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I've always assumed melons would be far too difficult or temperamental to grow in the UK, despite the Victorians' success at growing them in heated greenhouses.But a couple of summers ago, I visited the Thompson & Morgan seed trials in Ipswich

of action. As I don't have one the greenhouse offered my best alternative. I don't heat my greenhouse, so will just be providing a few degrees of protection plus shelter from freezing. I hope it will survive, despite the cold weather arriving early

.Beefsteak tomato plants are as robust as any other greenhouse variety, taking up just as much space, but producing a fraction of the total yield you would expect. Yes, individual fruits are bigger, but in my book bigger isn't always better!Rather than producing

greenhouse in April the seeds germinated readily, sending up long shoots carrying tendrils that catch onto anything close-by for support. Achocha isn't hardy so I waited until conditions had warmed up before planting out at the base of my fence and fan

are small onions that can be planted straight out on the plot during March or April. The sets slowly swell into large onions, ready to harvest in late summer. Onion sets are convenient, as they don't take up valuable greenhouse space at a time when it's at a

, brought into the warm and protected environment of my greenhouse to ripen in time for Wimbledon. When I came to harvest them, bowl in hand, the fruits were gone.Now it's the blackberries, which are just starting to ripen and will hopefully provide rich

, so I keep the agapanthus pots outside to enjoy for as long as possible before carrying to the winter shelter of my unheated greenhouse.Many of the tender bulbs I grow outside in pots form attractive seed heads, and patient gardeners may be tempted

, above) I'd recommend sowing fresh seed in March/April in a warm greenhouse or on a windowsill.When it comes to self-seeding, this generous verbena usually obliges each summer. Just let the seed fall from plants where they grow, and with luck you'll enjoy

and Adrienne, on a post and wire support in front of my greenhouse.The wet June weather has had two effects. Firstly there is a lovely crop of healthy new canes developing from the base that I'm training in. These will carry next year's crop. Secondly

greenhouse cucumbers always succumb to red spider mite. Hostas act like a magnet to the local snail population.Well, I'm not having this! I've been fighting back, organically of course, especially on crops I'm going to eat or feed the family.How disappointing