Your Garden

1. I'd like to grow potatoes but I'm confused by the terms 'early' and 'late' - can you explain please.

The only question you need to ask yourself when deciding on how to grow potatoes is which type you would like to grow. The choice is between 'Earlies' and 'Main crops'. Earlies will provide new potatoes in summer and Main crop varieties will provide tubers for storage during the winter months. if space is limited plant the Earlies variety of potato for summer eating and where you have plenty of space then grow Earlies and Main crop varieties for summer eating and winter storage.

2. I run a children's play group and I'd like to grow something with the children. We don't have a garden so anything we grow will have to be on a windowsill!

Children can be quite impatient, so a quick germination would be the answer. Radish, is a great starter vegetable for kids because as well as being easy to grow, the colourful roots are ready for eating within a month of sowing. Calendula officinalis, also known as the Pot Marigold because it was used in cooking is another easy one. Plant seeds in March and you will be rewarded with a mass of bright orange flowers in about 10 weeks. The petals can be eaten in salads. Lettuces can be grown all-year-round; simply choose from the many varieties to ensure you have a crop for every season. Seeds, once sown, should begin to sprout within 12 days. Nasturtiums with their large seeds are easy for children. Sow seeds direct into a window box in spring, they make a colourful salad from the beautiful, peppery orange, red or yellow flowers.

3. My rose suffers from blackfly and aphid infestations every year - is there a solution?

Roses are very prone to aphid attack. The secret is to start to spray early just as the new leaves appear. I would recommend you use Rose Clear as this not only has an insecticide but also a fungicide so will do two jobs in one. You will need to continue through the growing season to keep your roses looking good. Also, feed your Roses with a good fertiliser such as Toprose to keep them in tip top condition.

4. Can you recommend a hedge that doesn't grow too high but which will give us some privacy from our neighbour's garden?

Taxus baccata, the Yew is an evergreen hedge, which can easily be clipped with a hedge cutter to keep it in shape. Fagus sylvatica the Beech, if grown as a hedge will keep its copper coloured leaves through the winter. If you choose the purple leaved Beech you will be rewarded with new growth in the spring with dark purple leaves. Ilex the Holly will form an excellent hedge which will be both dense and a secure barrier.

5. We would like to encourage more wildlife into our garden and wondered what we should do?

Three main things that will encourage wildlife into your garden are; - Water, Food and Shelter. Even a small water feature or bird bath will do. You could offer food from a bird table or feeder, but also plant shrubs that will not only provide food but give shelter, such as Pyracantha species, an evergreen shrub which will produce berries and its very dense thorny branches offers protection from predators.

6. When is the best time to plant spring flowering bulbs?

As a general rule, you can plant spring flowering bulbs any time in the autumn until frost hardens the ground. Daffodils should be among the first to be planted to get the best results. If the weather is mild, later planting is possible and can be delayed until December. The optimum time to plant Tulips is traditionally November.

7. What plants would you recommend for a summer flowering hanging basket?

There are so many plants to choose for a summer basket. In a sunny spot I would choose a Pelargonium for the centre, then Petunias for the middle and Lobelia, and Nepeta for the outside edge to trail over the side. For a shady spot I would choose Fuchsia for the centre followed by Impatiens (Busy Lizzie) and Ivy or Lysimachia nummularia (creeping Jenny) as the trailing plants on the edge.

8. Is is true that venus fly trap plants actually die once they have captured a bug (or a finger!)?

The leaf on a Venus fly trap is fascinating. It is designed to catch small insects to supplement its food. When an insect first is attracted into the trap the larger spiky hairs trap the insect. If there is further movement inside the leaf then the leaf will shut tighter, and the digestion process begins. If there is no second movement which would be the case of a non living thing entering the leaf, then the leaf will re-open in about twelve hours. During the winter leaves will turn black and the plant will go into dormancy and die down emerging in the following spring.

9. I'd like to re-lay my lawn but am not sure when is the best time to do it and how to prepare the soil.

The best time to lay lawn turf is in the autumn. At this time the soil will be still be warm and the winter rains will keep the roots watered ready for the fresh growth in spring. Before laying turf it is important to prepare the soil. First make sure that all debris is removed, and any necessary action to rid the ground of weeds is carried out. Improving the soil by digging and raking over will help to not only incorporate organic matter but will help in the levelling process. Once this has been carried out, it is important that the ground be firmed by walking, at the same time looking for any bumps or hollows. A pre turf laying fertiliser can be added or bone meal which will aid root development.

10. What vegetable seeds do you recommend for a first-time grower?

I would recommend runner beans for the first time vegetable grower. The seed can be started late April/may inside or sow in June outside. Runner beans are fast growers and will need support to climb, but the yield is usually very high for the effort. Broad beans are another easy crop they are frost hardy and will germinate in low soil temperatures. Sowing time is in March. However if your soil is free draining they can sown in early autumn when the weather is cooling down. This will give a crop about three weeks earlier than a spring sowing.