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if their petals remain unscathed the flower cannot set fruit.I grow about 10 different varieties of apple in my garden. Anyone looking for an abundance of bloom should make their way to the Blossom Weekend at Brogdale Farm in Kent on Saturday 17 April and Sunday

Picking broad beans really is a family affair in the Pasco household. The fat, swollen pods are full of promise and we eagerly pop them open to release the harvest.Much to my wife's surprise, my two children really enjoyed their first taste of broad

of all votes cast. In second place came 'Zephirine Drouhin', closely followed by 'Fragrant Cloud'.This is the perfect time of year for planting bare-rooted roses, which make excellent gifts. With only 40 shopping days left until Christmas, I'd get your

. For 2011 I'll be learning my lesson from the past week, and resolving to enjoy my own achievements, but more than ever value those nature creates without me having to lift a finger. What gardening resolutions will you make?

!Ever fancied breeding your very own new colours of hellebore? Carol explained how, making it look remarkably easy. That's another thing I'll enjoy doing when mine come into flower soon.No gardening programme would be complete without, in Carol's words

't go amiss either. Then keep picking off faded flowers to make way for new ones growing up from the base.So far the displays are looking great, but in previous years I have found sparrows start pecking away the leaves. I'm not sure if they're hungry

when it comes to composing on a plate. Grated, sliced or chopped – preparing veg in different ways also makes a difference, but I digress.We all want colour in our gardens, so what about colour in our veg plots and allotments? Flowers play their part

and save seed for use next year.Deadheading spent blooms makes plants look tidier and promotes further flowering, but I allow several of my favourite flowers to form seeds. Some are just left to ripen and fall onto surrounding soil to germinate there

made it impossible to sow seeds directly outside in the garden. The ground was just too wet, making it difficult to prepare the surface soil to sow into. Any small seeds I did endeavour to sow got washed away, wasting time, effort and money

have to consider switching to alternative bedding plants. Clearly this also worries the plant breeders and growers who make a living out of developing and raising busy Lizzies.At present it appears that impatiens downy mildew only infects varieties