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, but my thoughts are turning to the Mediterranean, and summer holidays. I like to imagine what I'll be growing and eating in the summer: masses of zingy tomatoes, sweet and crisp peppers, juicy cucumbers and buttery salad leaves. Oh, and warm ratatouille

.I love the way home-grown salads start off as a meagre collection of leaves in spring, then steadily grow as tomatoes, broad beans and other ingredients are ready to harvest. The watercress growing in my pond is always the first leaf crop I pick, followed

to harvest in just 15 days, after the first cotyledon leaves have emerged. They may be grown all year round, have an intense flavour, and are easy to grow. 'Bright and Spicy' micro greens mix includes pak choi and red amaranth leaves.Micro greens salad

Shorten sideshoots growing from the framework of espalier, fan and cordon-trained fruit trees back to about five leaves from their basePick fresh herbs for dryingPick gooseberries, currants, strawberries and other fruits as they ripenSupport heavily

in the garden before you leave them out.Feed fast-growing plants with fertiliser Thin out congested pond plantsHand flower beds to prevent weeds establishing Around the gardenPlant out dahlias into well-prepared soil Regularly tie tall stems of delphiniums

Plant out lettuce There's no secret to growing salad crops - just keep planting a little and often and you'll guarantee yourself continuous fresh leaves to add crunch and flavour to your meals. Homegrown salads are tastier, too, than anything you

around each plant and water.AdamMore advice on seed sowingGrowing chillies from seedGrowing salad leaves from seedGrowing tomatoes from seedBrowse a selection of herbs View a selection of vegetable plants

Finish planting out vegetable crops, including tomatoes, beans, courgettes and sweetcornSow summer salads in guttering to grow quick cropsUse netting to protect developing and ripening fruits from birdsTie in new shoots on blackberries, raspberries

August can often feel like a tricky time on the allotment. Lots of things like salad potatoes and beetroot have been harvested, leaving large gaps or whole beds free. Then there's the interruption of a summer holiday - should you sow anything new

It is much maligned, but I rather like it. It has a little fire to its breath, adding 'zing' to salads, and perking up sandwiches. No, I'm not thinking of any trendy leaves from a supermarket 'luxury range', or from a delicatessen. I'm thinking