Plant the herb dill among brassicas as the tall floppy stems and odorous foliage help protect them from the white cabbage moths.
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The flowers of dill also attracts beneficial insects to the garden.
Boost your beans
To give broad beans and pea seeds a boost before planting into cold soil you can prestrike them.
Place the seeds in a cup of lukewarm water and leave overnight.
Strain off the remaining water except for a little in the bottom of the cup.
Cover the top of the cup with gladwrap and check daily for shoots appearing and, when they do, plant out into the garden taking care not to break the very fragile shoots.
The right tool
When pruning always choose the right tool for the task and make sure it's sharp as blunt tools can bruise and tear plant tissue thereby creating an entry point for pests and diseases.
Also, when moving from plant to plant, sterilise your pruning tools to reduce the risk of transferring diseases from one plant to another.
A curly problem
To control curly leaf which is seen as distorted or curled leaves that turn a deep pink or purple colour, spray with a copper fungicide at or just before early bud swell, that is, when you see a tinge of pink in the buds of peach, nectarine and cherry trees.
Check susceptible trees daily as timing is critical and don't apply copper fungicide after the buds have opened as it's too late then and it may burn the young leaves.
Azaleas need light touch
Deciduous azaleas don't usually need pruning, but if necessary give them a light trim all over after flowering just as the new leaves begin to appear.
After pruning give them an application of an azalea-specific fertiliser to promote healthy, new growth.
Rice up your life
There are about 150 species of Pimelea, commonly called rice flower, mostly Australian although a few are native to New Zealand.
Most are small to medium woody shrubs with flower colours that vary from white to pink and cream.
They prefer well-draining, sandy soils in a sunny position. Great plants for border displays and containers.
Fruit not feathers
Gooseberry fruits ripen to a sweet berry that is a delight to eat if picked when soft to the touch, plump and slightly yellow or pale red according to the variety.
Plant in a well-draining, organically-rich, soil in a sunny position.
Prune to open up the centre of the bush for maximum sunlight exposure to ripen the fruit.
