Food from your garden

Plant salad vegetables such as lettuce, rocket, onions, spring onions, carrots, celery and radishes closer together to conserve moisture, and mulch with compost that will break down in time to enrich the soil. Where there is a regular water supply, continue planting beans, beetroot, cabbage, mealies, cucumber and squash.

Grow lettuce in a position that gets afternoon shade. Harvest individual leaves from butter lettuce as needed.

Remove weeds before they get a chance to set seed. Support climbing vegetables with a wooden or wire frame, trellis or tripod and tie in new growth to avoid damage from wind. Place pots of herbs on sunny windowsills, patios, near the kitchen and alongside braai areas, and plant up with parsley, basil, mint, sage, tarragon, chives, oregano, thyme and rosemary.