The founding members of the Royal Horticultural Society who oversaw its formation as a charity in 1804 would doubtless have been gratified to know that, almost 220 years later, it would not only still be going strong but using technology that would have blown their minds. They would, then, have surely smiled in benign if puzzled satisfaction at the RHS’s latest launch: it very own app, called, simply, Grow.

Aimed at any level of gardener, from the total novice to the seasoned pro, it parcels up over 200 years-worth of horticultural expertise and delivers it straight to your phone. The
gardening experience of botanists, scientists, fruit and veg experts is now but a green-fingered tap away, whether you want to learn how to maximise your fruit and veg harvests or you’re looking for ideas for how to make the most of a small outdoor space.

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Whether you’re choosing plants for your windowsill, looking for advice on a specific plan (it has 65,000 species covered) or hoping to identify the blooms in your garden, Grow is also designed to give helpful suggestions and send reminders that will, in turn, ensure that your patch of green space thrives all year round. Additionally, it will gently guide users on how to garden sustainably, saving water and creating hospitable habitats for native wildlife.

Martine Parnell, RHS Director of Members, Marketing & Digital, says: ‘Growing plants helps to support biodiversity and makes people happier and healthier. Twenty six million people come to the RHS each year for simple and trusted gardening advice and the new RHS Grow App will help your plants flourish by reminding you how to care for them, whether you’re growing your own vegetables or creating a tranquil green space.’

Available to download for Android or iPhone from the App Store or from Google Play. It's free right now. In the future there will be a fair price to use the app, which will support the work of the RHS.

By Nancy Alsop
June 2023