Whether you're tending a sprawling vegetable patch or nurturing houseplants on a sunny windowsill, gardening connects us to the rhythms of nature and the satisfaction of growing something with our own hands. From understanding soil composition and seasonal planting to choosing the right tools and managing pests naturally, there's always something new to discover in this timeless practice. Test your gardening knowledge and see how much you know about this rewarding pursuit.
▶ Play today's quizWhich garden creature is widely valued for naturally eating aphids?
Source: A single ladybird can devour thousands of aphids in its lifetime, making it a gardener's free pest control.
What is the main purpose of adding compost to soil?
Source: Compost feeds soil microbes and slowly releases nutrients, which is why it's called black gold by gardeners.
Which of these plants is commonly grown for its edible root?
Source: Wild carrots were originally purple or white; the familiar orange carrot was popularised much later in the Netherlands.
Which tool is designed mainly for breaking up and loosening soil?
Source: A garden fork aerates compacted soil without slicing through roots the way a spade can.
What does 'deadheading' a plant mean?
Source: Removing faded blooms tricks the plant into making more flowers instead of setting seed.
Which growing condition do most cacti and succulents prefer?
Source: Most succulents rot far faster from overwatering than from drought, the opposite of many houseplants.
What is the practice of growing certain plants together for mutual benefit called?
Source: Marigolds planted near tomatoes are a classic pairing, said to deter nematodes in the soil.
Which of these is a leafy herb commonly used fresh in cooking?
Source: Parsley is biennial, flowering in its second year, which is why it's usually grown fresh each season.
What is the main benefit of spreading mulch over garden beds?
Source: A mulch layer slows evaporation and suppresses weeds, cutting watering needs dramatically in summer.
Which process do green leaves use to make food from sunlight?
Source: Leaves capture light with chlorophyll, releasing the oxygen we breathe as a by-product.
Which soil pH range do blueberries need to thrive?
Source: Blueberries struggle to absorb iron in neutral soil, turning their leaves yellow without acidic conditions.
What does it mean when a plant is described as 'biennial'?
Source: Biennials grow leaves the first year and flower the second, then die, like foxgloves and parsley.
Which gardening technique joins a cutting onto another plant's rootstock?
Source: Most apple trees you buy are grafts, since seeds rarely grow true to the parent variety.
What is the purpose of 'hardening off' young seedlings?
Source: Gradually exposing greenhouse seedlings to wind and cold prevents the shock that can kill them outdoors.
Which nutrient, the 'N' in NPK fertiliser, mainly drives leafy green growth?
Source: Too much nitrogen gives lush leaves but few flowers or fruit, a common beginner mistake with tomatoes.
Which climbing support method bends a stem to the ground to root a new plant?
Source: Strawberries do this naturally through runners, rooting wherever a node touches the soil.
What does crop rotation in a vegetable garden mainly help prevent?
Source: Moving crop families each year starves pests and diseases that overwinter waiting for the same plants.
Which element are the spongy bodies of peat bogs, harvested for compost, mostly made of?
Source: Peat forms over millennia from sphagnum, which is why many gardeners now avoid it for environmental reasons.
What term describes plants pollinated specifically by night-flying moths?
Source: Moth-pollinated flowers tend to be pale and strongly scented after dark, like evening primrose, to guide their visitors.
Which deficiency causes the yellowing-between-veins known as chlorosis in garden plants?
Source: Iron is needed to build chlorophyll, so a shortage drains the green from leaves while veins stay dark.