Bob Flowerdew

1 You should rush to sow fastgrowing tender crops (okra, soya beans, squashes, pumpkins and watermelons) in the warm to plant out next month.

2 Spray everything alive with diluted seaweed solution; it only does good, and it can work miracles on difficult-to-cultivate plants suffering nutrient shortages.

3 Keep one asparagus plant uncut so as to attract beetles to lay on it, then cut and burn it when the others cease cropping.

4 Inspect plants undercover for red spider mites, particularly melons and cucumbers; a hand lens will help identify the spotted devils.