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Easter weekend in Bath was beset by bad weather. We had some dull, dreary and drizzly days to contend with, which certainly slowed momentum on the plot. The wet weekend was far more suited to sowing seeds indoors than pluckily plodding on outside

to the vegetables, but the veg garden at the hotel has to look good all the time for the guests, whereas my allotment can be a little rough around the edges. I do try to obey the golden rule of watering, though: water in the morning or evening, but never

large clods. If necessary, incorporate some well-rotted manure or garden compost to improve soil texture and fertility.Transplant the leeks into the ground when they're about 15-20cm tall. Use a broom handle to make holes 15-20cm deep and about 15cm

and cooking crops. Do let us know in the comments section of this blog if there are any harvesting tips you'd like us to cover.Finally, do join me and a host of other experts on the ‘Grow Your Own’ Garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live (15-19 June 2011) for more

Brassicas form the mainstay of the vegetable plot all year round in the form of summer and winter cabbage, cauliflower, sprouting broccoli, calabrese and Brussels sprouts. Whether you've raised your own brassicas from seed or opted for ready

that the Latin name for watercress is Nasturtium officinale.So, what other edible flowers add colour to my summer salads? Well, pot marigold or calendula petals look lovely. Orange varieties self-seed on my veg plot, and one or two flowers provide sufficient

Autumn is the ideal time to evaluate our successes and failures in the garden. What worked well this year? What didn't? On my veg plot, though, this process is pretty much continual. Photographers from Gardeners' World magazine are always turning up

if you want it fiery), salt, pepper, around 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar (30ml) and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Make it an hour or two before you intend to eat it. Enjoy!PS You can read about 'Jermor' and the 100 best veg varieties recommended

... round shrubs, roses and flowers, along the base of the hedge, around fruit trees and bushes, and over the veg plot. Beans get a good, deep mulch of compost to help conserve soil moisture, too, but it's not just water retention that mulching is good for

keep this in mind when developing my veg plot. Put simply, companion plants are any plants that provide a benefit to their neighbours.Broadly speaking this could include providing shelter from strong winds, support to help them climb, or shade from