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.This week I'll be picking my first greenhouse cucumbers. I'm growing 'Tiffany', a powdery mildew-resistant variety, and my three plants are carrying at least 20 fruits between them. All the family love cucumber, so this is one thing we won't have to buy

When growing edible crops, it is essential to use your plot efficiently, especially if space is limited. It’s no good growing an unusual variety with a tiny yield if it takes up space that could be used for a more productive crop – particularly

Parts of my garden have resembled something of a battleground this year. Why is it that all my favourite plants and crops have their very own pest to contend with? Grow lilies and you'll be hard pressed not to find lily beetle munching them. My

the melianthus I raised from seed, and quite large pots of agapanthus that I probably couldn't replace, and which would take an age to grow again.A large electric propagator does provide an alternative for seed raising, just warming the area I need for seeds

. Tomatoes and cucumbers are growing in pots supplied with regular water from automatic watering systems. These are fed from tanks topped up once a week at the most with a solution containing nutrients.Self-watering capillary matting trays cover the staging

. Seedlings need watering, as do flowering broad beans and garlic.I'm anxious to get tender crops planted outside so that I can set-up an automatic watering system in the greenhouse for my tomatoes and cucumbers. Chillies, sweet peppers and aubergines grow

to me waiting to be read. I know that I'll be growing tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, climbing courgettes, and some of those trailing begonias that did so well last summer, so I must choose my varieties. Planning for the year ahead will give me something