Alan Down
@downtoearthalan.bsky.social
#Garden writer, #blogger, app content, TV/radio, #wildlife, #gardening, #plantgeek, Master of Hort, #NSch, Horticultural Trades Association Immediate Past President.
Sharing gardening info from my relatively new 1 acre garden.
https://down-to-earth.co.uk/
Sharing gardening info from my relatively new 1 acre garden.
https://down-to-earth.co.uk/
Slightly ahead of the old adage of planting shallots on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest! These are banana shallots given a head start in modules.
December 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Slightly ahead of the old adage of planting shallots on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest! These are banana shallots given a head start in modules.
2nd flush of chestnut #mushrooms on Merryhill Mushrooms kit and plenty more to come! These are the best kits I’ve ever tried! #gifted
December 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
2nd flush of chestnut #mushrooms on Merryhill Mushrooms kit and plenty more to come! These are the best kits I’ve ever tried! #gifted
I’m mostly going to be spreading A D digestate on the #garden for the next few days.
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
November 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I’m mostly going to be spreading A D digestate on the #garden for the next few days.
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
I buy bulk but you can buy @bloominamazing bagged from most local garden centres down-to-earth.co.uk/product-revi...
Prunus serrula bark shining like polished mahogany furniture in the winter sunshine.
November 27, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Prunus serrula bark shining like polished mahogany furniture in the winter sunshine.
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Cushion bracket fungus on a doomed blackthorn tree (Prunus spinosa).
November 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Cushion bracket fungus on a doomed blackthorn tree (Prunus spinosa).
First harvest of tasty chestnut #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
November 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
First harvest of tasty chestnut #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver and make a great gift even for those without a garden! www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk
Btw they come with masses of helpful info! #gifted
Even - or perhaps especially - in winter the hardwood (oak?) lathe fans for training #fruit #thenewtinsomerset look impressive!
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Even - or perhaps especially - in winter the hardwood (oak?) lathe fans for training #fruit #thenewtinsomerset look impressive!
Lovely surprise to see @shegrowsveg.bsky.social seed range on sale at #TheNewtinSomerset!
November 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Lovely surprise to see @shegrowsveg.bsky.social seed range on sale at #TheNewtinSomerset!
Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis) already putting on a good show! Planted close to a wall where it thrives in the dry soil there.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis) already putting on a good show! Planted close to a wall where it thrives in the dry soil there.
In spite of the grey skies today Cotoneaster horizontals - growing out of the top of a wall - is bright and cheerful!
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In spite of the grey skies today Cotoneaster horizontals - growing out of the top of a wall - is bright and cheerful!
After the heatwave, lots of Wisteria seed pods.
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
November 14, 2025 at 11:49 AM
After the heatwave, lots of Wisteria seed pods.
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
They are covered in fine hairs - not frost!
Mahonia x media Winter Sun still amongst the very best #autumn flowering shrubs. #inmygardennow
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
November 12, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Mahonia x media Winter Sun still amongst the very best #autumn flowering shrubs. #inmygardennow
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
Having recently seen the exciting RHS trial, there will soon be other excellent choices!
Just 10 days from starting we have fantastic pink oyster #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Just 10 days from starting we have fantastic pink oyster #mushrooms !
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
These kits from Merryhill Mushrooms really deliver!
#gifted
It’s ’just’ Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) but eye catching nevertheless.
#wildflowers
#wildflowers
November 6, 2025 at 7:52 AM
It’s ’just’ Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) but eye catching nevertheless.
#wildflowers
#wildflowers
Scarlet Hood Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea) above Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset.
November 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Scarlet Hood Waxcap (Hygrocybe coccinea) above Church Knowle, Wareham, Dorset.
Those of you old enough will remember the spectacle that English elms gave to the late autumn #countryside!
Here is a little reminder. #trees
Here is a little reminder. #trees
November 2, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Those of you old enough will remember the spectacle that English elms gave to the late autumn #countryside!
Here is a little reminder. #trees
Here is a little reminder. #trees
The glowing translucent leaves of the smoke tree Cotinus x dummeri Grace. A vigorous hybrid between C. obovatus and coggygria Velvet Cloak. #inmygarden
October 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The glowing translucent leaves of the smoke tree Cotinus x dummeri Grace. A vigorous hybrid between C. obovatus and coggygria Velvet Cloak. #inmygarden
October 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Wonderful #autumn leaf colour on Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)! Look at the varied colours on the north side (2nd pic). I’d recommend planting a named clone like Worplesdon or deeper purple Lane Roberts. Plant Slender Silhouette where space is very limited.
October 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Wonderful #autumn leaf colour on Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)! Look at the varied colours on the north side (2nd pic). I’d recommend planting a named clone like Worplesdon or deeper purple Lane Roberts. Plant Slender Silhouette where space is very limited.
Stretching a net over your pond or stream prevents leaves getting into the water, which add unwanted nutrients and create harmful noxious gases. #gardentips
October 21, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Stretching a net over your pond or stream prevents leaves getting into the water, which add unwanted nutrients and create harmful noxious gases. #gardentips