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closer look when the programme returns, and following its development week by week.I love Monty's very practical, hands-on style of gardening, and the immense authority and trust with which he shares his knowledge. He really is a man of the soil, much

and fed them on cubes of luncheon meat or the occasional tiny slug. Eventually they would get tipped into the garden ponds, two ceramic butler sinks sunk into the soil, and they lived there for several years.As far as I know the newts still breed in those

humidity, but it's best to put them outside in a sunny, sheltered position after all risk of frost has passed. Only water them once the soil has dried out and add liquid seaweed, to aid nutrient absorption.I've decided that 2011 will see my orange tree

in the loose soil, the bee-flies will be on hand to take advantage. They are brood parasites. With a characteristic bobbing flight, they flick their tiny bouncing-bomb eggs into the bee burrows. The bee-fly larvae quickly hatch, then eat pollen, nectar and host

soon germinate.I do prefer sowing in small pots in my greenhouse, and then planting out seedlings, but if you really don't want the hassle just sow them directly into the soil in May at the base of a support. Once shoots have grown about 15cm tall

the top layer of soil, replace it with fresh, home-made compost and give all the plants a good water. Any vine weevil grubs will be dispatched to the blackbird, and the thyme replaced with some garlic chives, which I'm ready to plant out. I'll prune out

into the soil before planting. I crammed three plants into the end of one of my deep beds, where it can be left undisturbed to flourish. A deep compost mulch and regular watering during last summer's drought got it well established. However, this spring two

architects who smother and pollute those remaining bits of well-drained soil with the likes of cherry laurel and plush mown lawn.The new housing developments in south-east England remind me of Anville, the uniform town that is the home of The Cat in the Hat

was bred in England and is perfectly suited to the UK climate. Requires a sunny position and well-drained soil.Iris 'Semiramis'Following on from the success of Mayan 'Gold', Thompson & Morgan (T&M) is launching two new varieties of potato; 'Mayan Queen

, they will not thrive in sodden soils - decent drainage is essential. As with any other plant, get them off to a good start by incorporating plenty of organic material, such as home-made compost. Oriental poppies will appreciate a small amount of fertiliser, but don