Ever since I spotted Shirlie and Martin Kemp’s stunning pumpkin archway on Instagram, I’ve been so excited for Autumn. So, I’ve asked gardening experts how we can get the look, too.

Pumpkins are the hallmark of any autumn decorating idea, and you can’t really get any more authentic than growing your own pumpkins just in time for cosy soup season. Plus, they’re also a vegetable you can grow vertically, hence why pumpkin arches are typically spotted in small gardens and allotments.

The Kemps frequently share glimpses into their stunning Hertfordshire garden, and their pumpkin archway is the latest piece of garden inspo to make the grid. If you’re also fed up with the constant heat and are looking forward to the season ahead, read on to find out how you can create a statement archway, too.

Pumpkin archways have become increasingly popular in recent years. It was only this time last year when Stacey Solomon’s pumpkin doorscape completely blew us away. Martin and Shirlie’s is a little more subtle than hers, but I’d argue it is more attainable.

Celebrity couple Martin and Shirlie Kemp’s garden is truly stunning. Uploading updates to their home Instagram account @maisonnumber9, their garden has somehow thrived despite the summer’s baking heatwaves.

And it’s clear they’ve been thinking ahead, too, if their pumpkin arch is anything to go by. Using a sturdy arch structure, like this £9.99 metal trellis from B&Q, they’ve trained their pumpkin to grow vertically over its support. It may sound complicated, but it’s actually a very well-known small garden idea, and one you can achieve quite easily with the right technique.

How to make a pumpkin arch

However, don’t expect to grow a pumpkin arch this year if you haven’t planted any yet. The best time to plant pumpkins for a Halloween harvest is mid-April to May. But if you do hope to recreate Martin and Shirlie’s arch, now is a good time to start prepping.

‘I can completely understand why pumpkin arches have become so popular in recent years. They transform a practical crop into something really eye-catching, creating a beautiful feature in the garden while making the most of the space available. There’s something quite magical about walking beneath a canopy of large leaves and hanging pumpkins, and they offer that perfect blend of ornamental and edible gardening,’ comments Luke Newnes, gardening expert at Hillarys.

‘For gardeners thinking ahead, August is a great time to prepare the area where you plan to grow a pumpkin arch next year. I’d focus on improving the soil with plenty of organic matter, as pumpkins are hungry plants that thrive in rich, fertile conditions. If you already have pumpkins growing, August is the time to keep training the vines, watering consistently and encouraging healthy growth.’

As Luke mentions, if you do have pumpkins growing right now, you can start training the vines and begin to attain your archway. For this, you’ll need some cable ties (like £5.99 green cable ties from Amazon) to help keep the vines in place.

When it comes to training pumpkins up an arch or trellis, I find it’s best to start while the vines are still young and flexible. I gently weave the stems through the structure as they grow, helping them find the direction I want them to take. It’s important not to rush or force the stems, as they can be surprisingly fragile. Once they’re established, they tend to continue climbing quite happily on their own,’ says Luke.

Then, it’s all about ensuring your pumpkin is well supported to reduce pressure on the vines. In fact, a few comments in Kemp’s comment section suggest using old tights to support the fruit – and it turns out to be a really handy tip!

‘Pumpkins don’t naturally climb like some other vines, so you’ll need to guide the main stems upwards as they grow and loosely tie them to the arch using soft garden ties or strips of fabric. Avoid tying too tightly because the stems will thicken as they mature,’ says Dr Russell Sharp, founder of Eutrema.

‘Once the pumpkins start forming, support the fruit with slings made from old tights, netting or fabric bags to take the pressure off the vines. The aim isn’t to force the plant into a perfect shape, but to guide it upwards while allowing it to grow naturally. With regular checks and support, the arch will gradually become covered with foliage and hanging fruit.

What you need

A pumpkin arch can add some extra height and structure to your garden while taking up minimal planting space. Will you be giving it a try?

Queer Eye fans buckle up! Tan France has released his first collection of furniture and homeware, created in collaboration with Castlery. The Tan France x Castlery range includes 18 products, each designed by Tan himself in partnership with the furniture brand.

While Tan is known primarily as the fashion expert and stylist on the popular TV show Queer Eye, he’s been active in the home and interiors space, too, especially since renovating his gorgeous Salt Lake City home, all documented in detail by Architectural Digest – from Tan’s choice of kitchen worktops to the exact paint shades in every room. So a full homeware collection designed by Tan is an exciting prospect – and one that did not disappoint as it’s stylish, unique and full of thoughtful details.

The range is already available to shop online now, but as a fan of Tan’s home already, I couldn’t resist asking him which pieces he’s most obsessed with and which already have a place in his home.

What to expect from the range

Tan’s British-Pakistani heritage was the main source of inspiration behind the look and the motifs of the pieces. ‘The scalloped details from South Asia and England are something that I saw dotted around my house, but also around the UK on what were traditional English buildings,’ Tan told Ideal Home. ‘That was the main inspiration behind the collection. I wanted the collection to feel so singular. One that could truly have only been created by me, so using my two cultural touch points felt like the right jumping off point.’

These references are obvious in everything from the engravings on the legs of the Anaya tea table – that’s right, no coffee table here – to the shape of the Anika table lamp and the aforementioned scalloping of the Rayan mirror.

Originally from Singapore, Castlery (much like Tan) is a very international brand. So the partnership was a good fit for both sides. ‘Before I joined them for the collaboration, I went to visit their store in Singapore to make sure I loved the quality and that this was going to be the right fit for me. I’m over the moon with how it all went. They agreed to let me design whatever I wanted to, as opposed to selecting new colours and fabrics of what they already make, which was a major plus point for me,’ Tan says.

Tan’s top pieces

Even though Tan has designed every single piece in the range and therefore loves them all, of course, there are a handful of products that stand out even in his eyes, including the iconic-looking modular sofa called the Kagan sofa, defined by wood panel inserts and carved, vintage-style wooden legs.

‘I am obsessed with my lamp. I think it’s the perfect balance of play and sophistication to bring newness to any space. And I’m crazy about my sofa. I think the wooden details make it feel so darn unique. I have the lamps in my home already and love them. I also have the side table which I think is stunning,’ Tan says.

But he predicts it will likely be the home accessories that will be the most popular with customers, the Anika table lamp included, of course. ‘I think the accessories will be the most popular as they’re easy to style, add pops of interest and are really well priced,’ he concludes.

When I packed up and headed to university back in September 2019, the one thing my mum gave me was a Crockpot Slowcooker (£31, Argos). And now, four years later, it’s the one kitchen appliance I can’t live without.

If you have a loved one heading to university this autumn, I’d argue that one of the best slow cookers is possibly the best thing to send them off with – it definitely was for me. Slow cookers are cheap to run, make meal prep a breeze, and don’t take up as much worktop space as one of the best air fryers.

I’m always waxing lyrical about my slow cooker and how much I love using it. I genuinely whip it out every week, and now it’s the kitchen appliance I’d recommend to anyone moving out for the first time.

Until I was given a slow cooker, I didn’t really see their merit, to be honest. If I’m being really honest, coming home from school to see the slow cooker was on the side was fairly disappointing. It wasn’t until I started using my own that I realised you could make a lot more than stew.

My mum firmly told me she swore by hers, and after school stew aside, I took her advice. I’ve never looked back either. As an 18-year-old essentially let loose in London for the next three years, I had better things to do than spend my evenings slaving away behind an oven, and I really didn’t have the budget to rely on takeaways.

Here, my slow cooker maths came into play. Before heading into lectures in the morning, I could simply dump my ingredients into the cooker, set it to low, and when I arrived home I’d have a hot meal waiting for me (and leftovers to feed me over the rest of the week).

At home I’d cooked for my family, but now cooking for just myself, I found it frustrating and expensive buying ingredients only to not be able to use them all up before they went out of date. But being able to quickly batch cook in my slow cooker meant I could use all my ingredients up and leftovers could be deposited in the freezer or fridge. Now, I practically worship slow cooker dump bags, which make prep even easier, and swear by the OXO GoodGrips Silicone Bags (£20, Amazon) to do so.

Slow cookers are also really cheap to run. In fact, it’s probably your cheapest kitchen appliance, making it very student-friendly. Plus, my experience of slow cookers is that they can deepen the flavour of the dish you’re cooking. I’ve learned this the hard way by adding slightly too much spice to curries and consequently blowing my own head off.

Throughout university, I used my slow cooker to make a range of dishes from bolognese, curries and casseroles to mulled wine at Christmas and joints of pulled pork for dinner parties and BBQs during the summer.

Now aged 25, I still use the same Crockpot on a weekly basis. It is genuinely my favourite kitchen appliance. And while I keep thinking I need to upgrade my slow cooker (I’ve been looking at the Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 8L Possible Cooker, was £150, now £120 at Argos), I can’t quite bring myself to part with my trusty Crockpot.

My mum was absolutely right in gifting me a slow cooker over any other kitchen appliance or utensil when I headed off to uni seven years ago. I now recommend the same appliance to all my friends and extend the same recommendation to any freshers this year.