This archive brings together practical, experience-led articles from The Backyard Farmer, covering gardening, DIY, indoor growing, foraging, reviews, and sustainable living. Each post is written with real-world use in mind — focusing on working with nature, building practical skills, and making sustainable choices more accessible.
Introduction If you’ve landed here because the BBC Virtual Garden Planner is no longer working, you’re not alone — and you’re definitely not doing anything wrong. For years, the BBC Virtual Garden Planner was a familiar starting point for UK gardeners looking for a simple
Introduction Gardening in the UK rarely follows a perfect timetable. The weather can turn quickly, soil often warms more slowly than the calendar suggests, and advice that worked one year may need adjusting the next. Because of this, knowing exactly what to plant on a
Introduction If you’re using BioBizz with autoflowers, one question tends to come up again and again: How much BioBizz should you use for autoflowers — and how often should you feed? Spend any time searching online and you’ll quickly notice how mixed the advice is.
Introduction If you’re growing autoflowers with BioBizz soil, most problems don’t come from which nutrients you’re using. Instead, they usually come from starting in the wrong soil strength. BioBizz Light-Mix, All-Mix, and standard potting soils behave very differently with autoflowers. However, they’re often treated as
Introduction If you’re searching for a BioBizz autoflower schedule, you’re probably not looking for hype or another copy‑and‑paste feeding chart. Instead, you want a simple, reliable BioBizz feeding schedule for autoflowers — something that’s easy to follow, forgiving, and proven to work in real‑world container
Introduction The Silky Leafcutter Bee (Megachile versicolor) is a small, attractive solitary bee named for the fine, silky hairs that give it a subtle sheen in good light. It is active through late spring and summer and is most often noticed visiting flowers in gardens
Introduction The Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica) is an early-flying solitary bee, named for the rich brown colouring often seen on females. It is one of the first mining bees to appear in spring and is commonly noticed when large numbers nest together in lawns,
Introduction The Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus rupestris) is a striking parasitic bumblebee recognised by its bold black body and vivid red tail. Active from late spring through summer, it is most often seen feeding on flowers rather than nesting, as it relies on other bumblebee
Introduction The Ruderal Bumblebee (Bombus veteranus) is a scarce and distinctive bumblebee in the UK, most often associated with flower-rich grassland, road verges, and lightly managed countryside. Active mainly from late spring through summer, it is a fast-flying species that can be overlooked unless conditions
Introduction The Cryptic Bumblebee (Bombus cryptarum) is a common but often overlooked bumblebee in the UK, largely because it looks extremely similar to other members of the white-tailed bumblebee complex. Active from early spring through late summer, it plays an important role in pollinating a
Introduction The Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) is a small, fast-moving solitary bee named for the subtle blue sheen often visible on its dark body. Active from spring into early summer, it is a familiar species in gardens and allotments where suitable flowers and nesting
Introduction The Moss Carder Bee (Bombus muscorum) is a softly coloured, shaggy bumblebee best known for its warm ginger-brown coat and gentle appearance. It is active from late spring through summer and is particularly associated with flower-rich coastal and grassland habitats. In the UK, this