Sally Nex
@sallynex.bsky.social
Gardener, food grower, author and dog lover in Somerset, south-west UK. Peat-free advocate for the Peat-free Partnership hosted by @plantlife also professional gardener, online tutor with Learning with Experts, lecturer. All views my own
Fab time at RHS #Peat-free conference @ Wisley yesterday. Take-homes:
1) peat-free needs no extra feed
2) but match feed to compost - eg coir = low N high K so feed compost tea but not tomato food
3) we need legislation asap!
Agree? Sign here today: actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
1) peat-free needs no extra feed
2) but match feed to compost - eg coir = low N high K so feed compost tea but not tomato food
3) we need legislation asap!
Agree? Sign here today: actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Fab time at RHS #Peat-free conference @ Wisley yesterday. Take-homes:
1) peat-free needs no extra feed
2) but match feed to compost - eg coir = low N high K so feed compost tea but not tomato food
3) we need legislation asap!
Agree? Sign here today: actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
1) peat-free needs no extra feed
2) but match feed to compost - eg coir = low N high K so feed compost tea but not tomato food
3) we need legislation asap!
Agree? Sign here today: actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
So many #flowers still in bloom in my garden! This is such a pretty autumn this year 🧡 #gardening 🌱
October 21, 2025 at 7:01 AM
So many #flowers still in bloom in my garden! This is such a pretty autumn this year 🧡 #gardening 🌱
These little guys are coming on nicely... just look at the roots on this one 😍 #broadbeans #peatfree #plasticfree #pesticidefree 🌱 #gardening
October 20, 2025 at 5:42 AM
These little guys are coming on nicely... just look at the roots on this one 😍 #broadbeans #peatfree #plasticfree #pesticidefree 🌱 #gardening
Heaviest #crabapple crop we've ever had. This is "Laura", a very upright variety - the weight of the apples was bowing the branches to horizontal & I worried they might break. It's the wrong time but we decided to prune - now have heaps of crabs 😍 i feel the need to make jelly #nomnom 🌱 #gardening
October 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Heaviest #crabapple crop we've ever had. This is "Laura", a very upright variety - the weight of the apples was bowing the branches to horizontal & I worried they might break. It's the wrong time but we decided to prune - now have heaps of crabs 😍 i feel the need to make jelly #nomnom 🌱 #gardening
Still pickin'! Last of the tomatoes still ripening on the vine, watering sparingly (half can every other day) and greenhouse shut to trap sunshine & warmth. I think I'll hold out another couple of weeks before I clear the plants and turn remaining green toms into chutney 😋 #gardening 🌱
October 9, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Still pickin'! Last of the tomatoes still ripening on the vine, watering sparingly (half can every other day) and greenhouse shut to trap sunshine & warmth. I think I'll hold out another couple of weeks before I clear the plants and turn remaining green toms into chutney 😋 #gardening 🌱
Happy new year! 😂 first seedlings of the new gardening year on their way up - sowed these hardy broad beans a week or two ago (good old Aquadulce Claudia, never disappoints 💚) #peatfree, #plasticfree, #pesticidefree Looking forward to enjoying these next summer - love low impact food #gardening 🌱
October 7, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Happy new year! 😂 first seedlings of the new gardening year on their way up - sowed these hardy broad beans a week or two ago (good old Aquadulce Claudia, never disappoints 💚) #peatfree, #plasticfree, #pesticidefree Looking forward to enjoying these next summer - love low impact food #gardening 🌱
Anyone know what kind of shrooms these might be? Sprouting on the lawn in a garden i look after... they're in a rough circle so was wondering if it's a fairy ring? 🍄🍄🍄 #fungi 🌱 #gardening
September 19, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Anyone know what kind of shrooms these might be? Sprouting on the lawn in a garden i look after... they're in a rough circle so was wondering if it's a fairy ring? 🍄🍄🍄 #fungi 🌱 #gardening
Here's a lovely bit of peace and quiet amid all the madness... Lemon Queen perennial sunflowers are the best thing in my garden this time of year. Kudos to my daughter Ruby for filming & editing 🥰
September 15, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Here's a lovely bit of peace and quiet amid all the madness... Lemon Queen perennial sunflowers are the best thing in my garden this time of year. Kudos to my daughter Ruby for filming & editing 🥰
Damson vodka made & brewing nicely 😄 recipe:
1kg damsons
500g sugar
1 litre vodka
...err, that's it 😋
Stab the damsons all over with a skewer, load into Kilner jars, add sugar pour over vodka & seal. Shake daily for 2 weeks then weekly for 2 months. Decant into bottles, enjoy #recipe #homegrownbooze
1kg damsons
500g sugar
1 litre vodka
...err, that's it 😋
Stab the damsons all over with a skewer, load into Kilner jars, add sugar pour over vodka & seal. Shake daily for 2 weeks then weekly for 2 months. Decant into bottles, enjoy #recipe #homegrownbooze
August 27, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Damson vodka made & brewing nicely 😄 recipe:
1kg damsons
500g sugar
1 litre vodka
...err, that's it 😋
Stab the damsons all over with a skewer, load into Kilner jars, add sugar pour over vodka & seal. Shake daily for 2 weeks then weekly for 2 months. Decant into bottles, enjoy #recipe #homegrownbooze
1kg damsons
500g sugar
1 litre vodka
...err, that's it 😋
Stab the damsons all over with a skewer, load into Kilner jars, add sugar pour over vodka & seal. Shake daily for 2 weeks then weekly for 2 months. Decant into bottles, enjoy #recipe #homegrownbooze
Well that's one approach to fencing 👀 as seen in a local woodland #treetorture
August 26, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Well that's one approach to fencing 👀 as seen in a local woodland #treetorture
Carnivorous plants are creepy 😱 this Venus flytrap had been so successful in the greenhouse it was studded with the dried husks of digested flies 🤢 we pulled them out with tweezers. Anyone know why they don't get rid of the carcasses by themselves? #dionaea #venusflytrap #gardening 🌱
August 25, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Carnivorous plants are creepy 😱 this Venus flytrap had been so successful in the greenhouse it was studded with the dried husks of digested flies 🤢 we pulled them out with tweezers. Anyone know why they don't get rid of the carcasses by themselves? #dionaea #venusflytrap #gardening 🌱
In the depths of winter two years ago I planted a bare root damson tree specifically so I could make damson vodka.
And now..... 😋 god I love gardening #nomnom #bringonthebooze #gardening 🌱 (recipe incoming at some point soon 😊)
And now..... 😋 god I love gardening #nomnom #bringonthebooze #gardening 🌱 (recipe incoming at some point soon 😊)
August 21, 2025 at 5:36 AM
In the depths of winter two years ago I planted a bare root damson tree specifically so I could make damson vodka.
And now..... 😋 god I love gardening #nomnom #bringonthebooze #gardening 🌱 (recipe incoming at some point soon 😊)
And now..... 😋 god I love gardening #nomnom #bringonthebooze #gardening 🌱 (recipe incoming at some point soon 😊)
Black #tomatoes are my faves for rich, mouth watering flavour 🍅 it's sometimes difficult to know when to pick tho: green immature fruits turn black but wait a little longer and you'll find a tinge of red creeps in - once most of the fruit is red it's ripe 'n' ready 😋 #gardening 🌱 #vegetablegrowing
August 19, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Black #tomatoes are my faves for rich, mouth watering flavour 🍅 it's sometimes difficult to know when to pick tho: green immature fruits turn black but wait a little longer and you'll find a tinge of red creeps in - once most of the fruit is red it's ripe 'n' ready 😋 #gardening 🌱 #vegetablegrowing
Spending time with botanists is hilarious and inspirational in equal measures. Yesterday I spent hours covering around 300 metres, mostly on my knees, gazing in wonder at the most beautiful #wildflowers - all just a few centimetres tall. Normally I'd have marched past without noticing #stopandstare
August 14, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Spending time with botanists is hilarious and inspirational in equal measures. Yesterday I spent hours covering around 300 metres, mostly on my knees, gazing in wonder at the most beautiful #wildflowers - all just a few centimetres tall. Normally I'd have marched past without noticing #stopandstare
This is where all that's exciting in #gardening is happening at the moment 💚 new ideas, new approaches, new thinking to sweep away all the old tired #peat, #plastic & #pesticides models of the past. Bring on a kinder, greener future www.wildinggardens.co.uk
August 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
This is where all that's exciting in #gardening is happening at the moment 💚 new ideas, new approaches, new thinking to sweep away all the old tired #peat, #plastic & #pesticides models of the past. Bring on a kinder, greener future www.wildinggardens.co.uk
Talking #peatfree plant shortages on HortWeek: "It's a big opportunity for growers - there isn't stock available... because there's no [peat-free] stock overseas, so it's an opportunity because the UK is further down the road with peat-free than everybody else" #endpeatsales @marycreagh.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Talking #peatfree plant shortages on HortWeek: "It's a big opportunity for growers - there isn't stock available... because there's no [peat-free] stock overseas, so it's an opportunity because the UK is further down the road with peat-free than everybody else" #endpeatsales @marycreagh.bsky.social
Aren't carnivorous plants amazing? This pitcher plant in the greenhouse is flowering its socks off but note the flower is held high above the plant itself - that's to ensure visiting pollinators are well away from the pitchers and don't accidentally become lunch 😊 #gardening 🌱 #naturalpestcontrol
July 23, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Aren't carnivorous plants amazing? This pitcher plant in the greenhouse is flowering its socks off but note the flower is held high above the plant itself - that's to ensure visiting pollinators are well away from the pitchers and don't accidentally become lunch 😊 #gardening 🌱 #naturalpestcontrol
Love this cheap & funky idea for #plasticfree plant labels i found at the SkoolBeanz allotment 😍 leave your wooden spoon natural... or paint it in colours that make you smile. Write on the spoon, stick it in the ground, & at the end of the season just sand off & start again #gardening 🌱 #sustainable
July 16, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Love this cheap & funky idea for #plasticfree plant labels i found at the SkoolBeanz allotment 😍 leave your wooden spoon natural... or paint it in colours that make you smile. Write on the spoon, stick it in the ground, & at the end of the season just sand off & start again #gardening 🌱 #sustainable
Daylilies brightening up the garden beautifully at the moment 🧡 despite the name (the flowers last only a day) they repeat flower for ages, especially if you dead head regularly. I like to eat the unopened buds sometimes too - they taste like lettuces 😋 #gardening 🌱 #edibleflowers #bloomscrolling
July 15, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Daylilies brightening up the garden beautifully at the moment 🧡 despite the name (the flowers last only a day) they repeat flower for ages, especially if you dead head regularly. I like to eat the unopened buds sometimes too - they taste like lettuces 😋 #gardening 🌱 #edibleflowers #bloomscrolling
I love a garden full of colour 💚 SkoolBeanz is a riot of upcycled art where jam jar lids are chandeliers and wheelbarrows sport painted flowers. Among the veg are rows of brilliantly colourful dahlias, sweetpeas & sunflowers. You can't help but smile 😍 #gardening 🌱 #inspiration www.skoolbeanzcic.com
July 14, 2025 at 6:56 AM
I love a garden full of colour 💚 SkoolBeanz is a riot of upcycled art where jam jar lids are chandeliers and wheelbarrows sport painted flowers. Among the veg are rows of brilliantly colourful dahlias, sweetpeas & sunflowers. You can't help but smile 😍 #gardening 🌱 #inspiration www.skoolbeanzcic.com
So excited to be spending the day at the amazing Skool Beanz allotment today - kids' garden run by Lara Honnor near Yeovil. I'll be learning how to set up a similar community garden for children in my local town - we are right at the start, can't wait to get stuck in 😍 #gardening 🌱 #communitygardens
July 13, 2025 at 6:45 AM
So excited to be spending the day at the amazing Skool Beanz allotment today - kids' garden run by Lara Honnor near Yeovil. I'll be learning how to set up a similar community garden for children in my local town - we are right at the start, can't wait to get stuck in 😍 #gardening 🌱 #communitygardens
Time to pick apples 😊 far too early to harvest yet but my trees are laden - if I leave all these it will stress the tree I'll only get small apples & they'll be prone to disease. So I am reducing clusters over 3 fruits and removing the smallest to leave room for the rest 💚 #gardening 🌱 #veggrowing
July 11, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Time to pick apples 😊 far too early to harvest yet but my trees are laden - if I leave all these it will stress the tree I'll only get small apples & they'll be prone to disease. So I am reducing clusters over 3 fruits and removing the smallest to leave room for the rest 💚 #gardening 🌱 #veggrowing
One small compensation in my fried vegetable garden: the salsify have run to seed, big sculptural fluffballs around 8cm across like dandelion clocks on steroids. I'll pick one or two, save the seed and sow later when the weather is damp again #gardening 🌱 #veggrowing #seedsaving
July 10, 2025 at 5:39 AM
One small compensation in my fried vegetable garden: the salsify have run to seed, big sculptural fluffballs around 8cm across like dandelion clocks on steroids. I'll pick one or two, save the seed and sow later when the weather is damp again #gardening 🌱 #veggrowing #seedsaving
Feeling the dahlia love on the @peatfree.bsky.social Living Throne at #RHSHamptonCourt 🧡💛💚💙💜🤍 #bloomscrolling #gardening 🌱 #flowers
July 4, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Feeling the dahlia love on the @peatfree.bsky.social Living Throne at #RHSHamptonCourt 🧡💛💚💙💜🤍 #bloomscrolling #gardening 🌱 #flowers
Dozens of these beauties fluttering about the #peatfree @peatfree.bsky.social Living Throne today at #RHSHamptonCourt, tiny things just a few centimetres across. I thought they were day flying moths but turns out they're Essex Skipper #butterflies 🦋💚🦋💚🦋💚🦋 #gardening 🌱 #sustainability #pollinators
July 3, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Dozens of these beauties fluttering about the #peatfree @peatfree.bsky.social Living Throne today at #RHSHamptonCourt, tiny things just a few centimetres across. I thought they were day flying moths but turns out they're Essex Skipper #butterflies 🦋💚🦋💚🦋💚🦋 #gardening 🌱 #sustainability #pollinators