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, wild pear and buckthorn should cater for a wide range of species. A patch of long grass may encourage some species to breed, while a more relaxed attitude to 'pests' will go a long way to boosting caterpillar numbers in your garden.Moths, like bees

within. Many of these creatures would have provided a free source of pest control for the Incas' crops.This system of terraces is thought to have fed millions. It was so successful that many Andean people are today re-learning how to raise food

? Bittercress lives up to its name. It’s often inadvertently imported on the surface of compost of potted young plants, but I don’t make it welcome. It's a pest, albeit a tasty one.Ground elder was the invasive thug we battled with in my childhood garden, though

or raised beds, because the plants are already as closely spaced as you dare).Pests and disease are more of a problem with closely spaced crops, so opt for modern pest- and disease-resistant varieties, where possible.Another good idea when space is tight

or espalier, try MM106 or MM116 rootstock. For larger trees, choose MM111. You can get smaller rootstocks such as MM26 and MM27, but these tend to produce a smaller crop of fruit with greater susceptibility to pests and disease.What are your favourite apple

potash tomato feed will help encourage good flowering and fruiting.Pests have turned up too, so I'm using a safe spray called SB Plant Invigorator to provide foliar feed and control of red spider mite and whitefly.There are many crops that can still

on the best vegetables to grow for beginners.How to... grow fruit and vegetablesAlys Fowler has picked out her top ten vegetables for beginners to grow. These plants require minimum maintenance, suffer from few pests and diseasesand will produce a decent yield

the nettle growth, too.)Nettles as aphid trapNettles are the number one destination for ladybirds with eggs to lay. These eggs turn into ladybird larvae, which predate on garden pests, including aphids, whitefly and red spider mite.Nettles for ladybirds