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  • Come Dine With Us – Herbs for the Home

    Herbs can be a chef’s best friend and can really make a difference to a dish.  They are quietly admired as versatile seasonings as well as offering great health benefits.  Now more of us are experimenting with them at home.  Arthurs Head Chef Thomas Williams shares some tasty ideas to use up easy to grow herbs.  Many of the plants featured can be seen growing in our new Market Garden…open now (in the glasshouse accessible from Arthurs Garden)

    Look out for these dishes on our specials board in Arthurs over the coming months or enjoy them at home!

  • Coolings Celebrates Third Place for ‘Best UK Plant Area’

    We are absolutely delighted to announce that at the annual GCA conference/awards last week (January 23rd 2019) we were awarded third place in the Destination Garden Centre category out of all the national finalists, making us the third best Plant Area to visit in the UK!

    Coolings Managing Director, Gary Carvosso adds “

    “For our plant area to be judged number three in the UK is very special.  Our seasonal, colour themed displays that start from the front door of our shop and continue through our 5 acres of plant area have been enjoyed by our customers and now by the GCA.  This award is testament to the continued hard work, passion and dedication of the entire Coolings team and it is a fantastic way to start 2019″.

    Although the freezing weather at the start of 2018 meant our plant production got off to a slow start, it didn’t manage to deter us from growing the majority of our overall impressive range and quality of plants ourselves, here at our on-site nursery at Rushmore Hill. We enjoyed creative plant displays throughout every season last year. Our hard work didn’t go unnoticed by our customers and by the Garden Centre Association (GCA).

    Back in spring 2018 Coolings, and the other GCA member garden centres received visits from GCA inspectors as part of a competition to inspire member garden centres (like us) to maintain best practice to our customers at all times within an inviting and attractive centre. We were judged on our excellent quality, presentation and overall range of plants available as well as the layout of our plant areas. Overall impression, access, use of demonstration areas were also looked at, as well as staff knowledge, customer care and service. Our hard work paid off as the Inspectors’ findings determined Coolings as one of the ten finalists!

    As one of the ten finalists, Coolings proceeded to go through to the autumn competition where we were visited again by GCA judge, Michael Cole, in September 2018. He evaluated how well we continued to promote and display plants during the autumn season. Highlights from our autumn GCA inspector visit included 85% score for our Bedding plants and Seasonal displays and a whopping 95% score for our ‘WOW’ factor and Customer Service!

    We are now delighted to announce that at annual GCA conference last month (January 2019) we were awarded third place (out of the ten finalists), in the Destination Garden Centre category, making us the third best Plant Area to visit in the UK!

  • Our Big FIVE Products

    With so many gardening products on the market, it’s hard to know what you need to ensure your plants thrive either planted in your beds and borders or in containers and hanging baskets.

    Unfortunately, we are not able control the weather to give your plants the best conditions but we do have a few tips and products to ensure you get the best from them. We’ve come up with five products
    that you should always have in your arsenal to help ensure your plants are well looked after…

    1. Vitax Q4
    It was originally developed for the commercial grower which is why we recommend it so highly with our experience in growing. It can be used on a wide range of crops and contains the vital plant foods and trace elements essential for vigorous plant growth, abundant flowering and production of fruit and vegetables. It is very easy to use as you just apply it evenly to the soil preferably when the soil is moist.  We stock it in a range of sizes from 900g up to 10kg.

    2. Coolings Professional Potting Compost
    This is the one we trust to use on our awardwinning nursery as it has been developed for commercial plant production. It is a top-quality compost with essential nutrients and trace elements which makes it an ideal growing media for healthy plants. In fact we use it to grow over a million plants every year! We trial it against other retail brands and it consistently comes out on top. Available in 35 litre and 60 litre bags.

    3. Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food
    Feeding growing plants is just as essential as watering them and helps them fight off pests and diseases. You will get much larger, healthier plants with greater blooms, bigger crops and beautiful plants to be proud of. It has a mix of 10 nutrients and is ideal for use all around the garden and even on houseplants. It’s one of the easiest ways to feed and water your garden especially when you use it with the Miracle-Gro feeder attached to your hosepipe. Available in 500g or 1kg sizes which make up to 40 or 80 watering cans of feed respectively.

    4. Smart Garden AquaGel
    This is a water absorbing crystal or hydrogel which should be mixed into compost before planting to absorb moisture. It slowly releases the moisture it contains back into the compost thus slowing down the drying out process compared to a compost which doesn’t contain it. Essential for use in pots, containers, hanging baskets or even dry soil in your beds and borders. We think it is so great we use it in all the spring & summer baskets and containers we produce. Available in 125g, 250g or 500g sizes.

    Osmocote Controlled Release Plant Food
    This is a controlled release fertiliser which can be used for all your plants and will help keep them fed for upto 6 months with only one application. A polymer coating made from resin and vegetable oil covers the small balls of fertiliser, called prills, these react
    to warmth and moisture, matching the release of nutrients to the growing season. It is used by professional growers throughout the world, including here on our own nursery to produce the plants you take home to your garden. Available in a 750g pack which is perfect for beds and borders or in 25 x 5g tablet form which is ideal for pots, containers and hanging baskets.

  • Smaller Plants for BIG Impact!

    Spring is the season for alpine plants! In the wild, as the snows of winter melt, these mountain dwellers burst into flower. For those looking to create permanent

    low maintenance garden planters, alpines are the perfect choice. Low growing and tough as old boots they are amongst the most forgiving of plants, especially good for the novice gardener.

    Our three simple tips for success are…

    1. Good drainage
    Alpine plants love free draining soil. We recommend planting in John Innis No. 2 Compost mixed with horticultural grit.

    2. Good light
    Pick a bright spot. In the wild there are no trees on mountain tops so these plants have evolved in the open.

    3. Top dress with gravel
    After planting cover the compost with a 1cm deep layer of gravel or grit. This looks attractive, prevents weeds and mimics natural conditions.

    Show them off in shallow planters
    Alpines look superb when grown in shallow planters. We have a lovely range available in store to choose from.

    Here are a few fantastic choices of alpine plants for you to try…

    Veronica ‘Georgia Blue’
    An amazing little shrubby plant with vivid blue flowers. Even when it is not flowering the evergreen, bronze foliage looks great all year.

    Iberis ‘Whiteout’
    Hardy little plant bearing flat heads of pretty flowers that will provide weeks of spring colour. Looks stunning trailing down a wall or in pots, and provides a beautiful splash of white to lift patches of darker trailing plants such as Aubrieta.

    Sempervivum varieties
    Garden succulents are now hugely fashionable. Plant a container of these and they will require zero attention as they literally look after themselves!

    Mazus ‘Albus’
    Lovely little ‘flat as a pancake’ plant studded with unusual white flowers.

    Erigeron ‘Sea of Blossom’
    An absolute stunner of a plant that will flower non-stop from spring until autumn.

  • Timeless Beauties

    Peony ‘Coral Sunset’
    Exceptionally beautiful, semi-double flowers. This early flowering peony gives spectacular pink/coral colour during May.

    Peony ‘Rome’
    With stunning sugar pink double flowers this free flowering plant is the perfect choice.

    Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’
    Named after a French stage actress from the late 19th century. This sweetly scented, pale pink peony will be the star of the show in any garden.

    Peony ‘Immaculee’
    Opening with a pink hue and fading to pure white, ‘Immaculee’ will make a fantastic addition to any sunny spot.

    Peony ‘Festiva Maxima’
    Sam’s pick of the bunch. A very fragrant, fully double peony. Exquisite white blooms with a smattering of crimson flecks appearing from early to midsummer.

    Peony ‘Big Ben’
    Becky’s favourite is the highly scented ‘Big Ben’. By no means a shy plant with its vibrant, deep fuchsia pink, fluffy flowers. Fast becoming a best seller.

     

  • Great Garden Additions!

    Here are seven great garden plants that you may not know and are worth making space for this spring.

    1. Clematis ‘Amber’
    This marvellous spring flowering clematis is so good it was voted RHS Chelsea plant of the year 2016 and is now available to gardeners via Coolings. Its flowers are amber yellow, with light pink tones on the back of the sepals, so if you want a climber with a difference this is well worth trying!

    2. Photinia ‘Carré Rouge’
    An outstanding evergreen garden plant which has smaller leaves than the familiar ‘Red Robin’, a more compact habit and stunning red new growth. Ideal as a single specimen or planted as a neat hedge, this is now a number one selling shrub in France and is just being discovered by gardeners here!

    3. Knautia ‘Melton Pastels’
    Beautiful Scabious-like insect friendly flowers in shades of pink and cerise from June to September, make these lovely hardy perennials deserving of a place in the border!

    4. Spiraea Walberton’s® Plumtastic
    A fantastic introduction for 2019! Stunning, plumb-coloured growth throughout spring is followed by deep cerise flower heads in early summer, then beautiful autumn foliage colour. Growing only 60cm tall it has a neat manageable habit, making this an ideal garden addition!

    5. Acanthus ‘Whitewater’
    This stunning herbaceous perennial is the perfect choice for those looking for an unusual architectural garden feature! Great in sun or shade.

    6. Gypsophila cerastioides
    This charming little ground cover plant from the Himalayan region is very hardy and semievergreen. Studded with attractive white flowers in spring, it is worth discovering!

    7. Lonicera ‘Rhubarb & Custard’®
    This recently introduced honeysuckle is the perfect choice if you want a fragrant, compact climber that is happy in sun or light shade, and which is attractive to beneficial insects. The unique colour is indeed rhubarb and custard!

  • Dazzling Dahlias DO NOT REPUBLISH DUE TO IMAGE COPYRIGHT

    There are 42 species of dahlia, but innumerable hybrids which are commonly grown as garden plants. The diversity in size and form of these popular Mexican flowering bushes make them very appealing, but very hard to record! The different types of dahlia are astounding and mind numbing in their excess, so the easiest way that expert growers keep track is to order the types of dahlia into groups determined by their size and form. We have a fantastic selection of tubers in store now.

    In this article we are going to concentrate on three of the popular shaped – pompon, decorative dinnerplate.

    Planting up
    Dahlias should not be planted outdoors until there’s no danger of frost. Start your dahlias in pots in March/April before transplanting them out into the garden. Giving them a head start means can start picking flowers in mid-July rather than early August. Dahlias deserve a prime location with all day sun in the best soil you can give them. Well-drained soil is essential. If it’s heavy and wet, it will stunt their growth and invite disease and insect problems.

    Watering and Fertilising
    All dahlias are hungry plants that respond well to fertiliser. Start feeding them at planting time by enriching the soil with compost and adding an all-purpose fertiliser such as Vitax Q4. When the plants are a foot tall, begin feeding them twice a month with a liquid all-purpose fertiliser such as Scotts Miracle Gro All Purpose liquid fertiliser.

    Staking
    Dahlias have somewhat brittle stems that can be damaged by heavy wind and rain. With dinnerplates, the weight of the big flower heads can be enough to pull over an entire plant. Unless you’re in a very sheltered location, it’s important to stake the plants early and tie them in as they grow.

    Picking and Deadheading
    The more you pick, the more you will get. Cut your dahlias as soon as they open and before the back petals begin to soften. Try to cut nice, long stems, even when it means removing buds. Over time, this encourages the plant to produce longer stems. Remove spent flowers in the same way, cutting a full stem rather than just nipping off the flower. Spent flowers collect moisture and become a home for pests and disease.

    As well as dahlia tubers we also have a fabulous range of summer flowering bulbs and corms in store now!

    Pompon Dahlias

    There’s something extra special about pompon dahlias,with their exquisite globe-shaped flowers. Pompon dahlias, as their name suggests, have pompon-like flowers – the petals curve inwards to create stunning, intricate blooms up to 5cm across and look as good in a vase as they do in the border. Our top picks are:

    Decorative Dahlias
    Decorative dalias are double dahlias with broad, flat-tipped petals that are sometimes wavy. They have fabulous lush flowers ranging vastly in size from small to giant. They’re dramatic and showy: a spectacular addition to the garden. Decorative dahlias can be formal with flat petals evenly and regularly placed throughout the flowers, or informal with generally flat petals, sometimes slightly rolled at the tips, but with irregular arrangement of formation. If you’re growing them for the vase, choose the formal decorative varieties with their perfectly packed blooms.

    The informal decorative dahlias will look terrific in your borders or containers. All these decorative dahlias are knockouts:

    Dinnerplate Dahlias
    Though every type of dahlia has its own special charm, if you want the most direct route to WOW, you’ll want to grow dinnerplate dahlias.  They’re not an official class of dahlia but ‘dinnerplate’ is a term applied to any variety that produces big flowers measuring at least 8” across. The blossoms may have a classic, decorative form with perfectly cut petals. We love:

  • Christmas and New Year Opening Hours

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our Coolings customers!

    Thank you for all your continued custom and support in 2019 and we very much look forward to welcoming you in the New Year.

    Coolings The Gardener’s Garden Centre & Coolings Potted Garden
    24th December (Christmas Eve) – Early closing 3pm (Arthurs closing 2pm)

    25th December (Christmas Day) – Closed

    26th December (Boxing Day) – Closed

    27th December – Closed

    28th December – Closed

    29th December – Closed

    30th December – Closed

    31st December – Closed

    1st January (New Year’s Day) – Closed

    2nd January – Open as usual from 9am-5pm

    Any online orders made after the 23rd December 2019 will be processed on Thursday 2ndJanuary 2020.

     

    Coolings Wych Cross Garden Centre

    24th December (Christmas Eve) – Early closing 3pm

    25th December (Christmas Day) – Closed

    26th December (Boxing Day) – Closed

    27th December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    28th December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    29th December – Sunday – Open as usual 10.30am-4.30pm

    30th December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    31st December – Early closing 3pm

    1st January (New Year’s Day) – Closed

    2nd January – Open as normal from 9am-5pm

     

    Coolings Green & Pleasant

    If you’re looking for things to do in the Christmas to New Year lull, why not visit the Natura Trail, the perfect place to burn off all the Christmas treats!

    Blueberry Café will be open, so you can still indulge in some delicious festive treats if you wish.

    24th December (Christmas Eve) – Early closing 3pm

    25th December (Christmas Day) – Closed

    26th December (Boxing Day) – Closed

    27th December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    28th December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    29th December – Sunday – Open 10am-4.30pm

    30th December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    31st December – Open as usual 9am-5pm

    1st January (New Year’s Day) – Closed

    2nd January – Open as usual from 9am-5pm

     

    Koi Water Barn at Coolings Gardener’s Garden Centre: 

    24th December (Christmas Eve) – Early closing 10am to 1pm

    25th December (Christmas Day) – Closed

    26th December (Boxing Day) – Closed

    27th December – Closed

    28th December – Closed

    29th December – Closed

    30th December – Closed

    31st December – Closed

    1st January (New Year’s Day) – Closed

    2nd January – Closed

    3rd January – Closed

    4th January – Closed

    5th January – Closed

    6th January – Closed

    7th January – OPEN AS NORMAL

  • Winter Flowering Houseplants

    Those of us who spend much of our waking lives thinking about gardens tend to give plants as Christmas presents. Often given to help dispel winter dullness, winter-flowering houseplants offer their best displays when kept in the right conditions. Whether you are the owner of a Poinsettia, Cyclamen or Azalea, providing suitable temperatures, humidity levels and care means you can impress your friends into the New Year with the health of the plant they gave you.

    Practical considerations

    • If possible, choose plants that like the conditions that you have available in your house.
    • Avoid placing plants: in a draught; where there are large fluctuations in temperature (most common if plants are displayed on windowsills); and in a hot spot caused by the central heating (such as above a radiator).
    • Water plants by standing them in a bowl containing a few centimetres (half an inch) of water for five minutes. Remove and allow to drain before putting the pot back in position.Our festive favourites:

     

    1) Azalea – The showy Azalea originates from eastern Asia where it inhabited cool humid mountain forests.

    Top tips:

    • It will last much longer if not subjected to too warm an environment. These lovely plants do need to be kept moist. Never allow the root ball to dry out.
    • Place the container on a pebble tray to maintain humidity.
    • A sunny windowsill is an ideal position for Azaleas during winter.
    • In mid-April, repot using an ericaceous compost and feed with a high-potassium, liquid feed at weekly intervals. Plants can be stood outdoors in a cool, shady site for the summer if kept constantly moist, but must be brought indoors before the first frost of autumn.

     

    2) Cyclamen

    Indoor cyclamen originate from a wild species native to the Middle East. Modern hybrids include those with silver marbled leaves, frilled petals, fragrant blooms and miniatures, and a range of flower colours. Cyclamen will bloom for several months and can flower again in future years.

    Top tips:

    • Buy a plant with plenty of buds showing underneath the foliage. Avoid any plants with drooping or yellow leaves, as they have often been overwatered.
    • Choose a brightly-lit situation, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
    • Occasional drying out of the compost is less harmful than overwatering.
    • Perfect for a cool, light room or porch.
    • Remove spent flowers by twisting the stems and giving them a sharp pull. This avoids leaving parts of the stems behind, which often rot.
    • After flowering, continue careful watering and feeding until leaves yellow, then reduce watering as the plant becomes dormant for the summer.
    • As new growth appears, replace the top few centimetres (half an inch) of compost in the container with fresh compost and resume regular watering.

    Indoor cyclamen are usually larger and more showy than their outdoor cousins, the hardy cyclamen.

     

    3) Poinsettia

    Poinsettias are cheeryplants that are widely grown indoors over Christmas for their brightly coloured bracts ranging from pale cream bracts through to deep red, the most popular being scarlet. They are often disposed of once they start to fade, but with a little care, you can keep them all year and the bracts will colour up again the following year.

    Top tips:

    • Poinsettias need bright, but filtered light, away from strong sun and draughts. They need a minimum temperature of 13-15°C (55-59°F).
    • Be careful when transporting poinsettias from our shop to your home, as the cold outdoor temperatures can damage the foliage. We would be happy to wrap the plant in paper right around the top of the foliage, or put it in a plastic bag so that it is completely protected, just ask a member of staff at the till point.
    • Water sparingly. As a rule of thumb, only water when the surface of the compost has begun to dry out. The flowering life of plants is extended by humidity, so mist plants regularly.

     

    4) Cymbidium orchid

    Orchids are also a very popular choice for a gift. With their exotic blooms, these stunning plants provide weeks if not months of colour. The most popular orchid is the Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid, which come in a huge range of colours with various petal patterns. Cymbidium Orchids make a grand statement with their lovely stems of waxy flowers; however they do need quite a bit of space to show them off to their best advantage.

    Cymbidium have highly decorative flower spikes and are one of the least demanding indoor orchids.

    Top tips:

    • Support developing flower spikes with a bamboo cane. Flowers generally last for six to eight weeks. Once the blooms have faded, cut down the flowered stem to the base.
    • Cymbidium prefers cooler growing conditions than some other tender indoor orchids. Provide winter growing temperatures between 10-14°C (50-57°F). Keep the temperatures below 30°C (86°F) in summer to prevent damage to the plants.
    • Do not allow the plant to sit in water. Let the compost dry out a little before the next watering.

    Don’t forget, we offer a complimentary gift wrap service to further enhance your selection.

  • Bountiful Bareback Berries

    Blackberry Rubus ‘Waldo’
    This early, thornless variety is a heavy cropper which produces large, glossy, conical berries.  ‘Waldo’ is a deciduous, upright to arching compact shrub and its attractive fruit is bursting with flavour.  The berries are perfect for putting in tarts, pies, crumble and jam.

    Raspberry Rubus ‘Malling Admiral’
    A late summer raspberry producing large, red fruits with an excellent flavour.  The canes are strong growing and resistant to raspberry root rot disease.  A popular variety producing high yields.  One of the best garden varieties.

    Raspberry Rubus idaeus ‘Tulameen’
    Delicious raspberries, Rubus idaeus are very easy to grow.  From just a few plants you’ll be able to harvest bowlfuls of fruit from midsummer until mid-autumn. They can be eaten straight from the plant, used in jams, summer puddings, coulis and wine, and they also freeze well.  ‘Tulameen’ is also known for attracting bees and other pollinators with its nectar/pollen rich flowers.

    Gooseberry Ribes ‘Captivator’
    ‘Captivator’ is a rounded, deciduous, fruit bearing shrub with green, shallow lobed leaves in summer that turn red in autumn.  White flowers in spring, and purple-pink, sweet fruits ripen from late spring into summer.  This tall, self-fertile variety will give you something to love all year round.  Exceptional quality berries that will come in abundance.

    Loganberry Rubus x Loganobaccus
    Rubus x loganobaccus, the loganberry, is a lovely cross between a raspberry and blackberry.  Berries are slightly longer and more cone-shaped than a raspberry with a juicier and sharper flavour. These plants are sturdy and more disease and frost resistant than many other berry hybrids and usually produce fruit throughout August and September. The large berries should be allowed to darken to a deep purple colour before picking to obtain the best-flavoured fruit.  Undemanding, easy to grow, and continue to fruit for many years. They’re self-fertile and ideal for using in pies, summer puddings and jams.

    For more soft fruit recommendation please click here