Growing the good life

From the pleasures of harvesting your own one-of-a-kind honey to the meditative calm that methodical hive-management brings, beekeeping has much to offer, finds Jane Wheatley

Which soft fruit will give the biggest yield for my little plot? Raspberries are delicious, notably heavy cropping and are trained to posts and wires so they make good use of limited space. Although t

As the temperatures drop, everything seems to slow down, and while I’m happy for weeds to lose their enthusiasm, I’m pleased that brassicas and root vegetables welcome the chilled-out pace. Shorter da

Nature needs time to adapt to changing conditions,

Anne explains how to have sweeter gooseberries and gets started with mushrooms

Basil: Position in a bright spot on the windowsill or a heated greenhouse. It’s best to use free-draining compost. Broad beans: This tasty veg can be sown early this month if you choose a hardy variet