Brush up on when it makes sense to target an old fence

Should I stain my fence now or wait until autumn? Phil Snape, Blackheath, South East London

I’d definitely recommend doing it now. Ensure there has been no rain for at least 48 hours before staining your fence. They dry quicker during the warmer, longer days and it’s easier to coat in spring and summer. If you wait until autumn, it will be more difficult due to the wind and the rain.

Knives are out for nuisance nasties lurking in nooks

I have weeds in the patio between my paving slabs, what should I do?

Derek, via email

To tidy up your patio pavers, get hold of an old kitchen knife and scrape in between the nooks to dig out any weeds popping up. Removing them properly by the roots reduces the likelihood of them regrowing. You can also use this as a way to get out any roots, grass, stones or unwanted items that have found themselves in the narrow space.

Fruit is one of the best things you can plant in your garden and allotment or on your patio. It ticks many boxes: beautiful foliage, stunning flowers and, of course, delicious fresh fruit.

It enriches the senses – taste, touch and smell, plus that beautiful sight.

And it couldn’t be easier to grow, whatever your circumstances.

If you are new to growing, currants are a great starting point. They are easy to grow and once they are established, you don’t need to do much at all.

While being beautiful flowering plants, currants also have fragranced foliage.

The multitude of redcurrants, white currants, and blackcurrants mean there will be something to suit every taste. Eat them freshly picked or dropped into natural yoghurt as a fruity breakfast. Alternatively, bake pies and desserts or place them on the side of a cheese board with a nice glass of wine.

They are a great source of fibre and antioxidants and actually contain four times the amount of vitamin C as oranges.

If you’re short on space, they can be grown in tubs and containers. Look for a reasonably sheltered spot with as much sun as possible to get the best results.

No matter if you are looking to fill a bare border or some pots for your patio, currants have got you covered.

Blueberries are extremely good for our bodies and are another excellent source of vitamin C, which helps protect cells against damage.

Currants make an ideal beginner crop

They like ericaceous soil, meaning they don’t like too much lime. So if you can successfully grow things in your garden such as heather, rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas, you know you can also grow blueberries pretty well.

If you can’t rely on your garden, grow them in tubs using ericaceous compost from a garden centre, feeding regularly with sequestered iron. You could also put some rusty nails in the bottom of planting holes, as the iron will help them grow.

Grab yourself a big oak half-barrel online or even a half-cut dustbin.

Their spectacular flowers bloom early in the season – delicate white bells or lanterns complement the fantastic foliage, which has superb

autumn colour.

Apples are another winner on the fruit front.

High in vitamin C and fibre, they are a classic fruit to grow.

If you are planting

SWEET MEMORIES David and his two daughters test fruit NEW SQUEEZE