The production of rice, baked beans and melons in the UK suggests a rosy future for the UK’s food self-sufficiency. But, asks Michael Barker, are such crops a sustainable solution or just an exercise in what’s possible?

Farmer Martin Hole explains the challenges of farming with wildlife in a protected wetland. Interview: Lorna Maybery

As days grow longer, the urge to sow seeds is almost impossible to resist. But if you dream of overflowing beds, the most important thing to do now is plan the growing year to help you meet its sowing

From drought to deluge, future-proof your plot with resilient plants, smarter watering and flexible gardening

From ice cream to underwear and explosives, plants are remarkably integral to much of the manmade world, as a new book reveals. Harry Pearson investigates

FRUIT & VEG