Bob’s top tips for the week

1 Make 12in/30cm cuttings of blackcurrants, redcurrants, grapes and gooseberries. Insert halfway into the ground and they will be plants by next autumn: guaranteed.

2 Have sheets ready to cover tomato, pumpkin and squash plants on cold nights, or pull them up and take them under cover.

3 Leafmould is the best soil and compost improver; collect all leaves possible, pack them into perforated black bags, and store them until they are decayed.

4 Don’t waste that gone-over sweetcorn! Dry the cobs and save the kernels to soak overnight for thickening soups and stews.