Issue 16Editor's Welcome

EDITOR'S WELCOME
Image with black borderIt might not feel like it right now but spring is most definitely round the corner, just look down and you'll see those little bulbs starting to burst through the soil.
Isn't it exciting to think that a whole new gardening year lies before us? And what an exciting year it looks to be from The Caley Spring Show in April, to Scone Palace Garden Fair in June - be sure to follow our Instagram page for a ticket giveaway for Scone Palace Garden Fair in time for St. Valentine's Day! Have you seen the details for the Scottish Garden Design Competition, open to all?
We are thrilled to welcome YouTube superstar Eli Appleby-Donald, to the Scotland Grows family - a great Scottish gardener who explains all she grows from her East Lothian garden with simplicity and wit. She is going to make some exclusive content for Scotland Grows readers which will be available right here inside this issue. In this first video she looks at the RHS hardiness ratings, and how that can help you decide which plants in your garden are the wimpy ones, and which ones will stand up to the Scottish weather.
We are also delighted to welcome Katrina and Clayton Gelderbloem to the pages of Scotland Grows magazine as new columnists in this issue (you may have seen them in the last series of 'Beechgrove). Living with their family in East Ayrshire, Katrina and Clayton practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing and repurposing waste whenever they can, and in their first column with us they show us how they get started seed sowing with things reused from around the house.
We have loads of help in this issue for beginner gardeners from Neil White's guide on how to get started with growing your own veg, to understanding plant names and how they help us care for our plants.
Lynn Hill finishes her two part garden design special, and Katie Reynolds advises on designing your garden with wildlife in mind - both designers offering invaluable advice for your own plot of green space.
There is lots of practical advice in this issue from how to prune hydrangeas and divide grasses, to growing radishes, broad beans, and blueberries in Scotland, as well as a trip to a new allotment site in North Lanarkshire celebrating its first successful growing year.
If you are a new reader of Scotland Grows magazine, keen to read more on gardening and growing in our unique, and often diverse, climate, then rest assured you have found a home in Scotland Grows which features real Scottish gardeners, tending to Scottish gardens and allotments, and showing you what grows well in them - we hope you find Issue 16 informative and inspirational as we welcome in a whole new gardening year!
M.T. O’DonnellEditor
Got thoughts on how we should evolve Scotland Grows magazine? Reach out by email or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! We also have a private Facebook Group for our readers so do come and join us there - we would love to hear from you!Scotland GrowsNavigationEditor's WelcomeContentsWhat's Gorgeous in the Garden?Scone Palace Garden Fair Ticket LinkThe Beauty of Good DesignLynn Hill Garden DesignA Pop of PrimulaDesign Your Garden For WildlifePrune for Drab to Fab Hydrangea BloomsWhich Plants are Wimps in the Garden?Scotland Grows TestimonialScottish Garden Design CompetitionGet Ready for Spring BloomsWhat's in a Plant Name?Grow Your BusinessDivide Ornamental GrassesThe Strength of AllotmentsFeature Your GardenThe Starter’s Guide to Growing VegResults with RadishSeed Sowing Without Fancy EquipmentScotland Grows Reader TestimonialGrow a BeanstalkThe Indonesian CookPlant a SuperfruitSupport Well-Being Through GardeningFractal FascinationGardening is Good for your Mental HealthCome and Chat about PlantsListen to Your BodyScotland Grows HoodiesTop 5 Houseplants for the BathroomScotland Grows WebsiteJobs AheadWhat's On In ScotlandIn Defence of the DandelionNext IssueArchives