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rocket and claytonia, spinach beet, French and runner beans, and turnips.Alan Titchmarsh had some helpful advice in the February issue of Gardeners' World magazine, too, encouraging us all to grow more veg. His top four space-saving crops were spring

that we gave away with our April issue.Very dry spring weather made it quite a challenge getting sweet peas established this year, and regular watering has been essential. Dryness at the root through summer is one contributory factor to the powdery mildew

. The National Trust's Bodnant Garden near Snowdonia was a delight. Widely appreciated as a spring garden for rhododendrons and azaleas, the garden is keen to promote its year-round appeal, and certainly looked wonderful in August.A calm overnight sailing

level and pile on a deep layer of compost to prevent frost penetrating the ground and reaching the tubers.This has worked well in the past, although dahlias that are left outdoors are slower to get going in spring than those started off in the warmth

seed sowing. My sowing list includes greenhouse tomatoes, chillies and sweet peppers, plus a few half-hardy bedding varieties – all plants that benefit from early sowing and a long growing season.My plan for the week involves something of a spring clean

, but don't expect to like them all. Everyone’s taste is different.Seed companies are always introducing new varieties, and trying to tempt us to grow something different. Tomato 'Sweet Aperitif' is one such introduction this spring. The company are so keen

be sown now including salad leaves, beetroot, spring onions, herbs, sweetcorn, French and runner beans, squash, courgettes, marrows and more. The top job for the next couple of weeks is to get seeds sown so you can enjoy these crops later this summer

up more quickly in spring, especially when covered with black polythene or cloches, creating ideal conditions to get crops off to an early start.I’ve built brick raised beds on my patio too, filling one with ericaceous compost for acid-loving plants