Basil

Basil is flowering: what to do right now — and why the flowers aren't the enemy

When basil starts flowering in July, most people think: it's done for. It's not. Two minutes and one cut — and the plant carries on. What's happening inside the plant and what I've learnt from it.

Aphids in the raised bed: what really helps in June — and why I don't spray anymore

First it's a few, then they sit in dense colonies on the shoot tips. Aphids are part of June. What works without poison, what's a waste of money, and who does the work for free.

Zucchini in a raised bed: why one plant is enough — and how to carry it through summer

One zucchini plant, two mistakes, a summer full of fruit. Watering, mildew, harvest: what the plant actually needs, without the garden jargon.

Harvesting herbs the right way: cut, don't pluck — then they keep coming all summer

Basil that's bare after three weeks. Parsley that won't come back. Usually it isn't the plant, but the way it's harvested. The difference is a single cut.

What goes into the bed in June — and what's already too late

June isn't the final sprint, it's a second start. What you can still plant, what you sow directly, and which crop to skip because that ship has sailed.

Companion planting table for raised beds — the pairings that matter

A companion-planting table to print: good neighbours, bad neighbours, three all-rounders. Plus the five pairs that get you 80 % of the effect — if you only want to remember five.