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like rocket, watercress, and a range of warming mustard leaves. Baby spinach leaves provide more texture and flavour than lettuce too.Growing young salad leaves doesn't take much space and they're quick, only taking about a month from sowing to your

thing, it has continued growing strongly to dominate this display. Yes it's tender, but I could take cuttings now to keep young plants through winter on a warm, bright windowsill. The contrast in colour between the cream-and-pink-veined upper surface

. These develop through late-summer, the seeds within becoming more prominent, particularly when backlit by the sun.The pods take on a purplish hue in autumn, then dry and discolour to dirty brown. But don’t despair. Rub them gently between your fingers

Knowing exactly how to care for plants is a matter of judgement and experience. Many plants need treating with tender loving care, but others can benefit from 'mean' treatment.Take my agapanthus. In their 'youth' agapanthus produce leaves and shoots

unstaked. All it takes is one downpour and strong wind when plants are coming into flower and the whole lot can be flattened.But this May has caught me out. Some of my plant supports are in place, but not all of them. In the past two-three weeks my

have to repeat the process several times.The autumn free fall is a real bonus. Leaves rot down into gorgeous compost, so I'll make the most of my free supply. On lawns they're easy to collect. I simply raise the cutting height on my mower blades

as the season progresses. They also provide great cut flowers, or just simply take a single flower and float it in a glass bowl of water as a simple table decoration.Another favourite is Tulbaghia, and in particular a variety called ‘Silver Lace’ with silvery

When growing edible crops, it is essential to use your plot efficiently, especially if space is limited. It’s no good growing an unusual variety with a tiny yield if it takes up space that could be used for a more productive crop – particularly

to meeting hundreds of you in person.Staying at a hotel close to the shows venue at Birmingham's NEC for the next six days I find it hard to travel light, especially when I have so many plants and props to take with me for our theatre shows. Thanks goodness

Queen Mother. Olga, the new head gardener, is just coming to terms with such an exposed garden, designed in part to provide cut flowers and produce for the house. Tall walls and dividing hedges are essential to create shelter, and new planting projects