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I can never understand why people get twitchy about offering free accommodation. Not to humans of course, but to smaller critters with six legs and a serious tendency to help out in the garden.I'm thrilled to say that the first of the overwintering lacewings have started to seek ...

Last year I ripped out an old strawberry bed as the plants had gone past their best. As if by magic, I was sent several new strawberry varieties to trial. Of course, my son soon had his eye on the plants and suggested he grow them instead of me

A couple of years ago I finally took the plunge and planted an asparagus bed. Its a crop I'd never appreciated until a few years ago, but now I love it (especially lightly steamed, with a little salty butter). Now I'm all of a flutter, because

germinated.I've recently installed some raised beds, which should make growing root crops easier. I'm also growing parsnips and carrots in woven polythene planters. Filled with a mixture of some sandy imported soil, a bit of the native soil and a little well

and removing algae from between the panes, using a combination of strong water jets and a slim piece of plastic cut from a margarine tub. Then, having finally cleared the last of the tomatoes from the bed, I removed any lurking traces of grey mould from

, winter hardiness. In particular, what should be sold as a suitable ingredient for a winter container or bedding display and what should not? Take the cyclamen. Often for sale at this time of year as a small potted plant, it's generally labelled 'winter

into beds and pots. Few have survived the attentions of the squirrels that lurk in the Hampshire hillsides. The newly planted bulbs were fine for a couple of days, but, with other things on my mind, I forgot to cover the area with mesh. The squirrels have

. Indeed it was so perfect that another trailer load has now appeared - the first batch having been added to the main growing beds. This time the fruit is benefitting; a good, deep carpet of the stuff has been applied around the raspberries and fruit trees

weeding easier. Kept adequately moist, the seeds will soon germinate, and, after thinning, the plants grow like billy-o. Hardy annuals tend to be more drought tolerant than more highly priced bedding plants, and are pretty resilient. They make for a

We’ve finished clearing out all the summer containers and started replanting them with winter bedding. I really love potting up plants, especially in late-autumn and winter when any dash of colour is welcome in the garden.A trip to our local market