Mint

Drying herbs in September: what works — and what doesn't

September is the last big window for thyme, oregano and rosemary. Dry them now and you'll have aromatic herbs from your own bed all winter. Wait too long and you're left with compost.

Dividing chives: why August is the best time to do it

Chives eventually grow outward from the centre — the middle goes sparse, the shoots get smaller. That's the signal to divide them. And August turns out to be better for this than spring.

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.