Bloomin' Wield

07/06/2026

Having a great day at Alresford Green Fair! Stayed dry so far too! Come and see us.

03/06/2026

We're excited to be part of the Green Fayre this Sunday (7th June) in Alresford! Lots of fantastic stalls supporting sustainable living. A keen advocate for getting back to basics in the garden, sharing knowledge and food with our community, and learning old and new techniques to get thw best with what you have, Bloomin' Wield is proud to support this event. Looking forward to seeing you there! https://www.facebook.com/share/18p5XYjnbh/?mibextid=wwXIfr

16/05/2026

Useful herb-cuttting techniques! I've noticed a lot of people cutting their herbs incorrectly and vastly reducing the life and harvest of the plants, especially basil. I'm guilty of the parsley one. I'm a big believer in getting the most bang for your buck and the most health benefits for your labour. Does anyone have any other techniques for prolonging or expanding the harvest / growing season on herbs, fruit & veg or even ornamentals?

Where you cut decides whether your herb doubles its harvest or dies.

1. BASIL - Pinch above a leaf node (where two leaves meet). Two new shoots grow from every cut. Never let it flower.

2. CILANTRO - Cut outer stems at soil level. Leave the center growing. Succession sow every 3 weeks for continuous supply.

3. ROSEMARY - Only cut green growth. Old bare wood will not resprout. Never take more than 1/3 of the plant.

4. MINT - Cut back often and low, just above a set of leaves. This prevents legginess and flowering. Mint wants to be cut.

5. THYME - Snip green tips only. Light, frequent trims keep it compact and bushy. Never cut into woody stems.

6. PARSLEY - Harvest outer stems at the base. Leave the center crown intact. The plant keeps producing from the inside out.

Six herbs. Six techniques. Cut right and they double.

Your grandmother knew all of this. It was common knowledge. Now it is a lost art.

24/04/2026

Pleased and proud to support plant sales this weekend for the Paul Sartori Foundation and next week for Bucketful of Hope, both in Pembrokeshire. Paul Sartori gives end of life care to those who need it while Bucketful of Hope takes care of patients and their families while they battle life threatening illnesses. All labelled up and ready to go! Bloomin' Wield is set up to support my local community in Hampshire, encourage people into their gardens and support local businesses, but what better way to give back than to support my childhood county in these really wonderful causes as well as helping my mum who taught me everything I know about gardening!

22/04/2026

The second installment of Bloomin' Wield has been confirmed for 9th May at Wield Village Hall. More information on exact timings and what will be available to buy to follow! Pre-orders welcome now on snack cucumbers, Sungold and Millions tomatoes.

06/04/2026

I firmly believe in sharing and extending your garden as naturally as possible so great tips for what to split this month here. A great tip for anyone growing sweet peas, or who bought them from me recently, is that you can take off the top half once established and reroot. This will give you an additional plant and make the original bushier - win win.

Every perennial you split this month is one you didn't buy.

April is the division window — roots are active enough to recover fast but top growth hasn't committed the plant's energy upward yet. Wait a few more weeks and the transplant shock gets worse because leaves are already pulling water the severed roots can't replace.

The signal is almost the same across species: a dead or bald center surrounded by vigorous growth at the edges. That ring of energy is the plant telling you it outgrew its own footprint.

🌿 What to divide now:

- Hosta — divide when the rolled shoots are just a few inches tall. Push a sharp spade through the center. Each piece needs at least three eyes to fill in by midsummer. The roots are so forgiving at this stage that even rough handling rarely sets them back

- Daylily — pull apart individual fans by hand or cut through tangled roots with a knife. Two to three fans per division is enough for flowers this season

- Bee balm — develops a hollow dead center within a couple of seasons. Dig the whole clump, discard the spent middle, replant only the outer sections. The aggressive spread that made it crowd itself is what makes the divisions establish fast

- Garden phlox — split before the center dies out. Dividing also opens airflow through the crown, which helps reduce mildew pressure more than most sprays

- Astilbe — pull apart into sections with two or three crowns each. Divisions bloom more heavily than the overcrowded parent because each piece finally gets the root space it needed

- Coral bells — divide when the woody crown lifts above the soil, exposing bare stem between roots and leaves. Bury each piece slightly deeper than the original to keep roots in solid contact with moist soil

🌱 Grasses and structural plants:

- Ornamental grasses — divide right after cutting back the dead tops. A three-year clump of miscanthus may need a saw or an axe to split. Nothing elegant about it, but it works

- Siberian iris — lift and split fans into small groups with a sharp knife. Unlike bearded iris, Siberian roots need to stay moist — get divisions back in the ground the same afternoon

One afternoon of splitting gives you a second garden from the one you already paid for. Most of them look established again by June. 🪴

03/04/2026

Late night prep for Bloomin' Wield's "Big Spring Wake Up" tomorrow. Really looking forward to a bowl of carrot and corriander soup and a slice of Simnel Cake while catching up with friends and meeting some new ones. The hall is looking wonderful with Jean Frost's plants, Horsechestnut Herbals by Kate Parker and Bloomin' Wield's plants, garden supplies and crafts. Hope you can make it! Look out for the banner welcoming you made by the lovely Amina Al-Kanaan of Bramble&Bark.

21/03/2026

2 weeks to go until Bloomin' Wield launches! I am honoured to be joined by Jean Frost, and Kate Parker from Horsechestnut Herbals. A warm (and hopefully sunny) welcome to Wield Village Hall as we welcome in Spring! Kate will have a selection of Natural Hayfever Remedies, Herbal Vinegars, Spring Tonics, Digestive Support, Lip Balms and more. Bloomin' Wield by Georgie Alderson-Slater and Jean will have a selection of starter plants: Tomatoes - Sungold, Shimmer, Shirley, Moneymaker, Courgette - Black Forest, Ambassador, Cucumber - La Diva, Peas, Kale, Lettuces - Little Gem, Gourmet Mixed Leaves, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackcurrants, and for fun - Chillis, Aloe Vera and even Chickpea Plants. There will be Sweet Peas, Liatris Sorbet, Papaver, Haycinths and Sunflowers amongst others. We will be running a competition for the tallest sunflower! You can also order ahead and a list will be available on the day - examples veg boxes, hanging baskets, patio pots for local delivery. We will have some garden canes and accessories and some crafts as well as activities for the kids and big kids. You can grab a drink, some cake (profits to village hall) and some chatter with neighbours and friends while getting inspired. Looking forward to seeing you all there! Please bring cash. 😋

01/03/2026

Stage 2 of Chilli Plants today! Having successfully germinated 110 chilli seeds (!!!) which was unexpected in February (!) I yesterday planted on 104 (successfully) using a hand mixed compost to ensure they have the right nutrients and conditions for the most success. What started out as a bit of a fun experiment appears to be growing arms and legs (well leaves and roots anyway...).

22/02/2026

Today's project - no fill bed as a start to our front garden transformation. Thanks to my lovely neighbours for all the cardboard!