Containers

April - mini-roots and spring onions

Sow carrots and beetroot in containers this month for a quick harvest of tender, tasty baby roots – simply pull, trim and rinse them, and cook them whole. Simlarly, sow spring onions for flavouring salads and garnishes.

May - tomatoes

Juicy ripe tomatoes, picked straight from the plant, can be enjoyed by anyone with room for a pot or growing bag in a sunny sheltered spot. Plant them outside once the risk of frost has passed.

June - Mediterranean herbs

Aromatic herbs such as thyme and rosemary are expensive to buy, yet easy to grow - you can be self-sufficient from just a few pots or a large trough.

July - colourful chard

Start thinking now about crops for the cooler autumn months. Chard is an attractive and versatile vegetable, and July sowings will give you pickings throughout autumn.

August - autumn and winter salads

Quick growing, tasty, nutritious and pretty – Oriental greens such as Chinese mustard greens make an ideal crop for pots and windowboxes. Some are mildly spicy while others are decidedly pungent.