Flickering fames

A neat one-pot-inside-another trick that can be used for many veg, including aubergines and dwarf tomatoes, ensures this vibrant assembly of chilli peppers, herbs and terracotta is both practical and long-lasting. Chillies dislike root competition so this compact, bushy and freefruiting variety was given its own pot a few sizes smaller than the main container, then sat inside the other, leaving just enough of a gap to squeeze the herbs around the sides. A warm, sun-kissed spot will help ripen the fruits quickly and the whole display will last well into autumn, when the chillies are ready to harvest. Remember to water both pots and give the chilli plant a regular liquid feed.

We used

Chilli ‘Basket of Fire’ (1x plant in 9cm pot)

Your choice of thymes

(3x plants in 9cm pots)

Golden oregano

(3x plants in 9cm pots, or one larger plant split into three) Small (23cm) terracotta pot inserted into large (36cm) plain terracotta pot. Available from garden centres, around £25 in total.