one obvious feature, these are the classic tulips of spring bedding displays, rising above the wallflowers and forget-me-nots to give us the dependable colour once so familiar in formal seaside displays and city parks. These classic combinations are beautiful when scaled down for containers. Add compost to the container first, then a pack of 10 white ‘Maureen’ tulip bulbs, spaced out evenly. Then a little more compost, then three…