Garden know-how
Practise first, or open the explanations as you go. A useful gardening answer includes the conditions in which it applies.
Plant basics
Which plant organ usually anchors it in the growing medium?
Roots
Roots anchor plants and absorb water and dissolved nutrients.
What is a seedling?
A young plant grown from seed
Seedlings are young plants in an early growth stage.
What does deciduous mean?
Shedding leaves seasonally
Deciduous plants shed their leaves as part of a seasonal cycle.
What does evergreen mean?
Keeping foliage through the year
Evergreens retain foliage year-round, though individual leaves are still replaced.
What is a perennial?
A plant that lives for more than two years
Perennials persist for several years, with growth habits varying by species.
Further reading: RHS guidance. Questions and explanations are original; no RHS endorsement is implied.
Support and ties
What should a plant tie avoid doing?
Cutting into the stem
Ties should support growth without constricting stems.
Why check ties as a plant grows?
Stems thicken and ties may need adjustment
Growth can turn a previously loose tie into a tight one.
What is staking?
Providing an upright support
Stakes support plants that need help remaining upright.
What should guide sideshoot removal on tomatoes?
Whether the plant is a cordon or bush type
Cordon and bush tomatoes require different approaches.
Which is a useful reason to train a climbing crop?
To use vertical space and improve access
Training can make a crop easier to manage and harvest.
Further reading: RHS guidance. Questions and explanations are original; no RHS endorsement is implied.
Harvest decisions
What should determine harvest timing?
The crop, variety and actual maturity
Observe the crop and use its specific harvest guidance.
What does a harvest record measure?
What was actually picked
Record real harvests separately from forecasts.
Can a photograph alone guarantee a crop is safe to eat?
No
Identity, condition and other relevant factors still need checking.
Why pick tender leaves carefully?
To avoid unnecessary plant damage
Use the harvesting method appropriate to that crop and intended regrowth.
What is a reasonable result from a first winter greenhouse season?
Learning plus any crops that establish successfully
Conditions and experience vary; useful observations matter alongside harvests.
Further reading: RHS guidance. Questions and explanations are original; no RHS endorsement is implied.
Garden language
What does transplanting mean?
Moving a plant to a new growing position
Transplanting moves a plant from one position or container to another.
What is a cultivar?
A cultivated plant variety
Cultivars are selected cultivated forms with particular characteristics.
What is a growing point?
An area where new plant growth develops
Growing points produce new shoots or other growth and should be treated carefully.
What does hardy describe in gardening?
Tolerance of cold within relevant limits
Hardiness refers to cold tolerance, not resistance to all stress or disease.
What is foliage?
A plant's leaves collectively
Foliage means the leaves of a plant or plants.
Further reading: RHS guidance. Questions and explanations are original; no RHS endorsement is implied.
Percy's practical exam
Which comes first when a plant looks unhappy?
Observe before choosing an action
A useful decision starts with observations and the plant's known needs.
What should a small greenhouse plan match?
Available space, conditions and time
A manageable plan makes care and learning more realistic.
Which is the clearest progress update?
Spinach sown today; variety and date recorded
Specific observations distinguish real work from assumptions.
What should a beginner do with conflicting crop advice?
Check the crop, variety, setting and source
Advice can differ because conditions and growing methods differ.
When can a greenhouse job properly be marked done?
When it has actually been completed
A schedule is a plan; completion requires an actual report or observation.
Further reading: RHS guidance. Questions and explanations are original; no RHS endorsement is implied.