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NEWS! UNWINS seeds are launching FORTY TWO brand new seed varieties for the 2025-2026 season.
These include a new ‘inspired to grow’ series plus compact veg which thrive in containers and baskets, suitable for small spaces like windowsills.
There’s a ‘Pollinator Playground’ series, which benefits wildlife, and a cut flower collection.
Arty Speroni, Brand Manager, at Unwins, commented: “We want to make growing from seed fun, accessible, and inspiring for everyone. These new collections are designed to spark ideas, whether you’ve got a big garden, a balcony, or just a sunny windowsill – and to help every gardener feel the joy of growing something new.” For more information visit www.unwins.co.uk
TOP TIP! Gardening author Jean Vernon is urging you not to cut back your ivy too much this winter – as it’s vital for pollinators.
She told me: “Wild ivy is often regarded as a problem when in fact it is a vital food plant for many of our autumn active pollinators.
“When it’s in flower, ivy provides up to 90 per cent of nectar and pollen needed for all insects during autumn and winter. It’s ideal for short tongued pollinators like solitary bees, hoverflies, wasps, hornets and other flies.
“The caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly eat ivy plants. Even the black berries are eaten by blackbirds and thrushes and other wild birds.
She added “Hellebores are another power plant for pollinators. One hellebore flower has
as much nectar as 157 snowdrops.
“Snowdrops are great as they flower early, but if you’ve only got a balcony or a tiny garden you need to choose plants that earn their space. As long as the flowers are not fully double, then the hanging hellebore heads are like living umbrellas and will feed winter and early spring
pollinators.
Other great plants include Mahonia, Rosemary, winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima),
winter flowering clematis and viburnums. And it’s a great time to plant crocus and grape hyacinths for early emerging queen bumblebees.”
TOP TIP! If you haven’t already – give your greenhouse a bit of a clean this week. Although it’s been rather warm for November this week – at least down south – frosts will come – so you need a clean, pest and disease-free place to overwinter your more tender plants.
Tori Tomlin, director of White Cottage Greenhouses, told Sun Gardening: “Empty it as much as you can and then use soft brushes alongside a hose or jet wash to clean everything inside and out.
“A rag wrapped around a narrow cane makes the perfect tool for getting into the nooks and crannies that moss and mould can build up in.
“Keeping the glass clean, gutters free of debris and disinfecting floors, staging, shelving and equipment will minimise pests and diseases.
“Tender begonias and pelargoniums, and even some tender fuchsias, can be overwintered in a cold greenhouse.”
WIN! Get cosy with HerQs new smokeless firepits – and one lucky Sun Gardening reader can win a ‘Blaze’ pit – worth £239.99, which is suitable for 6–8 guests. To enter, head over to www.thesun.co.uk/HERQ or write to Sun HERQ competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. November 29, 2025. T&Cs apply
SAVE! Collect those leaves in a Bloomling.uk’s £34.50 pop up garden waste bag or go for B&Q’s £8 version.
PLANT OF THE WEEK! Skimmia Japonica – this evergreen shrub is hardy and pretty undemanding – and around this time of year has red flower buds that stay until they burst into white flowers in spring. Also great in shade and in containers.
JOB OF THE WEEK! Keep planting onion, garlic and shallot sets – and you can still plant tulip, daffodils, muscari and crocus bulbs, start pruning roses, tidy up your strawberry plants and if your apples have lost pretty much all of their leaves then you can prune them too.
