Beans ’n’ greens

Apart from the non-edible nemesias we’ve included for their delicious vanilla scent, everything here is sown straight into the trough and couldn’t be easier or more inexpensive to achieve. Peas and beans are among the most nutritious of vegetables, and spinach is a top superfood rich in iron and antioxidants. All enjoy slightly cool conditions so are perfect in a little shade. Pea ‘Half Pint’ bears full-size pods on dwarf plants that are best picked young to encourage more flowers, while purple-podded dwarf beans are as delicious as green ones, but much more decorative. Twiggy sticks are ideal for supporting the back row of compact mangetout peas.

We used

Spinach ‘Amazon’ (seed sown direct)

Nemesia ‘Wisley Vanilla’ (2 x plug plants)

Pea ‘Half Pint’ (seed sown direct)

Mangetout pea ‘Norli’

(seed sown direct)

Dwarf French bean ‘Amethyst’ (seed sown direct) Basket weave-effect trough from woodlodge.co.uk, £24.99