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Jekka McVicar's 10 companion plantsJekka McVicar's organic herb garden achieved a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. We caught up with her at the show to discover her top 10 herbs for growing as companion plants.Companion planting

around each plant and water.AdamMore advice on seed sowingGrowing chillies from seedGrowing salad leaves from seedGrowing tomatoes from seedBrowse a selection of herbs View a selection of vegetable plants

You can never have enough lettuce in summer, but sowing directly into the soil takes up valuable space in the garden. Keep a regular supply growing by sowing seeds in lengths of plastic guttering: short, 1m lengths are convenient and easy to handle

.Growing edible crops from seedRead Pippa Greenwood's blog on growing salad leavesGrowing basil from seedGrowing tomatoes from seedGrowing chillies from seed

the container and store it in a cool, dry place such as the fridge.AdamYou can also save seed of cerinthe, nigella and poppy, for sowing in spring.More on saving seedHow to collect and save seed.Sowing foxgloves from saved seed.Advice on saving tomato seed.

. Space plants out to ensure good air circulation, and water early enough in the day to allow the leaves to dry out before nightfall. Also remove any garden debris that might harbour the fungus.lettucessummer to autumnMore common fungal problems

-magnesium carbonate to the soil in autumn or winter to remedy the deficiency for next year.potatoes, apples, cherries, grape vines, tomatoes, camellias, rhododendronssummer, autumn, winterMore common plant problemsCanna virusRaspberry nutrient deficiencyHollyhock rust

kill a plant. Since there are separate fungal species that affect different plants, an attack on your curcubits won't lead to a garden epidemic. Powdery mildew and powdery mildew on roses are similar problems, with similar solutions.The first sign

Caused by the same fungus responsible for tomato blight, potato blight causes the leaves to develop dark patches, starting at the edges. In humid conditions a white fungus appears around the marks. The infection then travels down the plant

with myclobutanil or sulphur. Always check the label first if you're using these products on edible crops.shrubssummerMore common fungal infections Gooseberry mildewTomato leaf mouldMildew on cucurbitsGrey mould on soft fruits