Keep vegetables growing quickly with a fortnightly feed of a liquid or all-purpose fertiliser to keep them tender and sweet.
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This is particularly important with lettuces.
Bean there
A method of growing scarlet runner beans, which is said to increase the yields, was passed onto me by my late uncle Les.
Dig a deep trench and loosen the base with a fork.
Then line the trench with thick layers of paper and backfill to three-quarters of its depth with good compost.
Enrich the compost by mixing through some dolomite limestone, blood and bone and aged animal manure.
Topsoil is used to complete the filling.
A circular trench about three metres across is ideal but can be smaller if you wish to plant less seeds.
Tie long stakes together to splay out to form a tee-pee shape for the beans to cling and grow up.
Plant three beans, 10cms apart at the base of each stake or alternatively you can plant seeds in a straight trench.
Purple Patch
The purple-leafed basil is not only a culinary herb used for its spicy flavour, but also its coloured foliage and pretty pink flowers are a great attractant for bees to the garden.
Pick leaves regularly to encourage new growth.
Hedge care
Trim formal hedges regularly during the growing season. A regular trim keeps hedges under control because if left unchecked they can quickly get away from you.
Then it’s a big job to bring them back to size.
The general rule with hedging plants is to start cutting back well before they reach the desired height.
Blooming begonias
Bedding begonias like warm conditions, moist soil and protection from the hot sun.
The flowers of red, white or pink bloom continuously throughout summer. The attractive leaves are shades of green, lime, bronze and dark red.
The tuberous begonias prefer a rich, free-draining soil in a semi-shaded position and come in a wide range of flower colours and types.
These summer bloomers make attractive potted plants for a position that receives strong light but little or no direct sunlight.
Herbal remedies
Low-growing herbs such as chamomile, parsley, catmint and thyme are ideal for intricate formal designs such as squares to form a chessboard, a knot garden or a circular pattern around a central feature.
Draw up a plan first.
Some interesting patterns can be made by contrasting the effects of colour and leaf forms.
Herbs that flower at the same time should be spaced well apart.