Around the Garden

Sow seeds of carrot, radish, spinach, swede and lettuce.

Sweet corn can be both useful and decorative when interplanted with dahlias or giant delphiniums as the plants reinforce each other in protection from wind damage.

Keep the water up to dahlias during summer. Apply a topdressing of sulphate of potash at the rate of eight grams per square metre of bed at the first sign of the petal colour opening from the bud to improve stem strength and flower colour.

Another application can be given in early autumn to improve tuber formation.

Monthly foliar feeds are most beneficial in maintaining steady, healthy overall plant growth.

The most popular fish for the garden pond are goldfish which are found in a wide range of colours from silver and rich gold to almost black; some carry various patterns of white.

Eggs are laid in early summer and the fry upon hatching appear very dark but assume their permanent colours in two to three years' time.

A few fish in a pond will take care of mosquito larvae.

Carefully placed shrubs in containers can allow you to add interest to certain areas of the garden. Hydrangeas, fuchsias, camellias, azaleas and English box make beautiful specimens for this purpose.

A pair of columnar plants such as a conifer, bay or camellia placed on either side of a doorway creates a formal entrance or they can be used to great effect to frame a view.

When adding a statue to the garden give some careful thought to the placement, especially to the background. This plays an important part in the whole picture as the statue should look as if it belongs to that particular spot and nowhere else.

Columneas are trailing, basket plants admired for their oddly shaped flowers in red, yellow and orange that sometimes look like tiny fish. They grow well indoors if given plenty of light but not direct sunlight.

Ample water is needed during the warm, growing months but ease off to the dry side in cooler weather.

Feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser and some blood and bone meal during spring to encourage strong growth.

When given just five or more hours of sunshine a day even the smallest of spaces can provide a crop of delicious vegetables as many can be grown in containers or hanging baskets.

Select compact varieties and always use a good quality potting mix.