Tag: Grow How sessions

Spud-tastic sessions in Edinburgh to grow your own potatoes

Garden centre hosts free gardening workshops on the UK’s most popular vegetable

Potatoes are the most important food crop globally after rice, wheat and corn, and have been named by YouGov as the most popular vegetable at the end of 2023.1 

Dobbies knows just how much the nation loves this hearty vegetable and is encouraging gardeners of all abilities and ages to give growing their own spuds a go this year at its free workshops in its Edinburgh store.

Grow How, a 15-minute interactive how-to session where gardeners of all abilities will have the opportunity to learn from Dobbies’ horticultural experts is taking place in its Edinburgh store at 10:30am on Saturday 3 February. Little Seedlings Club, designed for children aged 4-10 years old, is taking place the morning of Sunday 4 February, spotlighting this humble vegetable.

Dobbies’ Grow How sessions encourage local communities near its stores to give gardening a go, whether you’re a novice, seasoned gardener or enthusiast. Attendees can go to the demonstration section of the Edinburgh store, where Dobbies’ experts will share knowledge on the different types of potato varieties, reveal tips such as ‘chitting’, share advice on how to care for and protect your crop, alongside gardening tips to ensure a successful potato harvest.

Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club is designed to educate and inspire the next generation of gardeners, getting children of all ages together in a friendly group setting to learn something new.

February’s session will unveil the history of the spud and different parts of the vegetable. Children will also gain an understanding of how they grow, what you need to help them thrive, when it’s best to sow or know when it’s time to harvest, an insight into ‘chitting’ to give spuds a head start, and the varieties that can be grown. From red potatoes, yellow potatoes, brown potatoes to even purple potatoes, there’s plenty of variation.

In addition to this, children will learn how potatoes are enjoyed from different countries and cultures around the globe.

Dobbies’ Plant Buyer, Nigel Lawton, tells us why this versatile vegetable is one of the easiest to grow at home. He said: “From Maris Piper to Potato Charlotte, there is a wide variety of potatoes to choose from that you can grow for yourself at home. 

“All you need is a potato sack or tub, filled with a quarter of good quality peat-free compost, three seed potatoes evenly spaced on top of the soil covered with another layer of compost and then water regularly to keep the compost moist. Your potatoes will be ready to be harvested in as little as 12 weeks.”

For more information about February’s free events in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events

Dobbies creates a buzz with free workshops in Edinburgh

Garden Centre shows customers how to create a bee-friendly garden

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is hosting two free interactive workshops at its Edinburgh store this Easter, where experts will educate customers on the wonder of pollinators and how to transform the garden into a bee haven.

Designed for the whole family, Dobbies’ April workshops are a great way to learn more about gardening, whether you’re a novice looking to pull on gardening gloves for the first time, a seasoned gardener hoping for some direction, a gardening pro eager to enhance your gardening expertise or some helpful tips on how to keep your little ones busy in the garden this Easter.

Dobbies’ Grow How session in Edinburgh will be held on Saturday 1 April at 10:30am where customers will be invited to discover how to make their garden a haven for pollinators. Using plants, shrubs and flowers, Dobbies’ horticultural experts will outline the benefits of supporting wildlife in the garden, the best varieties of plants to encourage more bees into our gardens, and which perennials to plant now in preparation for summer.

Dobbies’ April Little Seedlings Club will focus on the magnificent bee and takes place on Sunday 2 April in its Edinburgh store. Packed full of interactive activities, this workshop is perfect for kids aged 4-10 years old and is a great way to keep them busy during the Easter holidays.

Children will come together in a relaxed group setting, discover fun facts about the different bee species and why they are so important, the science behind how these insects pollinate flowers and a fun experiment to get everyone engaged. Attendees will also receive expert advice on how to create a bee-friendly garden with a Lavender planting activity, and how they can do their bit to help save the bees.

Dobbies’ Community and CSR Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, explains why pollinators are so important, she said: “Pollinators are vital in supporting the health of our natural ecosystem.

“Bees are currently under threat with the species facing extinction, so as a garden centre we’re constantly looking at educating the next generation so that in years to come, the world is a more pollinator-friendly place.

“There’s a lot to learn about the wonderful pollinators that call our green spaces home, and we hope our two workshops in Edinburgh help families across the country play their part in supporting and protecting these vulnerable insects.”

Sustainability is at the core of both workshops, and the horticultural experts will highlight the great selection of environmentally friendly products that can be purchased.

For more information about the two workshops at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and how you can take part, visit www.dobbies.com/events