We are thrilled with the extension to the vegetable garden. Now we have the space to get really stuck in. I suspect that it might be extended further in the autumn. Thanks for your book recommendations – it’s a bit of a jungle out there.

That course sounds fabulous. Joy Larkom and Anna Pavord are two of my favourite gardening writers. Danny takes The Independent on Sunday and Anna Pavord writes a weekly article – always excellent and inspiring.

Hello Z

Good point. I tend to keep my veg and herbs separate as I love the ‘confusion’ of cottage garden borders and the neatness of the kitchen garden. Although we grow strawberries in every border that will accommodate them. Guzzled mainly by Dr Quito and sometimes by me if I find them before he does.

Hi The Organic Viking

Nasturtiums and Marigolds are incredibly useful in the veg patch.

I love those beautiful pottager gardens. Ours is a much more belt and braces affair. Six beds with a traditional yet haphazard rotation system. But we think that it’s great and that there’s a beauty in the symmetry.

Hello Kate (uk)

I so agree. The recent sunshine has lulled me into (probably) a false sense of security.

It’s only April and already my hair is bleaches and my face and hands are brown ?

Let’s hope that we have a decent summer this year.

Hi Domestic Executive

I reckon that I have the largest collection of gardening books in Europe so don’t feel bad!

Hello Steve

Thanks so much for this tip. Generally we have naturalised nasturtiums that come up every year. The winter frosts clearly killed them off so we have ziltch.

However I found a pack of seed in the green house and will plant them tomorrow. I love nasturtiums especially when they detract butterflies.

Hi Catalina

Thanks for dropping by. You cant beat pansies!