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Articles by Simon Akeroyd
Plant je producten
Plant je producten van Simon Akeroyd is een praktische gids voor iedereen die zelfvoorzienend wil leven en wil genieten van verse oogst uit eigen tuin. Dit toegankelijke boek laat stap-voor-stap zien hoe je je eigen boodschappen kunt verbouwen – of je nu een grote tuin, een balkon of een stadstuin hebt. Met duidelijke tips leer je hoe je het hele jaar door groenten, fruit en kruiden kunt telen. Duurzaam, gezond en betaalbaar: met Plant je producten haal je de supermarkt naar je achtertuin.
Our 5 top autumn lawn care tips
By Simon Akeroyd | Published - 15 Oct 2025 | Updated - 17 Sep 2026 As temperatures take a dip and the growth of lawns slows up, it's time to give your grass some TLC before the onset of winter. Autumn lawn care is important because any work you do now will help strengthen the grass and build its resilience for the colder winter months. The season is a time for lawns to recuperate after the intensity of summer.
The bulbs to plant now for a colourful spring garden
By Simon Akeroyd | Published - 17 Sep 2025 | Updated - 23 Sep 2026 Knowing when to plant bulbs at the right time, and how to do it, are key to enjoying a beautiful display of flowers in spring. When it comes to selecting spring bulbs for the garden, you are spoilt for choice. Their flowers come in a range of different colours, shapes and sizes, making them ideal for planting almost anywhere, including beds, borders and baskets.
Why now is the best time to plant potatoes for Christmas
If you love the idea of serving up your own home grown potatoes at Christmas, then August is the perfect time to start. We spoke to Rob Smith, product development manager for Sutton Seeds and Thompson & Morgan who says that a festive crop could be the best all year. "Growing potatoes in late summer in time for Christmas is probably even easier to do than growing them in the traditional spring planting season, no earthing up and less risk of damage from slugs and blight," he says.
How to 'Grow Your Groceries'
By An author and gardener recommends saving money by growing your vegetables at home. Simon Akeroyd, author of " Grow Your Groceries," offers advice to Here & Now' s Peter O'Dowd. Book excerpt: 'Grow Your Groceries' By Simon Akeroyd Excerpted with permission of Penguin Random House. This article was originally published on WBUR.org. Copyright 2025 WBUR
When and how to prune plum trees
Plums are one of our favourite fruits and there is no doubt that those picked fresh from a homegrown tree are so much tastier than those from the supermarket. However, in order to enjoy a regular supply of plums each year, it is sometimes necessary to give them a prune.
Why now is the best time to prune apple trees for bumper crops
Apple trees are amazing. Not only do they supply you with beautiful blossom in spring and healthy fruit in autumn, they are suitable for all shapes and sizes of gardens. You can grow them in containers in even the tiniest of gardens. So, whether you have a balcony, a courtyard or even a big garden, we can all grow apple trees. There are more than 2,500 exciting varieties to choose from, so by growing your own you don’t need to restrict yourself to the handful of types found on a supermarket shelf.
Memory decline can be slowed: here’s how to do it
By Becky Fuller | Published - 2 Feb 2023 | Updated - 9 Oct 2024 We’ve all walked into the kitchen and forgotten why. Or spent an age searching for our car keys only to discover they’re in our hand. Maybe you’ve been introduced to someone and instantly forgotten their name. Sometimes our memory just won’t work no matter how hard we try. Age-associated memory impairment is considered a normal part of ageing and is not an automatic precursor to dementia.
Top 7 books on gardening for World Book Day
by | 07 Mar 24 | Domestic Landscaping, Opinion | Whether you’re an aspiring green-thumb looking for a way to expand your gardening knowledge, or an experienced nature-based professional looking for inspiration for your next design. Maybe you work in the horticulture sector, in a non-nature facing role and want to explore the realm of greenery further, we’re here to help.
Overwhelmed by your garden? Try these 15 low- maintenance ideas - Saga Exceptional
News Overwhelmed by your garden? Try these 15 low- maintenance ideas Love your garden, but don’t have enough time to look after it? We’ve got 15 ideas to reduce your workload. Almost all of us would love to spend more time relaxing outside rather than working in it. Yet having a garden can take up a lot of our time with maintaining borders, weeding, cutting the grass, trimming hedges, etc. Time that probably most of us can’t spare in our busy lives.
Do your grass some good with these top autumn lawn care tips - Saga Exceptional
News Do your grass some good with these top autumn lawn care tips Author Simon Akeroyd Published: 07 October 2023 News Do your grass some good with these top autumn lawn care tips Don’t let the grass grow under your feet. Treat your lawn to some much-needed rest and recuperation this season. As temperatures take a dip and the growth of lawns slows up, we look at how to give your grass some TLC before the onset of winter.
How and when to prune apple trees
Scroll to section In this article News How and when to prune apple trees for bumper crops Regularly pruning your apple trees will improve your crops for next year. Apple trees are amazing. Not only do they supply you with beautiful blossom in spring and healthy fruit in autumn, they are suitable for all shapes and sizes of gardens. You can grow them in containers in even the tiniest of gardens. So, whether you have a balcony, a courtyard or even a large orchard, we can all grow apple trees.
How to propagate begonias from leaf cuttings
News How to propagate begonias from leaf cuttings (as seen on Gardeners’ World) On a recent episode of Gardeners’ World, Rachel de Thame visited York House to discover how to take leaf cuttings of begonias. As winter gradually approaches, my gardening focus is slowly moving towards keeping warm, staying dry and tending to my houseplants. Last week I was indoors, taking leaf cuttings of my Cape primroses, (streptocarpus) on a Friday evening while watching Gardeners’ World.
Monty Don's latest TV appearance reveals tips for planting spring bulbs
Presenting from his potting shed at Longmeadow in Herefordshire, in a recent episode of Gardeners’ World, Monty Don had some fantastic tips on planting spring bulbs. As he explained, although bulbs are available in the shops at the moment, there are couple of difficulties for gardeners. Firstly, most people’s gardens are possibly already full of plants at this time of year, so you might not have room to plant spring bulbs.
Monty Don's essential tips for planting spring bulbs in containers
Scroll to section In this article News Monty Don’s essential tips for planting spring bulbs in containers Now is the time for planting spring bulbs, and in the latest Gardeners’ World episode, Monty Don revealed six essential tips for growing them. Presenting from his potting shed at Longmeadow in Herefordshire, in a recent episode of Gardeners’ World, Monty Don had some fantastic tips on planting spring bulbs.
How and when to plant bulbs for spring - Saga Exceptional
News How and when to plant bulbs for spring Create a splash of colour in the garden this spring by planting bulbs Knowing when to plant bulbs at the right time, and how to do it, are key to enjoying a beautiful display of flowers in spring. When it comes to selecting spring bulbs for the garden, you are spoilt for choice. Their flowers come in a range of different colours, shapes and sizes, making them ideal for planting almost anywhere, including beds, borders and baskets.
I've been a professional gardener for 30 years - here's why I no longer dig my soil - Saga Exceptional
Scroll to section In this article News I’ve been a professional gardener for 30 years – here’s why I no longer dig my soil I’ve taken the backache out of vegetable growing with no-dig gardening. In the gentle world of vegetable gardening, digging (or to be more accurate, not digging) turns out to be a bit of a hot potato – who would have thought it?
These are the 10 best trees for small gardens - Saga Exceptional
News These are the 10 best trees for small gardens If you thought you didn’t have space in your small garden for a tree, think again! We’ve got some good news if you love trees but think you need a large garden to accommodate one. There are some gorgeous specimens out there that can be grown in the tiniest of spaces. And you don’t need to have 15 years under your belt as a fully-fledged bonsai tree-growing specialist. Many trees are naturally compact and small and some can even be grown in pots.
When and how to prune plum trees
Scroll to section In this article News When and how to prune plum trees Late summer is a good time to prune plum trees, – here’s how. Plums are one of our favourite fruits and there is no doubt that those picked fresh from a homegrown tree are so much tastier than those from the supermarket. However, in order to enjoy a regular supply of plums each year, it is sometimes necessary to give them a prune.
How to ripen green tomatoes
By Simon Akeroyd | Published - 8 Sep 2025 | Updated - 13 Aug 2026 So, you’re looking at your green tomatoes growing in the garden and thinking: 'I’m not sure these are going to ripen before the autumn frosts.' Well, worry no longer, because we have the best advice on how to ripen green tomatoes, so you can enjoy all of the fruits of your summer labours. What makes tomatoes turn red? In order to ripen green tomatoes, it’s useful to understand why they turn red.
How to ripen green tomatoes
Scroll to section In this article News How to ripen green tomatoes It’s easy to get your green tomatoes to ripen and turn red. We tell you how.
How and when to take rosemary cuttings
How To How and when to take rosemary cuttings Rosemary cuttings are easy to take and can provide you with an abundance of free plants. We explain how. What isn’t there to love about rosemary? Not only does rosemary bring amazing flavour to your dishes, but in the garden its evergreen foliage provides all-year-round structure and interest. The great news is that rosemary takes easily from cuttings, giving you or your friends an endless free supply of this aromatic, Mediterranean herb.
How and when to take rosemary cuttings
What isn’t there to love about rosemary? Not only does rosemary bring amazing flavour to your dishes, but in the garden its evergreen foliage provides all-year-round structure and interest. The great news is that rosemary takes easily from cuttings, giving you or your friends an endless free supply of this aromatic, Mediterranean herb.
Why now is the best time to plant potatoes for Christmas
How To Why now is the best time to plant potatoes for Christmas Impress family and friends by serving up your own home-grown potatoes at Christmas dinner. If you love the idea of dishing up your own home-grown potatoes at Christmas, then August is the perfect time to start. Saga Exceptional has been chatting to Rob Smith, product development manager for Sutton Seeds and Thompson & Morgan, who believes that your festive crop could be the best all year.
Sip By Sip Gardening
My name is Simon Akeroyd, although I’m known by friends as the Tippling Gardener. I’ve always had an interest in winemaking and brewing using ingredients I had grown myself at home. However, I always struggled to find information to help me grow it on a small scale, such as a courtyard garden or balcony. All the information I could find assumed you had a thirty-hectare vineyard in Provence or a hop farm larger than Kent, which, sadly, most of us don’t have.
RHS 50 WAYS TO OUTSMART A SQUIRREL & OTHER GARDEN PESTS
Ryan Beal April 21, 2021 Ingenious ways to protect your garden without harming wildlife Cut through the old wives tales, save your salt for seasoning, and discover gold-standard, sustainable planting solutions and crop-saving tips from gardeners who know exactly how you feel.
Smart mobility for a Smart Nation: Are we nearly there yet?
CONSIDER these statistics for a moment: 22 of the world's 39 megacities are in the Asia-Pacific region alone and, by 2050, 70 per cent of the world's population is expected to live in cities, a substantial increase from 55 per cent today. The rate of urbanisation in Asia is staggering,
Commentary: Singapore start-ups should solve problems, not focus on achieving 'unicorn' triumphs
Singapore’s start-ups should consider the road less travelled when it comes to business partnerships, says one observer from Amadeus. SINGAPORE: It’s 7.30pm after a long day in the office; you’re meeting someone for the first time. All you have to go on is their online profile and the hope that maybe, this time, they might be “the one”. Finding the right business partner can be as tough as finding a soul mate in Singapore – only there’s no Tinder for business match making.
The Bookshelf: Grow your brain and your garden
With the green beginning to emerge around the county, make sure that you have all the tools you need to help your garden grow.
Why hiring graduates isn't a cost to SMEs
New graduates are stepping out of university and finding it harder than ever to gain employment. They often turn to the graduate programs offered by large companies, where in some industries they take on hundreds of new recruits annually. For those that aren’t successful in these initiatives, or find themselves in an industry where programs like this don’t exit, it can be cause for concern. These graduates are particularly reliant on small businesses to fill the gaps.
WA cleaning company hit with a record $500k in penalties for exploiting overseas workers
The “deliberate”, “repeated” and “systemic” exploitation of three overseas workers has resulted in a West Australian cleaning company, including its husband and wife operators, being hit with nearly $511,000 in penalties for Fair Work breaches.
Focus on what you can 'uniquely own' on Amazon, BigCommerce CEO tells e-tailers
Small Australian retailers need to figure out what they can ‘uniquely own’ on Amazon and not waste their time on products that won’t win them the Buy Box, according to Brent Bellm, the CEO of ecommerce solutions provider BigCommerce. Bellm described Amazon as the “best online retailer we’ve ever seen”, adding that the company is “extraordinarily good at all aspects”, from pricing and SEO through to customer service, user experience and user-generated content (“look at all their product reviews”).
What you should look for in an ecommerce store designer
E-commerce is the lifeblood of many businesses. You literally cannot afford to have any mistakes made regarding your ecommerce store’s design. You also cannot afford the cost of lost traffic and abandoned shopping carts because of inadequate shopping site designs. Here are a few tips about what you should look for in an e-commerce store designer. Search engine optimization is important for any website, but it is essential for ecommerce sites.
One in two IT workers looking to jump ship
A lack of training and career development is fuelling employee dissatisfaction amongst Australia’s IT workers, with 49% actively looking for new work and a further 40% open to jumping ship for the right offer. These findings are from a survey of nearly 2000 tech workers undertaken by IT workforce solutions specialists Greythorn, which gathered data on issues such as pay, skills, career development, discrimination and the industry outlook.
Turnbull Government paying 60% of its small business invoices within 20 days, report shows
Federal Government agencies are paying 96% of their small business contractors within thirty days of receiving an invoice, according to a new report. Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack said the latest Pay On-Time report also found agencies were paying 60% of invoices up to $1 million within 20 days, and that the overall results were a “great outcome” for the 6,800 small businesses with government contracts.
Government to help small businesses digitise, go global with revised $18m advisory program
To help small businesses get online and reach new markets through digital platforms, the Federal Government has overhauled its Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) program, Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack has announced.
Cybercriminals turn to email impersonation as businesses focus on security against malware
With organisation preoccupied with the security challenge posed by malware, cybercriminals are switching impersonation attacks to bypass email security systems, according to research undertaken by Mimecast.
The future of AI-powered chatbots in business: From niche processes to industry features
Less than a decade ago, the concept of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered agents answering customer questions in real time was still considered out of reach for businesses of all sizes. Today, these virtual agents, otherwise called chatbots, are very real, indeed with business adoption growing exponentially. Last month NAB rolled out its ‘virtual banker,’ a virtual assistant using AI to answer more than 200 questions that were previously handled by call centres.
Let's Talk... Fintech | Dynamic Business
The financial services industry is in the midst of a digital revolution led by fintech startups. These nimble, customer-centric companies are rapidly establishing a new status quo as they hone in on the consumer and business pain points the large incumbents have failed to address.
Dealing with 'difficult' people at work
We’ve all encountered ‘difficult’ people in the workplace. Whether it’s a boss, a colleague or a subordinate, it’s challenging working in close quarters with someone whose personality or approach to work doesn’t always gel with our own and who pushes our buttons.
Newcastle incubator launches its new 30-seat venue for clean tech and smart cities startups
Newcastle-based startup incubator Eighteen04 has today opened its new 30-seat facility to accommodate growth in its community of clients working on clean tech and smart cities projects. According to Minister for Small Business John Barilaro, a $300,000 investment from his Government, through Jobs for NSW, had enabled Eighteen04, which launched in September 2015, to relocate from its original 10-seat facility.
Amazon takes off in Australia
Global retail giant Amazon has today officially entered Australia’s $300 billion retail market, with ‘millions’ of products across 23 categories – from books and music through to consumer electronics and clothing – now available for purchase through its local website. Here’s Amazon Australia at a glance… Orders fulfilled by Amazon Australia are being shipped from the company’s warehouse in Dandenong South, Melbourne.
ACCC to launch probe into Facebook, Google to understand impact on journalism, advertisers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will conduct an inquiry into the effect digital platforms such as Facebook and Google are having on competition in media and advertising services markets. ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said the commission will examine whether digital search engines, social media platforms and other digital content aggregation platforms are exercising market power in commercial dealings to the detriment of consumers, media content creators and advertisers.
Small Business Ombudsman launches probe into access to justice for SME operators
The Small Business Ombudsman has launched an inquiry into access to justice for small businesses, explaining the current legal system puts them in “no man’s land”. According to Kate Carnell, small business operators are at “the wrong end of a power imbalance” in dealings with big business and governments. “Consumer protections don’t always apply to small businesses, who have limited options in seeking resolution,” she explained.
Why the startup ecosystem needs more non-technical entrepreneurs, not stereotypes
"Literally, if you can get your idea on napkin, you’re at the right stage for us." To draw more talented non-technical entrepreneurs, including women, into the world of startups, BlueChilli is eschewing the Silicon Valley stereotype of founders being hoodie-wearing coders and using language that promotes inclusivity, according to co-founder and CEO, Sebastien Eckersley-Maslin.
"We're just like a dating site": Puffling's co-founder discusses her job-share platform
Fresh from winning the People’s Choice Award at the Visa Everywhere Initiative (VEI), a pitching competition for female-led startups, Puffling co-founder Sarah Parker spoke to Dynamic Business about the problem her ‘dating site’ for job sharers is solving for return-to-work parents and employers. DB: What is the elevator pitch for Puffling?
How you can discover your startup's sweet spot by looking beyond its Top 20 problems
There’s no doubting that the world of business is changing. The traditional model of large international corporates functioning in a singular, closed-door fashion is fast disappearing, with companies now open to collaboration or outsourcing. While previously big corporates, protected by expensive barriers of entry, were responsible for all “business problems” in-house, technology has now made it possible for many of these issues to be outsourced. Enter the entrepreneur.
Here’s what ‘smart cities’ will mean for travel
Around the world, cities are becoming smarter. Cities as unique as Singapore, San Francisco and Tel Aviv are all using advanced technologies to address complex, modern challenges of rapid population growth, traffic congestion and inadequate energy and resources, to make cities more safe, livable and sustainable.
Amadeus NEXT Project Propels Travel Startups in Asia Pacific
Startups disrupt the status quo by pushing technology to new frontiers and this is especially true in the travel space. This spirit of innovation is also a core component of who we are, so it only makes sense to foster and support the travel tech community in Asia Pacific. Enter Amadeus Next, our travel startup community, which was recently launched at Echelon Thailand 2015. Amadeus Next is not a short-term project, nor a one-off investment.
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