Monthly Q&A - November 2023

“Chrysanthemums do have an image problem,” says Judy Barker, holder of the National Collection of winter-hardy chrysanthemums. A far cry from the fussy chrysanthemums that grace the benches of horticultural shows, the plants Judy recommends are easy to grow, and come in a great colour range of autumnal yellows, oranges, reds and russets, as well as vibrant pinks, sunny yellows and pure, brilliant white. They are an asset in the border and a boon to pollinating insects, but the key is plant choice. “If you want good border chrysanthemums, you have to pick plants that are fully winter hardy,” Judy says.

Rob Last

Eileen wins the holiday of a lifetime, including a luxury one-night stay at Middle Eight, a chic hotel set in bustling Covent Garden, whose streets are lined with some of the capital’s best shops and restaurants, and a night at The Guardsman, an exclusive boutique hotel just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.

Fall Garden Tour at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC.

Mid and late fall is not an ideal time for propagation unless you are in a frost-free region with a warm, arid, or tropical climate (USDA Zones 9 to 11); for such a climate, this is an ideal time to grow succulents and houseplants cuttings.

It's clear that there are many interior design trends that stand the test of time and show up year after year, but there are many that don't. With the year coming to an end, we asked a handful of interior pros which trends they want to say goodbye to in 2024—and their answers might surprise you. Our biggest takeaways? Excessive neutrals and minimalism are out.

I can’t deny that some of the winter-hardy plants are far more abundant grown under glass, so if you have a coldframe, greenhouse, polytunnel or even a series of glass or plastic cloches, do use them. We grow a mix of salads and hardy annual herbs in our glasshouse here, but certainly in Sussex this protection is not essential. The most cold-resistant of these greens, such as parsley, mizuna, mustard ‘Red Giant’ and American land cress, may falter under snow or after several successive days of frost, but even without a cover, they won’t die. They seem to hibernate, and then as soon as there’s a bit of sun or a general thaw they come back to life. 

Growth may be slowing, but this month still offers plenty of opportunities to maximise the possibilities of winter and get ahead for spring. November is a month for protection, ensuring that rain and frost don’t wreck havoc.

Get ready to turn your backyard into a lush oasis with the hottest garden trends and Backyard Garden Ideas for 2023! From vertical gardens to low-maintenance succulents, we’ve got everything you need to create the ultimate backyard retreat.

Zack Snipes

The 11th month of the year may seem like an unusual time for gardening in some regions. Still, getting your hands in the soil and preparing for the upcoming seasons is a chance you must not miss! Depending on your USDA hardiness zones, here are the best Perennials You Should Plant in November!

If 2022 started the rise of the green kitchen, then a recent report by Living Spaces can officially credit 2023 as the year of the green living room.