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whenever you want them.May - JulyJuly - August30 minutes Herbs, e.g. basil, coriander, chives, rosemary, parsleyWindow boxDrillBubble wrapPolystyrene chipsCompostGrit Slate chippingsDrill holes in the bottom of the container and line the sides with bubble

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

Surround your roses with strongly scented companion plants, such as lavender, thyme, rue and garlic chives, to help keep aphids at bay. While gardeners are attracted by their beauty, rose pests are deterred by the herbs' strong scents. March - April

Herbs make the perfect partners to vegetables, whether they're eaten raw, roasted, boiled, mashed or fried. Mint is delicious cooked or raw, with root vegetables, in salads or dressings and marinades. Chives, with their mild onion flavour, are very

Feed tomatoes in growing bags and pots with a liquid high-potash fertiliser Plant nerines, lachenalia and veltheimia bulbs in potsTake leaf cuttings from begonias, Cape primroses and African violetsSow winter lettuces in potsPot up clumps of chives

. It may be cheating Nature but it extends the life of your plants and gives you handfuls of herbs to enjoy.HerbsSecateurs or scissorsIce-cube traysMarch - August (or whenever herbs have usable foliage)10 minutes Chives grow quickly in spring and summer

Growing herbs from seed discs is a simple alternative for anyone who struggles with sowing small herb and salad seeds. These are filled with seeds for herbs such as basil, chives and parsley, or salads such as mixed leaves, mesclun or rocket