Gardening Basics – Gardening Basics: Spring, Soil and Seedlings

Are you new to gardening and keen to learn more about the basic principles of gardening and growing? The Gardening Basics series of four workshops taking place throughout the year guides you through some key gardening essentials, covers the fundamentals of gardening, and includes both indoor learning and practical elements, with the opportunity to ask as many questions as you need.

Led by RHS Garden Advisor Ian Smith, you will take a seasonal walk around RHS Rosemoor, finding out what needs to be done in your own garden at this time of year. You will learn about soils and how to carry out some simple soil testing, how to prick out and grow on your seedlings, and develop further seed sowing skills.

This is the second of four one-day courses, designed to help you make the most of your garden throughout the year. Each day is stand-alone or can be attended as a series. There will be plenty of time for discussion and encouragement.

• Tutor: Ian Smith has over 20 years horticultural experience in a variety of creative, practical and educational roles and has a passion for gardening. He has designed a range of gardens for clients, from compact spaces to large country estates and studied many aspects of horticulture including the RHS Master of Horticulture in 2015. Ian has taught horticulture and garden design with Bicton College and the RHS, is an RHS Horticultural Advisor at RHS Rosemoor and the RHS Flower Shows, and is a trustee for the Devon Gardens Trust. He has an interest in historic gardens, their research and future development, and is keen to inspire more people to garden. 
• Location and arrival information: The workshop will be split between the Peter Buckley Learning Centre, and outside in the Garden. Please allow 15 minutes to park in the main visitor car park, enter the garden and get to the Learning Centre 
• Catering: Tea / coffee and biscuits will be available in the classroom at the start of each session and again in the afternoon. As part of the booking process, you will choose a picnic lunch option which is included in the workshop price
• For this workshop you will need:
  • Your booking reference number to show to the team at the Garden Entrance
  • A notebook and pencil to make notes
  • Clothing and footwear suitable for being indoors and outdoors, appropriate to weather on the day
• Skill Level: Beginner – I am eager to try growing, keen to learn, and to develop my experience and confidence