Welcome to iGardening

Hello, and thanks for visiting. I’m Darren, and horticulture has been my life’s work and passion since I was a child. I caught the gardening bug from both my grandads and started tending my own plants at the age of six. Since then, my journey has taken me from garden centres and wholesale nurseries to working with some of the UK’s largest online mail-order plant suppliers.

I studied horticulture straight out of school because I knew early on that this was where I belonged. Over the years, I’ve worked in many parts of the industry and always approached every role with one thing in mind — the customer. However, after spending time in the online plant trade, I became disheartened. Too often, the focus is on profit margins, not plants or people. Product descriptions tend to be one-sided, highlighting only the positives while quietly ignoring the downsides.

That’s why I created iGardening — a place where you’ll find honest, experience-based gardening insights into the plants you’re thinking of growing. Each guide explores not just the selling points but also the practical realities — from how well a plant performs in the average UK garden, to its real maintenance needs, potential drawbacks, and quirks.

This site is a passion project, and it’s growing organically (pun intended). I’m starting with the plants I know and love best — favourites I’ve grown, studied, or stumbled across at trade shows and breeder previews. Even with decades of experience, I’m still learning, and that’s part of the joy of horticulture. There’s always something new to discover, and I’ll be sharing those discoveries with you as the site evolves.

I write every article, and I’ve made a conscious decision to prioritise quality over quantity. The plant guides are carefully researched, written in plain UK English, and based on real-life knowledge. I attend industry events to stay current with the latest introductions, and I’ll be posting regular updates on interesting new varieties, tips, and seasonal advice.

You may notice some affiliate links on the site. These link to trusted retailers I’ve personally used or worked with — places I know offer excellent quality and reliable service. If you do choose to buy through those links, it helps support the site at no extra cost to you. However, affiliate status doesn’t influence what I say — if a plant has challenges, I’ll tell you.