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. Easy to look after as no thinning out or supports are needed. The same plants crop for three to four weeks, so sow a row every three weeks to keep yourself stocked all summer.Dwarf French beansCover well- prepared ground with paper or a plastic mulch

It's easy to be sniffy about the ornamental cabbage. It is quite a strange concept; an odd, Frankensteinish amalgam of vegetable and bedding plant. However, my mind was changed - temporarily at least - during a recent trip to New York. I saw

that fades when cooked. Good creamy white flesh with a deep flavour.'Heather' (second early)A dense, heavy, waxy texture with a classic, slightly sweet taste. Heavy yield, easy to grow.'Maris Peer' (second early)White flesh and an earthy taste. Not as waxy

Free and easyFavouring a more laid-back approach to gardening, I love plants that self-seed with abandon. Here are a few of my favourites...Find out how to collect allium seedsSelf-seeders are the opportunists of the plant world. They may

Soil typesYour soil type - sandy, loam or clay - determines which plant species you can grow. Knowing your soil type enables to you to choose the plants best suited to your garden. Soil type is identified the presence of clay, sand and silt

to town and urban spaces, and as a hardy annuals they are easy to grow from seed. Their popularity has also made them a favourite for cover mounting on Gardeners' World Magazine over the years – you may even be growing our '20th Anniversary Mix' sweet pea

New plants at Chelsea 2008The plant marquee is packed with new, and often awe-inspiring cultivars. Here are some of our favourites from this year's show.Jarava ichu, or Peruvian feather grass, forms mounds of bright green foliage with showy, silver

Japanese maples, or acers, are ideal for pots as they're slow growing and make stunning focal points. As well as being easy to look after, they'll reward you with feathery plumage all summer that slowly changes colour as the weather turns colder

Blackcurrants are easy to grow and more tolerant of heavy soils than other currant bushes. Just one plant can provide a generous crop of berries. If blackcurrant bushes are kept well fed and watered you could be harvesting fruit a year after

Make sure your greenhouse ventilation is constantly regulated during hot summer months, whether you're at home or not, by installing an automatic vent opener. Readily available, they're quick and easy to install, so heat-stressed plants will be a