James Hartwell

UK Gardening Writer & Plant Experimenter

I've been growing things in Britain for over twenty years—starting with standard veg in a suburban garden and gradually working up to the weird stuff. I've tried (and often failed!) at tropical fruits, experimental spice crops, and all manner of plants people told me would never survive the UK climate. Some have surprised me. I keep detailed notes on what actually works in different zones, and I'm genuinely curious about the boundaries of what's possible in British microclimates. My garden is basically a controlled chaos experiment. I live in the Midlands with my partner and two rescue dogs who regularly trample my seedlings.