Innehållsförteckning för Year Planner 2023 från BBC Gardeners' World

Get set for your best-ever year in the garden, with this companion to getting the most from your plot. It’s time to embrace nature and transform your outdoor space, whatever its size, into a sanctuary for the months ahead. Discover beautiful blooms every month of the year, and easyways to create more plants for free to boost your displays. Plus, get the best from container growing byfollowing our recipes and projects to breathe life into your doorstep, patio or balcony. You’ll also find fantastic ways to grow your own food, with fool-proof advice from the GW experts. Nothing beats the flavour and satisfaction of a homegrown harvest, and just a few crops fresh from your plot are perfect for outdoor meals. You’ll find simple seasonal recipes too, meaning you can…

Deal with snowfall Use a wide shovel to clear snow from paths, before gritting the surface to save you from slipping when you venture out. Pile the snow to the edge to let it thaw. Fresh snow can look magical but can also cause problems. Evergreens and flat-topped hedges are vulnerable to damage from the weight, so brush the snow off. Let light into the greenhouse by sweeping snow off the roof, and clear snow off your pond if it’s frozen. Compost your Christmas tree Shred your Christmas tree and add it to the compost heap to rot down, or use it as a weed-suppressing mulch on the ground between trees and shrubs. Finely shredded woody material is useful in a compost heap because the slow release of carbon helps…

1 Amelanchier lamarkii This attractive tree offers several seasons of interest, with star-shaped spring flowers followed by dark, purple-black berries and rich autumn leaf hues. If pruned it’s good in small gardens. Flowers Mar-Apr Height x Spread 10m x 6m 2 Anemone blanda ‘Charmer’ Also known as the windflower, Anemone blanda comes in colours including pink, white, blue and purple. Plant the bulbs between September and November for a swathe of colour in the border or to cheer up a spring container.  F Mar-Apr H x S 15cm x 15cm 3 Narcissus ‘Rip van Winkle’ Go for something a bit different with this miniature daffodil that looks like it’s exploding. It has many pointed petals and its unusual appearance will make an impact around container edges.  F Mar-Apr H x…

You can give large herbaceous perennials a new lease of life by dividing the clump, removing the old sections and replanting the smaller, most vigorous pieces. Now is the best time to do this with fleshy-rooted perennials such as kniphofias, primulas, daylilies, delphiniums and agapanthus. The new plants will grow away quickly at this time of year, and it’s a good opportunity to remove perennial weed roots from the border, too. CUT around the clump with a spade, treading the whole depth of the blade into the ground to loosen the roots. Lever up the spade, making more cuts if necessary, then lift the whole clump out. DIVIDE the clump into several smaller pieces by carefully cutting through it vertically with your spade, between the new shoots. Make sure each…

RED LENTIL AND LEEK SOUP Use up the last of your winter crop of leeks in a delicious and warming soup. Serves 4 100g split red lentils500ml vegetable stock100g chopped leeks100g chopped tomatoes (fresh or tinned)1 small onion, diced1 green chilli, finely diced1 tsp grated ginger2½ tsp sambar spice powder (available online and from Asian supermarkets)½ tsp Kashmiri chilli powder½ tsp coriander powdersalt to tastejuice of ½ lime SAMBAR 2 tbsp sunflower oil2-3 dried whole chillies1 tsp black mustard seeds4-5 curry leaves Wash the lentils, then place in a pan with the stock and cook until tender – about 20 minutes. Add the leeks, tomatoes, onion, chilli, ginger and all the dried spices, and cook down for a further 20 minutes. If you want a smooth soup, give it a…

Make and put up insect hotels Fill a box with mixed bundles of twigs, hollow stems and canes to attract and accommodate a variety of insect visitors. Prepare stems by cutting them to the same length then pack them together, making different sized gaps and fissures to encourage insects to nest in. It needs to be kept dry so a box with a roof is ideal. Put it up at about 1.5m high in a sheltered place but out of direct sun. Against a wall or fence is ideal. You’ll soon have a hotel full of pollinators and predators to help keep pests at bay. Tie in new growth on climbers Tie in the vigorous new growth made by climbers now to strengthen their framework and improve flowering. Tying stems…

Make cuttings from new herbaceous shoots that have not yet flowered. These will root easily now temperatures are warming up, and it’s a great way to create free plants. Asters, chrysanthemums and heleniums are a few examples of plants that are easily rooted. If you strike several to a pot, they can be planted out together later this summer as an instant flowering clump. COLLECT young, non-flowering stems from healthy plants early in the day. Snip off long stems, around 10cm in length, taking care not to damage the parent plant. REMOVE the leaves at the base with a knife to avoid tearing stems. Cut down upper leaves by half to reduce water loss. Then, with a sharp knife, make a clean cut across the stem below a leaf node.…

5 min task Choose bee-friendly plants such as viper’s bugloss and foxgloves to fill gaps in borders and containers Prick out seedlings Prick out seedlings into individual pots to encourage them to develop into bushy young plants. Fill pots with peat-free multi-purpose compost, firm the surface, then make a hole in the centre. Carefully hold the seedlings by the seed leaf and lift out using a dibber. Lower the seedling into the hole and firm with the seed leaves just above the surface, then water. Fill gaps with summer bedding Choose tender bedding plants such as scaevola and petunias to fill any gaps in your borders. Before planting, pinch out any fading flowers or yellowing leaves and give the plants a good soak. Loosen the soil surface and remove weeds.…

STRAWBERRY GINGER SQUARES Make the most of your strawberry crop – these are perfect to have with a pot of tea Serves 4-6 150g rolled oats100g plain flour60g light brown sugar1 tsp ginger powder100g melted butter280g fresh strawberries diced into pieces (tossed in 1 tbsp of lemon juice)1 tsp cornstarch1 tbsp demerara sugarGlaze (optional)4 tbsp icing sugar1 tbsp ginger syrup (from a jar of stem ginger in syrup) Preheat oven to 190°C and line a 22cm x 22cm tray with baking paper. Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar and ginger powder. Add the melted butter and mix to a crumbly texture. Press two-thirds of this mixture into the tray and scatter the strawberries on top. Sieve over the cornstarch and spread the remaining crumble, creating an uneven finish. Sprinkle with…

Deadhead modern shrub roses Unlike old-fashioned shrub roses that tend to have one flush of flowers in early summer, modern shrub roses will keep flowering into autumn. To keep them flowering, deadhead them regularly, removing spent or damaged flowers to encourage new blooms. Cut back to a leaf or flower bud, even if that means taking off a lot of stem. This will encourage new shoots that will form more flowers. Increase the cutting height on mowers Raise the height of your mower’s blades in hot, dry spells. The grass in the lawn will be stressed by hot weather and a short cut will weaken it further. Avoid mowing in the same direction every time, to give a more thorough cut. Once the lawn has been well soaked by rain,…

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Remove couch grass Dig out couch grass when you see it because not only will it be strengthening its underground roots for next year but it will also run to flower and self seed. Use a sharp trowel around clump forming plants. Soil softens when it gets wet so after rain is a good time for weeding as you can get under roots and lift them without them snapping. Top tip Pick the seedheads off dandelions before the seeds spread themselves further around the garden. The fowers are valuable for pollinators Shape evergreen shrubs Use shears to get your evergreens into shape. By trimming a few unruly shoots this month, the plant still has plenty of time to regrow shorter shoots that can harden before the winter. Just clip back…

CHILLI JAM September is harvest time for chillies. Transform your crops into a delicious and spicy chilli jam, perfect for enjoying with cheese or giving a kick to your lunchtime sandwich 50g red chillies, cut in half lengthways and de-seeded1 plum tomato, peeled and de-seeded2 or 3 dates, stones removed and chopped1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed10g ginger, grated150ml vinegar250g sugar100ml water Blitz the chillies, tomato pulp, dates, garlic and ginger, and add a little water to help create a paste. In a heavy-bottomed pan, melt the sugar, vinegar and water over a gentle heat. Add the chilli paste and simmer before bringing to a gentle boil. Stir occasionally to stop the contents sticking to the base of the pan. Cook down until most of the liquid has evaporated. Test…

SAVOURY SQUASH ROLLS This is the season to enjoy a range of winter squashes in some delicious savoury rolls 250g winter squash or pumpkin, peeled, diced and steamed360g strong bread flour1½ tsp salt¼ tsp turmeric powder¼ tsp pav bhaji spice mix (or garam masala if not available)¼ tsp dried coriander7g dried coriander7g fast-action yeast2 tbsp rapeseed oilButter, for brushing the tops of the rollsSesame seeds for sprinkling In a bowl, mash the steamed squash. In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt, turmeric, pav bhaji spice mix, dried coriander, yeast and oil. Stir the mashed squash into the flour and spice mix, adding a little water to bind it into a dough. Knead the sticky dough for 10 minutes, then place in an oiled bowl to rise for about 1…

Check your stored produce Go through your stored produce and remove anything that has started to rot. Look for brown spots, soft tissue and wrinkled skins. Take out anything that is suspect and use what you can. The fleshiest fruits such as apples will be the first to go. Carrots, beetroot and celeriac will generally last well, right through until spring, providing they are kept cool. Cool conditions can accelerate rots on squashes, so check the bases and stalks for any blemishes and quickly use affected fruits, cutting off the bad bits. Go through stored potatoes and remove any with signs of mould to stop it spreading. Also look for tiny holes that may have been caused by slugs. These holes make them more vulnerable to rotting, so they should…

1 Polystichum setiferum If you want an evergreen with great poise and elegance to give a bit of class to a shady corner, then you should look no further than this fern. It’s a low maintenance way of keeping shady parts of the garden looking lush and full through winter. Height x Spread 1.2m x 1m 2 Cornus mas This is a very good shrub or small tree for a middle-sized garden, with ornamental fruit and interesting autumn leaves, but its beautiful flowers are the star attraction. The great luxuriance of fluffy, yellow blossom cannot help but bring cheer while we wait for spring. Grow in sun or part shade. Flowers Feb-Mar H x S 5m x 5m 3 Bergenia Also known as elephant’s ears, bergenias such as B. cordifolia…

Plant flowering shrubs Fill any large gaps in borders by planting flowering shrubs now. Field-grown, bare-root or container-grown plants are all available and can be planted now. Soak the roots before planting. Dig a hole larger but not much deeper than the roots of the new plant. Fork in some compost, then soak the hole before adding some bone meal fertiliser. Plant the new shrub at the same level as it was in the pot or field and firm it in well. Water again and mulch with garden compost. Top tip Look at pictures of the garden from last year and make a note of what was in flower when, then make a list of flowers you want to plant this year Prepare ground for borders Work through a new…

KALE BHAJIYA Makes 15 spicy batter balls 120g chickpea flour (gram)¼ tsp turmeric powder1 tsp caraway seeds (crushed)½ tsp fennel seeds (crushed)½ tsp garam masala1 tsp dried coriander leaf1 tbsp grated ginger1 tsp finely chopped green or red chilli1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus a sufficient amount for frying1 tsp fine sea salt6-7 kale leaves, de-veined and roughly chopped1 medium onion, peeled and sliced1 tsp bicarbonate of soda Place the gram flour in a large bowl and add the spices, chilli, oil and salt, rubbing into the flour. Add a little water to the flour until it forms a thick ‘dropping’ batter. Allow the batter to marinate for an hour. Heat a deep fat fryer or 5cm of oil in a deep pan (a drop of batter will sizzle when the…

Mow lawns regularly Cut grass on dry, bright days. Mowing is a bit like pruning: the lawn is made up of thousands of small grass plants that, after cutting, will thicken up their growth from the buds in the centre of the plant. Keep the cutting blades high this month to avoid damaging the buds. This also strengthens the ability of the grass to compete with lawn weeds, which are adept at lying close to the ground, avoiding being cut by the blades of the mower. It’s best not to start mowing grassed areas with bulbs yet – wait for the foliage to die back first. Rejuvenate pots of perennials Go through pots of perennials to check that the new shoots have enough light and space to grow away strongly.…

1 Acanthus Add acanthus such as A. spinosus to borders for architectural impact and flowers throughout summer. This tall perennial is perfect for a spot at the back of a border in sun or partial shade. Flowers May-Aug Height x Spread 1.5m x 1m 2 Hosta The fresh-looking foliage of hostas provides a calming element to planting displays and a good contrast for all the colourful perennials in flower this month. ‘Alan Titchmarsh’ is an attractive variety with thick green margins and purple flowers in summer. Good for partial shade. F Jul-Aug H x S 60cm x 120cm 3 Wisteria There are many beautiful varieties of this climber and they can create an unmissable scene when grown up a strong wall, such as the front of a house. Wisteria floribunda…

Add lilies to gaps in borders Add extra colour and scent to your borders by planting pot-grown lilies in any gaps. Lilies look best when they’re flowering above the flower foliage of other border plants, so a spot in full sun between clumps of earlier-flowering peonies, lupins or irises would be ideal. Plant them deep and improve the drainage in heavy soil so they last for years. Lilies will flower from late June until the end of the summer. Sow hardy annuals Add colour to your late summer garden with quick-growing flowers. There is plenty of time to sow hardy annuals such as calendula (right), nigella and nasturtiums. They will be speedy to germinate, require no extra heat, and can be planted outside as soon as they are large enough…

1 Peonies Bring a summer showstopper to your border with peonies such as ‘Barbara’ (pictured). Their full flowers are perfect for a cottage garden style display and also make very good cut flowers. Plant in a sunny spot for the best display.  Flowers May-Jun Height x Spread 90cm x 70cm 2 Ladybird poppy This hardy annual is easy to grow, providing an inexpensive way to bring a colour boost to borders and patios through summer. Sow in spring for summer flowers.  F Jun-Aug H x S 55cm x 15cm 3 Lupin Add colourful height to your border with a lupin. They are perfect for adding horizontal interest in your border and come in a wide range of colours. If you fancy planting something fiery, try ‘Towering Inferno’ (pictured). F Jun-Jul…

Rainwater is good for your plants, especially if you are in a hard water area. To collect it, you can buy a water butt or make your own from a plastic drum. Butts can be fitted to greenhouse gutters or the downpipes on your house. The water butt will get heavy, so stand it on a firm base and check that a watering can fits under the tap. CUT the downpipe with a hacksaw just above the level of the top of the butt. Redirect the pipe with an elbow joint or fit a diverter. POUR water from a watering can along the gutter to check that it flows into the butt and that there are no leaks at the connections. FILL your can for watering. The water will be…

10 min task Check cordon tomatoes growing outside and remove any shoots that sprout between the main stem and the leaves Limit the height of greenhouse tomatoes Cut the top out of your cordon-trained tomatoes once they have reached the height of your canes or they have set six trusses of fruit. This puts the plant’s energy into the development of the fruits rather than more upward growth, to help ensure that the fruits are of a good size and quality. Tie the top of the plant to the cane or string to help it bear the weight of the fruit trusses immediately below it. Make the tie loose and use soft string to avoid bruising the stem. Keep watering, feeding and ventilating the greenhouse on very warm days, to…

It always seems such a waste to leave tender plants to perish in the garden over winter when their offspring can be protected and used to produce an even greater number of plants the following year. A frost-free greenhouse or porch will be sufficient – a windowsill at a push, though plants grow leggy if temperatures are high and light levels low. Good light is key to keeping them happy. CHOOSE healthy, pliable, non-flowering shoot tips to use as cutting material. Pinch off any flower buds to ensure the energy of the cutting goes into making anetwork of strong roots. REMOVE the lower leaves and cut cleanly, just below a leaf joint at the base of the cutting. Most cuttings are ideally 8-10cm long, although fuchsia cuttings can be shorter,…

Harvest ripe plums Find a bowl to hold your picked plums – don’t choose one too deep because the weight of the fruit will damage those at the bottom. Plums are ripe when the colour turns, the flesh gives a little when pressed and the fruit pulls easily off the tree. If it feels hard, leave it for a few more days. Pick as the fruit ripens and store somewhere cool – the fridge if there’s room. A glut can be cooked and frozen or made into preserves. Summer prune apple trees Pruning the new sideshoots on espalier and cordon-trained apples exposes the ripening fruit to the sun and encourages future fruit buds to form. This should be done every year, around mid-August. Select shoots that are more than 20cm…

1 Salvia ‘Amistad’ Deadhead this salvia regularly and it’ll bloom right into mid autumn. It’s excellent both in borders or containers. Grow it in a sheltered site with free-drainage to help it survive winter outside. Flowers Jul-Oct Height x Spread 1.2m x 50cm 2 Gaura lindheimeri ‘The Bride’ The graceful, butterfly-like flowers of ‘The Bride’ are the perfect match for the seedheads of grasses this month. It’s dainty flower stems are long and thin and will weave in between other plants in the border. Grow in sun and light soil. F May-Oct H x S 1m x 60cm 3 Hedychium densiflorum ‘Hassam Orange’ If you have space for big tropical leaves and bright colours in September, with this ginger you’ll get both. The leaves are like flags and the bright…

1 Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ The flower plumes on this elegant grass will last well into autumn and it makes a lovely rustling sound on a breezy day. As the season progresses, the plant turns a lovely autumnal reddish brown.  Flowers Aug-Sep Height x Spread 2m x 1.2m 2 Carex comans ‘Bronze Form’ This evergreen grass is a useful and attractive plant for winter borders and containers, providing year-round interest. It’s a versatile grass that’s happy in sun or shade and a good plant partner for winter bedding such as violas and heathers. H x S 20cm x 30cm 3 Camellia sasanqua ‘Crimson King’ We tend to think of camellias flowering in early spring but this variety produces its elegant flowers just as others are fading away. As an evergreen shrub,…

Dig up hardy crops as needed Crops such as leeks and celeriac can be dug up when you need them. Celeriac tastes best when it’s fresh and can be left in the ground. Simply protect plants by laying a thick layer of straw over crops during cold weather. It can be harvested from October through to March, using a digging fork to carefully lift up each root. It’s flavour will get stronger the longer it stays in the ground. Pick kale regularly Harvest kale leaves now. Start with the outer leaves and pick from all your plants, taking a few leaves from each. The plants will last all winter if you harvest like this. The most tender leaves are in the centre, but if you take the whole crown there…

Make your Christmas tree last Measure the space in your room before you go Christmas tree shopping. Select one that looks fresh, has a full shape and doesn’t drop needles when shaken. Whichever one you choose, it’ll last longer with more water, so saw 5cm off the base of the trunk, then put it outside in a bucket of water overnight. Use a stand that holds water and display in the house away from direct heat. Top up water regularly. Treat potted trees as house plants. Plant bare-root shrubs Many woody plants, such as fruit trees and shrubs, are supplied from the nursery with bare roots during their dormant period in winter. Get them in the ground as soon as you can. First, soak the roots thoroughly, then plant in…

1 Sweet box Plant this in your border to enjoy a compact winter shrub that has small but highly fragrant white flowers. It’s evergreen so it will look good all year round. Perfect for a shady spot that will be walked past frequently so the perfume can be enjoyed. Flowers Dec-March Height x Spread 1.5m x 2m 2 Snowdrop The common snowdrop is pretty, but why not try something a bit different such as ‘Cordelia’, a delightfully symmetrical double. It has more than 20 inner segments, with a green ‘V’ on each. F Jan-Mar H x S 18cm x 8cm 3 Teasel Dipsacus fullonum is a biennial, flowering in year two, then setting seed and dying. Bees love its tiny blue flowers which appear in summer, and the seedheads provide…

Plant primulas for instant impact Plant polyanthus and primulas into pots or borders to brighten up your garden – they’ll be in flower now. This cheerful, instant colour will last well into spring. Polyanthus are long-lasting and will clump up too, so you could save money by dividing them after flowering to fill future gaps. Look at your view out of the window to spot the areas that need brightening up and plant them there so you can also enjoy them from indoors. Take hardwood cuttings Prepare a sheltered spot in the garden to root hardwood cuttings. Deciduous shrubs such as cornus, buddleia, philadelphus, ribes, forsythia and weigela root easily using this method. Make a V-shaped trench by cutting into the soil with a spade. Mix grit into the trench…

SAVOY SAMBHARO A popular warm Gujarati salad made with cabbage, served with savoury chickpea gathiya and super-sweet jalebi. Serves 4 1 tsp of sunflower oil¼ tsp mustard seeds3 or 4 curry leaves (optional)3 or 4 green chillies, slit open lengthways1 carrot, peeled and grated¼ tsp turmeric powderHalf a head of cabbage, washed and shreddedPinch of asafoetida1 tsp mango powder (alternatively use 2 tbsp lemon juice)Salt to taste Over a medium heat, warm oil in a pan, then add mustard seeds. As mustard seeds pop, add curry leaves and chillies. Toss constantly as the chillies blister. Add carrot, turmeric and salt, mixing well. Add the shredded cabbage, asafoetida and mango powder, and stir until evenly coated with the spices and mixed with the carrot. Cover with a lid and cook on…

Plant alpines in gaps in the border Choose spring-flowering alpines to fill gaps with colour. Pulsatillas, aubrietas, cerastiums and saxifrages are all easy and very free-flowering. They have adapted to grow low on the ground in quite poor soil, so fork in some grit before planting to improve the drainage without adding unnecessary nutrients. Many of these ground-covering alpines will cascade down walls or over bed edgings, adding an extra dimension to the display. Water them in after planting (ensure the base of the plant is slightly proud of the compost surface) and mulch around them with more grit to prevent stems rotting in wet spells. Prick out young seedlings Once they’re big enough to handle, lift seedlings from the pots or trays they were sown in and replant them…

1 Clematis armandii Grow this lovely early-flowering clematis against a sunny wall to enjoy its scented flowers in spring. It is perfect for softening walls, with glossy evergreen leaves that look good all year-round. Flowers Mar-Apr Height x Spread 5m x 3m 2 Perennial viola Perennial violas such as ‘Etain’, pictured, are easy to grow and flower prolifically over a long period. Many are beautifully scented and available in a host of attactive colours to brighten pot displays. F Apr-Sep H x S 15cm x 20cm 3 Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica is easy to grow and will self seed around your garden, filling borders with its clouds of tiny blue flowers. This hardy biennial is ideal for a spot in sun or partial shade at the front of a planting display,…

CHEESE AND CHIVE STRAWS Enjoy the first young chives in an easy snack, where they add an oniony twist to cheese straws Serves 4-6 185g plain flour¼ tsp mustard powder½ tsp paprika powder115g salted butter, diced30g fresh chives, finely chopped75g grated cheese, such as Red Leicester25g grated pecorino1 egg yolk Mix together the flour, and the mustard and paprika powders. Add the butter and rub together to create a crumble-like mix. Sprinkle in the chives and cheese, and mix until evenly distributed. Add the egg yolk and mix until everything binds together. Use a little water if the mixture is too dry. Cover the dough and leave to rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 190°C while you roll the dough to a 3cm thickness. Cut…

CARROT AND CHAI MASALA CUPCAKES Use your first crop of young carrots in a dessert with these easy-to make and delicious cupcakes Makes 24 cupcakes 80ml vegetable oil120g light brown sugar2 eggs140g carrots, peeled and grated1 tsp chai masala spice175g self-raising flour1 tsp bicarbonate of soda250g butter500g icing sugar½ tsp cinnamon powderOrange and green food colouring (optional) Place 24 cupcake cases on trays, then set aside. Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan). In a bowl, mix the oil, sugar and eggs together with a wooden spoon, then stir in the carrots and chai masala. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda into the bowl, and stir until the mixture is smooth. Fill the cupcake casings with the cake mix and bake in the oven for 30-40 mins, or until a…

1 Echinacea Long-flowering echinaceas such as ‘Magnus’ are reliable, tough perennials for well-drained soil. They look spectacular alongside grasses and late-flowering perennials, and attract bees. Flowers Jun-Sep Height x Spread 75cm x 45cm 2 Agastache Agastache flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies and have liquorice-scented foliage too. The flowers are available in pink and white as well as violet-blue. The bushy flower spikes of ‘Astello Indigo’ (pictured) have a minty fragrance, providing colour for months.  F Jul-Oct H x S 60cm x 30cm 3 Sunflower These cheery giants begin flowering towards the end of the month and add colour for the rest of summer. Whether you’re looking for a small sunflower to grow in a pot, such as ‘Teddy Bear’ at 50cm, a classic sunflower such as ‘Soleo’…

BEETROOT RAITA Beetroot is an extremely easy crop to grow because it does well in many different types of soil. This vegetable conjures up an image of red slices pickled in a jar, but it is very delicious when the young crop is eaten fresh, as in this recipe for beetroot raita, which will fit in perfectly as part of an alfresco feast on a warm summer’s evening. Serves 2 100g natural yoghurt1 small raw beetroot, washed, peeled and grated2 spring onions, thinly sliced½ tsp caraway seeds, lightly crushed½ tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed½ tsp cumin powderA few sprigs of coriander, roughly choppedSalt to taste Place yogurt in a bowl and mix with a spoon until smooth. Add grated beetroot a little at a time to get the right consistency…

1 Dahlias Dahlias are the stars of late summer. They are easy to grow, there are lots of colour choices and they look superb in a vase. ‘Dalina Maxi Emilio’ is a bold dahlia with exquisite flowers up to 14cm wide.  Flowers Jul-Oct Height x Spread 50cm x 50cm 2 Agapanthus These South African plants are perfect for containers because restricting their roots encourages a better flowering display. They have flowers in all shades of purple as well as white. ‘Northern Star’ (pictured) has blue-purple flowers.  F Jul-Aug H x S 1.2m x 45cm 3 Spanish flag This exotic-looking climber (Ipomoea lobata) is best grow as an annual in a warm, sheltered spot away from cold winds. Good for scrambling up a trellis at the front of a south-facing house.…

Keep borders looking good Freshen up your borders by deadheading flowers such as hardy geraniums and phlox (pictured), which will continue to flower for some time. Snip the whole head off phlox as it fades. There is still time for late flowers and fresh foliage to form that will last well into autumn. Also, trim away yellowing foliage and remove any weeds that may be hiding. While doing this, try to avoid treading on the bed as this damages plants and compacts soil. Use a soft kneeler to get close to your plants. Leave hardy annuals to seed Create an abundance of flowers next year by leaving your hardy annual flowers to go to seed. Nigella, calendula and eschscholzia are good examples of flowers that will do this. The seed…

TABBOULEH Make the most of your seasonal produce with a fresh and tasty salad Serves 4-6 400ml vegetable stock250g bulgur wheat3 tomatoes diced1 cucumber cored and dicedLarge bunches of mint, parsley and spring onions1tsp cuminJuice of 1 lemon100g mixed olives4tbsp extra virgin olive oilSalt and pepper to taste While the stock is heating up in a pan, place the bulgur wheat in a heatproof bowl. Add the hot stock to the wheat and leave for 20-30 minutes until all the stock is soaked up. Place the soaked bulgur wheat in a large mixing bowl, and add the cucumber, herbs and tomatoes. Toss well before adding the cumin, lemon juice, olives and olive oil. Season and serve. You could vary this salad by adding any of these seasonal ingredients: steamed young…

5 min task House plants that have been in the garden can go back on the windowsill but don’t warm them up too quickly – allow them to acclimatise Rejuvenate your lawn A few easy treatments now will help your lawn to recover from summer stress and keep it in good shape for months to come. Start by mowing the lawn, then scarify the surface with a wire rake or scarifying machine to remove all the accumulated debris. Next, dig out the weeds with a daisy grubber or narrow trowel, then sow lawn seed into any resulting gaps. Check whether the lawn edges are level – if there are dips, lift the turf back and add soil to raise it level. Finally, apply an autumn lawn feed to strengthen the…

Plant some onions Plant some autumn onion sets now on ground that has been cleared of summer crops such as carrots, French beans or lettuce. Rake the soil level and firm it down, particularly if the previous crop was deep-rooted. These onion sets will root in and shoot this autumn to overwinter as young plants, then the bulbs will mature early next summer. 1 Create a straight planting line in the soil of a veg bed that has been weeded and dressed with bone meal fertiliser. 2 Space the sets along the line and use a trowel to plant them. Firm them in, leaving the tips of the bulbs just showing. 3 Water along the row, then remove the line and label the row. Protect with a layer of fleece…

1 Liriope muscari Lilyturf is a wonderful plant for autumn, bringing unusual colour to shady spots. It will even thrive in deep shade, sending up spikes of purple flowers. A reliably tough plant for a tricky spot.  Flowers Aug-Nov Height x Spread 30cm x 45cm 2 Chrysanthemums Hardy chrysanthemums are valuable for late summer colour, flowering on until the first frosts. There’s a huge range to choose from whether you want something bright such as the pink ‘Talbot Parade’ (pictured) or something more subtle in white, yellow or even green. F Sep-Nov H x S 1.2m x 50cm 3 Hesperantha coccinea Hesperantha is a great autumn-flowering plant for a sheltered site, with delicate pink or red flowers on upright flower spikes. Plant in full sun for the best display of…

Top tip If planting new shrubs and perennials this month, check their eventual height and spread and leave enough room for them to mature Get hardy geraniums in shape now Cut back hardy perennials such as the long flowering Geranium ‘Rozanne’ which is going over now having spread itself out all summer. This light tidying up of sprawling perennials will improve air and light around the other plants in the border and give space for winter and spring bulbs to emerge. Pruning now will also help to keep your hardy geraniums looking at their best until they start putting new growth again next spring. Plant amaryllis bulbs Pot up amaryllis (hippeastrum) bulbs to enjoy the impressive flowers in about eight weeks, in good time for Christmas. Keep them warm, but…

A TWIST ON RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE Make the most of your autumn raspberry harvest with a delicious cheesecake 220g cottage cheese200g full fat soft cheese125g caster sugar140ml soured cream2 tbsp cornflour⅛ tsp cardamom powder⅛ tsp grated nutmeg¼ tsp vanilla extract3 eggs150g fresh raspberries few strands saffron For biscuit base 250g digestive biscuit50g butter, melted Heat the oven to 160°C (fan). Crush the biscuits, mix in the butter and press the mixture into a greased, 20cm, loose-bottomed, round cake tin. Whisk together cheeses and sugar, followed by soured cream, cornflour, spices and vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking the mixture inbetween. Fold in the raspberries, and crush and scatter the saffron. Pour onto the base and bake for an hour or until it is set with a slight wobble.…

Leave seedheads for the birds Allowing seedheads to remain on some perennials in borders will boost food stores for garden birds. The strong upright stems of echinacea, monarda, rudbeckia and agastache look great over winter, and are a good source of seeds for tits and finches. Taller teasels and grasses may need support, so use a few bare twigs strategically pressed into the ground to keep them aloft. Leave them until next spring and cut them back when new shoots appear at the base. Top tip Now is the time to give your lawnmower a clean before putting it away for winter. Avoid getting it wet when cleaning. Safely store it somewhere dry Look after cacti and succulents Give cacti and succulents as much light as you can for the…

1 Helleborus niger Named the Christmas rose for its winter-flowering habit, this is one of the earliest hellebores. Plant one at the edge of a border or at the front of a mixed pot to enjoy cheerful flowers in winter.  Flowers Dec-Mar Height x Spread 35cm x 45cm 2 Holly This festive shrub doesn’t need an introduction, but if you want a variety with berries, you need a self-fertile or female variety. ‘J.C Van Tol’ is a self-fertile holly or plant a female holly ‘Blue Princess’ (pictured) near a male holly for shiny red berries. F Mar-Jun H x S 4m x 4m 3 Berberis thunbergii Berberis such as ‘Cheal’s Scarlet’ (pictured) have bright winter berries that light up a winter’s day. This shrub is low maintenance, growing well in…

Maintain cut flowers Strip the lower leaves then trim the stem base of cut flowers. Put them in a bucket of clean water for a few hours to extend their vase life. Make a vertical slit at the base of woody stems before plunging them into slightly warmer water. Arrange your flowers in a vase and keep it somewhere cool and bright for the longest possible display over Christmas. Bring hellebores indoors Make a temporary indoor display with a Christmas rose, Helleborus niger. Varieties include ‘Christmas Carol’ and ‘Christmas Darling’ and can be found on most garden centre displays. Remove the plant from its plastic pot and pop it into a more attractive terracotta or ceramic display pot of a similar size. Water well, then dress the top of the…

Take cuttings from currants Grow new redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries for free by taking hardwood cuttings now. They’ll root over winter and spring, then grow on ready for planting next winter. Select thick, straight shoots of this year’s growth and cut them 15-20cm long with a bud at the top and the bottom. They will root outdoors in pots or freedraining soil, in a sheltered spot. Insert them vertically, so a third of the length is below the surface, and space them 15cm apart. There will be signs of growth in spring, but they won’t have a strong root system until later in the season, so leave them in place until next year. Harvest broccoli Be sure to harvest the central head of broccoli while it’s still tightly in bud.…

KOREAN FRIED SPROUTS Brussels sprouts becomes subtle and sweet once cooked, either parboiled, roasted or fried. 3 tbsp plain flour1 tsp flour200g Brussels sprouts, washed, dried and halvedSunflower oil, for frying1 large egg, beaten75g panko breadcrumbs1 tsp sesame seeds2 spring onions, finely chopped FOR THE SAUCE 6 tbsp dark brown sugar2 tbsp gouchujang paste (Korean chilli paste)2 tbsp soy sauce2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed1 tsp freshly grated ginger Add all the sauce ingredients to a pan and place over a gentle heat until the sugar has melted. Raise the heat and gently simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside. Mix the flour and chilli powder in a bowl and toss in the sprouts until completely coated. In a pan, heat the oil for deep frying. Coat the sprouts in the…