This month it’s all about plants – amazing varieties, colours, textures, sizes – all in bright vibrant colour!

Grow Rocket!

One of the best herbs to grow from seed is rocket (ERUCA sativa). Sow the seed directly into the soil, cover it lightly and keep it moist. The seeds germinate easily and mature quickly in summer so, to have a new crop coming on continually, sow seeds every three weeks. The peppery taste of the leaves is super in salads and sandwiches, especially with cucumber and cream cheese. The leaves are an excellent tonic, rich in iron, chlorophyll and vitamins.

Since I've been trying to become a food garden fundi, one of the most inspiring websites I've come across is www.verticalveg.org.uk. If you have ever moaned about a lack of space for growing veggies, this is seriously something you should check out! The author grows just unbelievable amounts of food in pots on a London balcony, and totals up how much he produces in pounds and pence.

One of his best ideas for really quick greens in a minimal space are "microgreens", which I have been experimenting with recently. So here's everything you never knew you needed to know about growing them.

There are lots of things that make gardening rewarding, but I especially like to see birds in the garden. I am hoping by planting indigenous species to provide a variety of food sources throughout the year, I can attract a variety of bird species. However, so far probably the most attractive things in our garden have been our dogs’ food bowls, which we put on the stoep.

These are like magnets for Red-eyed Doves, and I often see them peering down from the roof to check whether their favourite restaurant Chez Eukanuba has opened yet. It’s a little infuriating, but you can’t really get angry with them.

The winter was not a wet one. If I hadn’t decided on a water-wise indigenous garden, I’d be getting very worried by now. I’ve already resolved to be very stingy with my harvested rain water this summer- I think I will have to be if I want any veggies from the veggie patch.

The plants I will be investing in are my recently planted pincuchion rigolettos, which apparently need to be watered for a couple of years to become established, but can be completely ignored after that; and my indigenous trees. Besides these, plants found looking droopy or wilted will be harshly dealt with. The two step treatment will include a serious prune, and a generous dose of Stockosorb.

I really think it’s worthwhile to become a umm’ whatchamacallit …scenario planner, forecaster or prediction Percy, especially when you always get it right. It makes no difference to anyone’s life but everyone loves a winner.  I’m half way there with the weather scenario/ forecast/ prediction for September. Very cold at times otherwise very hot! Possibility of heavy rain, but no matter what,  good rain at some point for sure.

Spring has definitely arrived and will be followed by winter before summer… See, its all happening, you just have to see it coming and decide how your garden is going to deal with it. I have noticed a few lawns caught short with top dressing which sadly has resulted in the creation of a fewperfect mud baths. Why? Bad predictions and way too much dressing on the lawn!