Most herbs need a sunny position although parsley, mint and lemon balm can tolerate some shade. Oregano, rosemary, marjoram and sage like full sun and do best in a raised bed to ensure good drainage.

Eggplants need a growing season longer and hotter than that required by the early-ripening tomato varieties.

Space seedlings about 60-70cms apart in deeply-dug, compost-enriched soil in a sunny position.

Plants usually take about 14 to 16 weeks to bear fruit.

Loquats are prized for their small, sweet citrus-like flavoured fruits that grow in large clusters and their visual appeal as ornamental specimens.

They respond to an annual dressing of a complete fertiliser high in nitrogen such as a specific citrus mix.

Fully ripened fruit has a golden yellow skin which is very easily bruised if too much pressure is applied when picking. It is best to pick the fruit and consume immediately.

A tip for planting summer annual seedlings is to moisten the soil first before dislodging them out of the punnet.

Separate plants, squeeze the soil around the roots and plant to the original depth.

Firm soil gently around each plant. Water in.

Don't plant too close together.

If you have a disused vegetable bed consider raising cut flowers to supply beautiful blooms and fragrances for indoors.

Plant a variety of flower shapes and sizes to add interest in floral arrangements and choose colours that blend in with your interior furnishings.

Cosmos, snapdragons, stocks, asters, celosia, zinnias, gladiolus, chrysanthemums, phlox and sweet peas are just a few of the many suitable plants.

The lilacs are once again displaying their floral splendour with clusters of flowers in shades of pink, white, mauve, blue and the deepest purples. Tip prune immediately after flowering with another light prune in summer as these fragrant beauties don't like hard pruning.

- LES HODGE