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Mint plants give the best flavour and fragrance from new growth and are renowned for their vigour. So take cuttings in spring and you'll have young mint plants bursting with flavour and ripe for the picking to last you all summer. Mint plantSecateursPot or modular seed tray and p...

invert pots and check for signs of root development. Mist over foliage and ensure the compost stays moist.Once they have a good root system, tease cuttings apart and pot up individually into a loam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 2.Keep plants

Box always looks smart in a container but it's not the only shrub that can be clipped into shape. Myrtle is an excellent evergreen alternative. Faintly aromatic and with lovely white flowers in spring, it looks stunning from June to August, softened

Fish, cooked simply with herbs, is classic cuisine. The fine leaves of bronze fennel have a mild aniseed flavour and can be placed in the cavity of a fish prior to baking. The orange-scented thyme combines well with strong-flavoured fish like mackerel or herring, and is also good...

Herbs can transform a meal into a feast, enhancing and adding flavour to a huge array of dishes. Grow them in a pot by your back door for ease of access while you're cooking.The herbs in this pot recipe will all enhance the flavour of meat. Rosemary tastes amazing, fills the kitc...

Watch Monty Don as he creates a scented garden using a variety of lavender plants, with suggestions for encouraging bushy growth.summerMore advice on growing herbsMedicinal herbs by Jekka McVicarPicking herbsRaising new mint plantsPlanting herbs in a window box video projectBrows...

Rachel de Thame explains how to grow apple, pineapple and curly mint varieties in a pot, with advice on compost, planting and maintenance.springMore on growing herbsPractical advice on raising herbsVideo guide to How to grow peppermint and thyme in a containerGrow herbs from seed...

Lavender and thyme herbs emit a delicate fragrance. Position this hanging basket near the patio or a window so you can catch its scent on the wind. Choose a dwarf lavender, such as the compact 'Bella Series', as the centrepiece and surround it with one or several different variet...

The plants used in this hanging basket display are both colourful and fragrant. Heliotrope is one of the best scented plants for growing in a sunny spot, and works well in baskets. The lavender and nemesia are also richly fragrant, and all three plants will attract a wide range o...

Jekka McVicar's 10 companion plantsJekka McVicar's organic herb garden achieved a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. We caught up with her at the show to discover her top 10 herbs for growing as companion plants.Companion planting is an organic method of maintaining a na...