Millie Bull

French marigolds are presented as a hardy, low-maintenance alternative to hydrangeas for sunny, windy balconies, offering long-lasting blooms, pest deterrence and strong appeal to pollinators. They grow easily from seed in warm weather, thrive in full sun and require minimal care once established. Regular watering, deadheading and ample sunlight support flowering from spring to autumn, making them a reliable choice where more delicate plants struggle.

Experts recommend keeping windows, doors, blinds and curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day to reduce solar heat gain and prevent hotter outdoor air from warming indoor spaces. Windows should only be opened in the late evening or early morning once the outside temperature drops below indoor levels to create effective ventilation. Light-coloured blinds, decluttering for better airflow, reducing indoor heat sources, and enhancing fan cooling with ice are suggested to improve comfort. UK homes retain heat easily due to their insulation, making prevention of heat buildup essential during heatwaves.

A quick one-pan sausage traybake by Mary Berry uses simple ingredients including sausages, potatoes, peppers and onions, all roasted together and finished with white wine. The dish serves four to six people, requires minimal preparation and has earned strong reviews on BBC Food. White wine can be replaced with stock for children, and the traybake is served hot, optionally with mustard.

Explains how moth orchids can be encouraged to flower multiple times a year through careful watering, minimal feeding, selective pruning of flower spikes, and placement in bright indirect light. Highlights common mistakes such as overwatering and overfeeding, recommending a light-touch approach and noting signs of root rot. Suggests using orchid-specific fertiliser sparingly and ensuring adequate humidity and drainage to maintain healthy growth.

Moisture trapped in supermarket plastic packaging causes blueberries to mould quickly, leading Val Riley of Lovely Lucky Life to recommend transferring the fruit into glass jars with lids left slightly loose to improve air circulation. Drying the berries thoroughly, storing them on kitchen roll and removing any spoiled ones helps extend freshness by one to two weeks. Proper handling reduces waste and keeps berries firmer for longer.

Experts advise keeping windows, doors, blinds and curtains closed during the hottest parts of a heatwave to reduce solar heat gain and prevent hot air from entering the home. Windows should be opened only when the outside temperature drops below indoor levels, typically in the late evening or early morning, to allow cross‑ventilation and flush out accumulated heat. Additional recommendations include using reflective or thermal blinds, reducing indoor heat sources, improving airflow by removing clutter, and using fans or cooling systems such as air conditioning units or heat pumps to manage indoor temperatures more effectively.

Chef Joshua Weissman recommends adding a tablespoon of mayonnaise to eggs before microwaving them for 45 to 60 seconds to produce creamier scrambled eggs without extra butter or cream. The acidity in mayonnaise helps prevent the eggs from setting too quickly, keeping them tender. After cooking, the eggs can be served on their own or used in a breakfast sandwich with seared mortadella and American cheese.

Five Aldi cheese and tomato pizzas were taste-tested and rated for flavour, texture and value. The frozen Carlos Stonebaked Sourdough Mozzarella Pizza ranked highest for its rich sauce, balanced toppings and crisp sourdough base. The Specially Selected single‑serve sourdough pizza placed second, praised for quality but marked down for uneven topping distribution. The Stonebaked Margherita offered good value for under £2, while the Takeaway Classic Crust delivered a delivery‑style experience but lacked complexity. The Everyday Essentials budget option was basic but edible, mainly held back by its soft base.

Scrambled eggs are elevated using garlic, mushrooms and a small amount of flour to create a creamy garlic‑butter sauce inspired by Instagram cook Maham. The method involves scrambling eggs first, then preparing a seasoned sauce with butter, garlic, mushrooms, milk and spices before folding the eggs back in. The dish is suggested as a versatile option for breakfast or brunch and can be served with toast, sausages or tomatoes.

A method for achieving crunchier, caramelised cheese toasties uses a spread made from butter, honey and two sugars applied to the outside of the bread before frying. Combining cheeses such as cheddar and mozzarella creates a gooey centre, while the honey butter delivers a sweet, crisp exterior. The recipe provides ingredients, preparation steps and optional additions like pickles or ham to enhance flavour.

Home gardeners report success using garlic as a natural deterrent to prevent slugs from damaging plants, with multiple methods involving boiling or steeping bulbs before spraying or watering the mixture onto foliage. Members of a Mrs Hinch–inspired Facebook group shared variations on the garlic remedy, while additional suggestions included coffee grounds, salt, tea bags, eggshells, baking soda and beer traps. Supermarkets offer inexpensive garlic options, making the method accessible for those seeking a chemical-free approach to slug control.

A £40 Marks & Spencer Stormwear short parka is highlighted as a popular choice for spring, praised by customers for its lightweight design, stylish appearance and shower-resistant coating. Available in two colours and multiple sizes, the jacket receives positive feedback for comfort and packability, though some reviewers note the lack of zipped outer pockets and question full waterproofing. Alternatives from Asda and Uniqlo are also mentioned with similar water‑resistant features.

Seven chefs emphasise that thoroughly whisking eggs is the key to a soft, fluffy omelette. They offer tips on seasoning, heat control, choice of fat, and balancing fillings, along with several recipe variations that highlight different textures and flavours, from classic French styles to masala and mushroom versions.

Charlie Dimmock’s career and personal life are traced from her early horticultural training in Hampshire to her rise to prominence through the BBC series Ground Force and continued work on gardening programmes. Long-standing friendships with her co-presenters are highlighted along with her continued residence in the New Forest, where property prices remain high and stable. The article details her educational background, television career, and home renovations while noting current housing market figures for the area.

A refined sugar-free, butter-free pear upside-down cake uses tinned pears and their juice to add moisture and sweetness. The recipe, adapted from banana bread, combines mashed bananas, yoghurt, oil, eggs, vanilla, maple syrup and the reserved fruit juice before adding flour and baking powder. Pear halves are arranged in the tin with additional maple syrup and juice, then covered with the loose batter and baked until golden. The cake produces a syrupy glaze when inverted and can be served alone or with crème fraîche or Greek yoghurt.

Asda was identified as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for branded groceries for the second consecutive month, according to Which?, beating the loyalty pricing schemes of Tesco and Sainsbury’s. The analysis of 241 branded products showed Asda’s average basket cost £813.16 in March, lower than both competitors’ membership prices and significantly cheaper for shoppers without loyalty cards. Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s were notably more expensive for non-members, with some branded items showing price gaps exceeding 100%. Waitrose, while typically seen as premium, was cheaper than both Tesco and Sainsbury’s for non-loyalty customers in several cases. Supermarket spokespeople defended their pricing strategies, citing promotions, value ranges and price-match initiatives.

Multiple chefs agree that piercing or scoring a jacket potato before baking is essential for allowing steam to escape, producing a crisp skin and fluffy interior. They consistently recommend oven‑baking, avoiding shortcuts like microwaving, and selecting large floury varieties such as Maris Piper or King Edward. Techniques vary slightly—some advise using oil and salt, others prefer no coating—but all emphasise proper airflow, adequate time, and high heat. Additional tips include baking directly on the oven rack, using metal skewers, and squeezing the potato partway through cooking to enhance fluffiness.

A comparison test between two limescale removers found Astonish, the cheaper option, outperformed Viakal in cleaning heavily scaled shower heads. Astonish removed all residue, had a pleasant scent and offered better value, while Viakal left visible limescale despite scrubbing. The test concluded Astonish was the more effective and affordable choice.

A consumer taste test by Which? ranked M&S and Waitrose gold blend instant coffees as joint top performers, ahead of well‑known brands such as Nescafé, Douwe Egberts and Kenco. Aldi's Alcafe earned a Great Value award for its strong reception at a significantly lower price. Testers evaluated flavour, aroma, appearance and bitterness, with supermarket own‑label blends performing as well as or better than leading brands. Which? advised shoppers that big names do not guarantee better quality and that supermarket options can offer strong flavour and better value.

Monty Don has lived at Longmeadow in the Herefordshire village of Ivington for more than 30 years, transforming a derelict two‑acre field into a celebrated garden featured on Gardeners' World. The Tudor-style property, restored over a decade, includes extensive garden spaces, workrooms and a summerhouse. The area’s scenic surroundings contribute to high local property prices, with average homes in Ivington selling for £680,000. Longmeadow’s history, including the burial site of the family’s former pets, reinforces Monty Don’s deep connection to the home as he continues his television and gardening work.

A gardening instructor tested four methods to prevent cut tulips from drooping and found that piercing a small hole beneath the petals with a pin kept the stems upright far longer than coins, vodka or untreated water. The pin technique releases trapped air, improving water uptake and helping the flowers remain firm and tall.

Dietitian Alex Aldeborgh recommends replacing mayonnaise with Greek yoghurt in tuna sandwiches to create a lighter, higher‑protein filling that avoids soggy bread and preserves the tuna’s flavour. Greek yoghurt provides creaminess with fewer calories, adds tang, and enhances freshness, while mayonnaise is described as fatty and overpowering. The article includes a simple recipe using tuna, Greek yoghurt, mustard, dill, and pickles for a healthier, longer‑lasting sandwich filling.

A consumer study by Which? found that inexpensive supermarket wholemeal loaves often score higher nutritionally than premium artisanal and organic breads, with 13 affordable options achieving the top NPM score of 80. Some premium rye and malted varieties scored lower due to higher salt, lower protein, and refined flour content. Although all 60 loaves tested met government health criteria, wholemeal products consistently offered the best nutritional balance. Biona defended its low-scoring organic rye loaf, arguing that the NPM model overlooks the specific health benefits of wholegrain rye. Shoppers are encouraged to rely on legally protected ‘wholemeal’ labeling and fibre content to identify genuinely nutritious bread.

A refuse collector known as TikTok’s No1 Binman advises that household quantities of used cooking oil should be sealed in a non‑recyclable container and placed in general waste, warning against pouring it down the sink or using the food waste bin due to potential blockages and damage to bin liners. Larger commercial volumes require collection arranged through local councils. Zero Waste Scotland suggests reusing leftover oil for wood treatment or turning animal fats into homemade bird feeders.