Table of Contents: Berlin Bound

After Christine and Sarah headed to Berlin recently, the city’s vibrancy and eco-forward attitude excited them so much that we decided to devote a week to German __garden design and outdoor spaces. Reports Sarah: “There is a collective sense of enjoying the day-to-day, not racing through time.”

Join us as we take it one story at a time:

Above: Germany is the birthplace of the green roofs movement (thanks, Germany). For more, see our favorite Roof Gardens.

Monday

Above: For this week’s installment of our Gardenista 100: Best of 2015, we round up our favorite German beer __garden tables (practical and stylish, outdoors or in).

Tuesday

Above: Born in 1874, German horticulturalist Karl Foerster was as much plant sociologist as nurseryman; his plant crosses resulted in some today’s most popular perennial grass varieties. This week Kendra explores the tradition of Pflanzensoziologie and other garden Ideas to Steal from Germany.

Wednesday

Above: Photograph courtesy of Gardenista Considered Design Awards.

We visit one of Berlin’s star florists at home in this week’s Studio Visit. Meanwhile, for more of our favorite European balcony gardens, see Tiny Terraces: 11 Small-Space Urban Gardens.

Thursday

Above: Lawn begone. Photograph by Betsy Pinover Schiff, courtesy The Monacelli Press. For more, see Required Reading: Sidewalk Gardens of New York.

We’ve got seven new ideas for front yard landscaping in this week’s Garden Design post.

Friday

Above: A handmade Wood Corset Beaker Vase is $38 from SF-based florist Baylor Chapman, one of the 42 artisans, makers, and floral designers who will be at the our spring Remodelista & Gardenista Market, from 9 am to 5 pm on May 9 at Marin Country Mart in Larkspur, CA. Hope to see you there!

The Remodelista editors are also spending the week in Germany. See where they’re visiting in their own Berlin Bound issue.

Six clever ways to keep cut flowers alive

1. Sear your stems

Anything that looks floppy should have its stem ends seared in boiling water for 30 seconds. Give woody stems a bit longer – so bluebells only 10 seconds, whereas lilac needs one minute.

Put 2.5cm-5cm (1in-2in) of boiling water into a mug and plunge the stems in. The amount of stem you sear is to an extent proportional to the length of stem you’ve cut. I sear 10 per cent. If it’s 6ft tall, sear 6in. If it’s 18in, sear 1in-2in. Don’t leave the stems in too long or they’ll cook and disintegrate.

Sarah Raven arranges camassia at the Chelsea Flower Show

With short-stemmed plants, take care to keep the flower heads away from the steam. Enclose the flowers in a sheet of newspaper. Searing is easier and works better than burning the stem ends with a match, and you get better results with woody shrubs than by hammering their stem ends.

It has a miraculous effect on vase life. Even if they have flopped already, many flowers will make a total recovery after searing.

Video: how to arrange flowers at home Play! 02:06

2. Add flower food to water 

This is important. You can buy proprietary brands in sachets to sprinkle into the vase, or you can make your own.

It should contain some bleach or an acidifying agent, such as vinegar or lemon juice. The bleach or vinegar reduce the proliferation of bacteria.

Tap water is alkaline, which is ideal for many bacteria. By adding a weak acid, you create a hostile environment for the bugs. Bacteria create slimy stem ends that make the vase water stink. It also blocks stems and prevents them from taking up water.

3. Make your own flower food

In a 30cm (1ft) tall vase, use one teaspoon of bleach or a good slurp – about five tablespoons – of cheap clear malt vinegar. The old wives’ tale recommends that you add an aspirin, or half a glass of lemonade, to your cut flower water.

Aspirin contains salicylic acid; lemonade contains sugar and citric acid. And bubbles are created by carbon dioxide, which forms dilute carbonic acid in water.

Proprietary flower food also includes sugar. The sugar feeds the flowers, but in my view, it feeds the bugs too. In our experiments at Perch Hill it seems to add to the vase life of sweet peas, but nothing else.

I always put a drop of bleach in water with strong-smelling plants such as alliums, cleomes and any brassicas, to prevent their characteristic pong from developing.

4. The key to foolproof arrangments

I like arranging stems through a noughts and crosses flower grid. This supports delicate flower heads (or those like camellias with short woody stems) and keeps them just out of the water in your favourite bowl.

For delicate small flowers like snowdrops, put a bunch of several stems through each square. For larger flowers, add just one to each.

It’s worth knowing that turquoise and acid green are both very flattering colours for flowers. Look out for vases in either of those colours. Pewter also looks wonderful – jugs, mugs, bowls and plates.

•  Five of the best vases for spring flowers

Video: how to make a simple hand-tied bouquet Play! 05:24

5. Use the right kit

 I always use florists’ scissors which have stronger blades than normal scissors and their fine tips are less cumbersome than secateurs for small-stemmed plants.

I use traditional metal milk pails for picking my flowers; they look good and are very durable. You can easily carry two, one slung over each arm. You need two; one filled with water for plunging cut flowers into, and the other for stripped leaves.

Floristry buckets are narrower (good for tulips) but they don’t have handles so you can only carry one at a time.

I also have pin-holders in several sizes, heavy metal discs with spikes on the upper surface to hold in place the stems that create the structure of your arrangements. I much prefer using them to Oasis (florists’ foam).

Waterproof glue-tack (called Florafix) is an absolute must-have. Use this to stick pin-holders to the bottom of a vase. You need to use this when both vase and pin-holder are clean and dry, or the stuff will not stick.

6. Give your flowers a break

All plants picked from the __garden benefit from a rest before you arrange them. This means giving the flowers a few hours, or best of all, a night, in a bucket of water in a cool, dark place.

Fill the buckets with tepid, not ice-cold, water; the plants absorb it more easily. A rest increases vase life by a quarter or more.

Remember the order:

•  Pick
• Condition
• Rest (cool and dark, ideally for 12 hours)
• Arrange

Gardening myths and traditions to hand down to your grandchildren

Val Bourne

Hand down gardening myths and wisdom to your grandchildren and teach them about the magic of gardening.

It’s apple-picking time and I’ve found myself uttering the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” when picking them with my grandchildren. My grandmother told me the same thing but this is one old wives’ tale that’s spot on.

Apples are full of fibre, which keeps the stomach and bowel healthy, and they’re packed with antioxidants, which are thought to reduce the risk of developing cancer, diabetes and heart disease. When my granddaughter Jess, who adores apples, asks for one she always gets one and then the others raid the fruit bowl.

Gardening wisdom comes down through the centuries like a botanical version of Chinese whispers

Another of my grandmother’s sayings was “never cast a clout until May’s out” but it isn’t the month she was talking about – it’s the hawthorn blossom or May-tree. These white flowers in hedgerows, which smell of cake and wine, signal the official start of summer. By then the blackthorn blossom will also have browned, bringing an end to the blackthorn winter.

My grandmother also said “oak before ash we’re in for a splash; ash before oak we’re in for a soak”. In all my years of living in the countryside I’ve never seen the ash come into leaf before the oak but I have experienced lots of wet summers so I’d discredit this one as a myth.

Talking of myths, lots of plants are named after mythological figures and one common plant, Achillea, or yarrow, is named after Achilles, hero of the Trojan Wars. He died from a small injury to the heel, hence the Achilles’ heel.

Top tip: lavender bags in your drawers are great for warding off moths Credit: getty

This aromatic plant was given names like staunch grass and soldier’s woundwort and Achilles is said to have used it to clean the wounds of his soldiers, the Myrmidons. It was still being widely used in the American Civil War of 1861-65. It was also said to ward off danger and was often hung in tool sheds, or over the home hearth. Many plants were thought to be protective and house leeks, or sempervivums, were grown on the roofs to ward off lightning strikes. Some people planted a holly near their house for the same purpose, although few of us would believe this now.

Plants are potent things, and aromatic ones such as lavender are very soothing on a hot day when the oils release their fragrance. Lavender is a Mediterranean plant, probably brought here by the Romans, and its name is associated with washing, from the old French word lavendre. Its antiseptic properties are well known and lavender hand cream made in the Cotswolds was always snapped up by farmers with hands battered by the harvest. Like many, I keep lavender bags among my woollens to ward off the moths, and some of them have been made by my grandchildren. India emblazoned hers with the word “Nan”, so it’s very precious.

Lots of plants are named after mythological figures

Aromatic plants, such as African marigolds, are often said to deter insects with their pungent foliage. Sadly this has been disproved because insects can’t smell – they identify plants with receptors on their feet. However, most aromatic plants do have bee-pleasing nectar that has a high sugar content. African marigolds seem to lure in hoverflies, lovers of orange and vivid yellow flowers, and hoverflies have predatory, aphid-gobbling larva, so they’re good news.

Some gardening wisdom dates back to Roman times, coming through the centuries like a botanical version of Chinese whispers. The practice of trimming the roots of leek plants, which used to be standard practice, comes from Columella (4-70AD), a writer who owned farms in Italy. Leeks were introduced to Britain by the Romans and they were the favourite vegetable of Emperor Nero, who gained the nickname Porophagus or “leek eater”. Trimming the roots of leeks has been proved a bad idea – so best leave them alone.

Another bad idea is planting potatoes on Good Friday, a religious superstition from the Elizabethan age when potatoes were new introductions. The fact that they weren’t mentioned in the Bible made people uneasy, so they were sprinkled with Holy Water and planted on the most sacred day of all – God’s Friday My advice is to wait until spring is well under way!

Is your home and __garden covered this autumn? Find out about Churchill insurance at churchill.com

How to decorate your home with modern art: Tips from interior designer Simone Suss

The interior designer Simone Suss doesn’t do things by halves.

When she and her husband Rob, a financier, bought a dilapidated 1930s house in north London eight years ago, they decided to demolish it and rebuild a modern, four-storey property in its place. Planning approval was quickly secured, but the work was delayed and took three long years.

It was worth the wait. The finished house has a sleek, white-walled interior bursting with pops of colour. The wooden flooring was inspired by the Saatchi Gallery and there is some impressive contemporary art on show, but the creations of Izzy, 10, Charlie, eight, and Oliver, six, take pride of place.

Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

Above all, this is a family home, with a basement playroom and cinema that is perfect for weekend lounging. 

Demolishing the house was a brave decision…

‘The house that originally stood here was literally the ugliest in the neighbourhood! Fortunately, the local conservation committee agreed with us, so we were given approval to knock it down and start again. What really attracted me was the plot itself, which is great. The __garden is west facing, so offers beautiful light. What drew me in was that it offered space for a basement filled with natural light, so we rebuilt the house from scratch to realise my vision.’  

The black- and-white hall flooring was Rob’s must-have choice, while the stairwell was positioned to spread light throughout the house Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

How would you describe your decorating style? 

‘I don’t believe in sticking to rules. Some people say you can’t mix genres, but I do, frequently combining modern and historical elements in an interesting way. I like to incorporate playful elements – whether it’s art or a piece of furniture – and unusual textiles.’   

In the master bedroom, a tall headboard creates a sense of luxury, while the bedside tables were designed by Simone Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

You’ve used strong pops of colour throughout the house. What do you think they bring? 

‘Colour can affect how people feel and add interest to a space. For example, a bedroom in cool blues and greys is very calming. I especially love dark blue and have incorporated it into many interiors, including our movie room. Inky colours have become a new neutral, but you can use them in unexpected ways. We often do whole rooms in dark blue – ceilings, woodwork, everything.’  

The quest to find the perfect material for the bathroom took ‘hundreds’ of visits to marble yards Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

Do you have a favourite room in the house? 

‘I never get bored of our marble bathroom. I went to hundreds of marble yards while I was heavily pregnant with Oliver, looking for the perfect pieces. It became a bit of an obsession. I also love our kitchen, with its colourful Livia Marin mural. It really is the heart of our home and where we spend most of our time.’

The kitchen wall displays a Livia Marin mural, and a glass pendant light features replica Brazilian dolls for a fun touch Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

How do visitors react to the interior? 

‘I’m sure it’s not to everyone’s taste, but I’ve had plenty of positive feedback – design is incredibly personal and I believe a home should reflect the people who live there. Above all, it’s a home for my family and I made sure to factor in plenty of space to enjoy together.’  

The family room has a relaxed vibe Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

Your tips for using art in a home? 

‘Again, art is very personal, so go with your gut. If you fall in love with something, or a piece has sentimental value, then why not make it a central part of your home? Put it somewhere prominent so that you can enjoy it every day. We often design entire schemes around a client’s favourite piece of art.’  

Contemporary art decorates a youngster’s bedroom Credit: Ingrid Rasmussen

What is your favourite design piece? 

‘Goodness, there are so many. The pink table by Yves Klein in the living room is something I never tire of looking at. I love a good Chesterfield couch – updated in a fresh fabric – and I keep returning to Anglepoise lights. They’re a modern classic.’  

How was decorating your own home different to working with clients? 

‘I found it much more difficult – and emotional. I’m aware of all of the different finishes and alternatives, and I’m always searching for perfection. Rob and I had a few heated debates. Fortunately, there’s always a point where my family make me step back and appreciate things.’

Helen Yemm on hollow tine aerators, rosemary, and moss

Dusty rosemary

I grow several varieties of rosemary, all but one of them in the ground. The rosemary in the pot is suffering for the first time. Leaves on the lower branches are dusty looking and the whole plant is less vigorous than the others. If this is something contagious, how can I stop my other plants from going the same way?

Carol Northover, Basingstoke 

This sounds like powdery mildew, undoubtedly the result of the mild, damp winter. Rosemary is fussy about drainage and the compost may well have been saturated for weeks. You could spray your plant with a systemic fungicide (e. g. Fungus Clear Ultra), which might stop the disease from developing, but alas the leaves that are “dusty” will drop and the bush will become gaunt later in the season, even if its extremities do “pick up” after treatment and as the weather improves.

Rosemary is fussy about drainage  Credit: Alamy

Dispose of and replace the compost in the top of the pot, which will contain lingering fungal spores. Spray your ground-grown plants as a preventative measure too, but I suspect that if they were going to contract this difficult fungal disease they would have already done so. If the potted plant becomes too unsightly, replace it. Sterilise the pot with Citrox (from __garden centres) and, paying attention to the drainage, use a loam-based compost such as John Innes No 3 with about 20 per cent added horticultural grit.

Plugs of soil

Recently retired with plenty of time for gardening and having late in life acquired a hollow tine aerator from a junk shop, my husband has used it on our compacted, soggy small back lawn. It is now littered with holes and three-inch plugs of soil. I think he should clear them up; he says they should be left and will disperse naturally – but surely that defeats the object. Your advice is sought before he similarly litters the front lawn. 

Jenny Filmer, via email  

Your husband is right – in a way. The plugs will gradually break down (and after a dry day or two can be easily foot-scuffed to virtual oblivion) and any untidy remnants will in all probability be picked up with the next mow. Either way, most of the plug soil will either vanish back into the turf (and down the holes) or will end up in the compost bin with the lawn clippings: no bad thing.

However, looking at future hollow tine forays, there are two other options that would provide the husband with lots to do as well as further improving the lawn’s drainage. In the autumn (since it is a bit late for this now), once he has punctured the lawn with the aerator, in the interests of neat and tidiness (clearly a subject close to your heart) the plugs can be swept up and go straight in the compost.

Following this, a commercial sandy turf dressing could be applied to the entire lawn, something that will definitely be beneficial.  Or (hey-ho, even more work) the plugs could be swept up, put in a barrow and smashed up a bit, an equal quantity of horticultural sand added, and the mixture put through a __garden sieve before being returned to the lawn surface as a home-made turf dressing.  Meanwhile (I sense you are on a bit of a mission here), has your husband any plans to feed his lawns? Neaten the edges?

Imperials in peril

Many of the Fritillaria imperialis in my garden are shooting up – annoyingly “blind”. They were properly planted, on their sides, eight inches deep in sandy, well-drained soil, and I give them bonemeal in autumn and early spring and spread farmyard manure as a winter mulch. How do I solve the problem? 

Robert Parker, via email 

Fritillaria imperialis Credit:  Marianne Majerus garden Images

The picture with your email told the whole sorry story: masses of shiny, healthy green foliage and barely a flower in sight. From what you say, it sounds – and looks – as though these fussy plants are getting too much leaf-inducing nitrogen (from the horse manure), and not enough of the nutrient that would encourage flowers – potash.

The bonemeal, rich in root-encouraging phosphates, is not soluble and is thus more useful when planting rather than as a top dressing. Don’t be tempted to cut down this foliage. Give it all a liquid feed of high-potash tomato food every fortnight or so until it starts to yellow. Use a less-rich winter mulch of leaf mould or home-made compost, and spread around a general, balanced fertiliser (Growmore; blood, fish and bone) early next spring. Fingers crossed – again.

Masses of moss

I have spent the past couple of weeks slicing moss off the top of my garden borders – particularly those in the shade and one which is on the downside of a slope, therefore getting most of the rain water. Is there anything I can put on/in the soil to fight this? 

Jean Grasby, via email 

A winter-damp, mossy border that then “blossoms” in summer be a joy Credit: Marianne Majerus Garden Images

Slicing moss off borders may help as a short-term measure, and as the soil dries out in summer and your plants start to grow the moss will dry off and be less noticeable anyway. Moss grows less vigorously if you gently rough-up the top surface of the border soil regularly – a long-handled, small-headed fork (as made by Sneeboer or Spear & Jackson) is useful for this.

However, if you really want to tackle moss head on, you will have to improve the drainage in the problem areas by digging in masses of grit to the soil, and even raising the pH by liming it occasionally. If the shade is cast by trees and shrubs, some strategic pruning to let in more light and air might be helpful too. Alternatively, learn to love the status quo. A winter-damp, mossy border that then “blossoms” in summer with lily of the valley, Solomon’s seal, ferns, hostas and other damp-shade-lovers can be a joy.

'I'm not a gardener but...'

It is surprising, and oddly gratifying, how many readers start their communications with these words, following it up with a question that they hope is not too basic for my attention. Might I remind readers that there is (almost) no such thing? So, my most recent “non-gardener”, Ray Newby, thank you for your pruning query.

Early-flowering shrubs – that is, any that start to flower between January and July (such as Ray’s monster forsythia) – should be pruned immediately after they have flowered. Other familiar examples are winter jasmine (February) and philadelphus (July).

Early-flowering shrubs should be pruned immediately after they have flowered

Branches with spent flowers should be cut back to a growth point; keep tiny new shoots that have not flowered, since they and other subsequent new shoots will flower next year. You can be quite bold – the last thing you want is to revisit with secateurs in autumn, thereby spoiling next year’s spring show. 

With neglected bushes, saw out two or three of the thickest, oldest branches at ground level along with dead wood. New base growth that replaces these will flower in two years’ time. Inevitably there are refinements to this simple pruning “rule”, but grasping it is a good place to start.

Send your questions

Write Helen Yemm, Gardening,  The Daily Telegraph,  111 Buckingham Palace Rd,  London SW1W 0DT

Tweet @TeleGardening

Email  helen.yemm@telegraph.co.uk 

For more tips and advice  from Helen Yemm, visit telegraph.co.uk/helenyemm 

Helen Yemm can answer questions only through this column

Learn to forage for your own dinner in a Victorian Gothic mansion in Devon

When he first moved in to his 34-bedroom Gothic mansion in Devon, it was “like the set of The Shining,” says Damian Llambias.

The walls were painted oxblood red, lit with just one flickering light bulb; each room was plunged into permanent darkness by the 20 enormous conifers that surrounded the house, which was wrapped in ivy.

He and his partner moved in two weeks before an Arctic blast in February 2012 and found that the heating didn’t work, their breath freezing on the windows that were infected with rot.

“All big old buildings creak and groan, and what with the darkness, the tapping trees and erratic power, it was a little bit daunting at times to be in a building you don’t know in the middle of the countryside,” says Llambias. “There was a moment we thought: what have we done?”

Llambias and his partner Christopher Badham bought Huntsham Court, Tiverton, with the ambition of turning it into a business, renting it out for parties, weddings and other events. They were spurred into it after failing to find a suitable venue for their civil partnership in 2011, and set about bringing the derelict house up to scratch themselves. 

Damian Llambias and Christopher Badham Credit: Matt Austin

“The months before moving in were really exciting and full of potential,” says Llambias. “It only became daunting when suddenly you get the tin of paint out and it takes three days to do the first coat in one room. And then you realise just how enormous the building is.” They started to do all the work themselves, before getting in some professionals to speed things up; so far they have used 1,076 litres of paint. Llambias, who used to work in the arts, would get his artist friends to come down to the house and paint murals in the bedrooms.

But it was a case of trial and error: when some friends came to road test the house, one of them “fell through a rotten bathroom floor – it took us 30 minutes to find the bottom half of him, which was dangling though the ceiling of the china cupboard.”

Huntsham Court at night

It took three years before the house started to shine, says Llambias. Now, it is filled with rich colours and Gothic wallpaper, made bespoke to the original 19th century designs that were found in the house. The sprawling house has 80 sofas, 44 chandeliers and 136 windows.

The couple were anxious to make the house liveable for the guests who came to hold weddings and parties. They went for a style of “relaxed grandeur”, mixing old oil paintings and modern sofas. “We always wanted it to feel like a house which had evolved over time rather than having a feeling it has just been redesigned,” says Llambias.

“The property is a Grade II listed Victorian gothic mansion so we wanted to embrace that, and decorate the reception rooms in a traditional style but in a lighter, less cluttered way than a traditional Victorian interior – so we have used lots of textures, and fabrics with gold in to reflect light.” The aim was to make it feel liveable, so wedding guests would feel at home rather than lost in a great, imposing house.

A bedroom Credit: Matt Austin

Badham’s favourite room is the library, with its 3,000 old books that were left by the original owners, and bookcases taken from the House of Lords. Llambias prefers the Great Hall, with a huge hearth and Jacobean wood panelling that was rescued from the original Huntsham Court when it was demolished in the middle of the 19th century.

The house sits in rolling countryside, much of which is farmed. The Victorians who built it planted redwoods, Japanese maples and Ginkgo trees in the grounds, and Llambias has been restoring the gardens as well.

Huntsham Court’s next incarnation will take much from its environment: by taking out guests to forage for their own dinner on the house’s land. 

Llambias and Badham have teamed up with The F.E.A.S.T. Project, which will teach groups on corporate retreats or parties how to shoot, fish, butcher and pick food from within a 20-mile radius.

The octagonal kitchen with a blue dome and gold stars painted on Credit:  Matt Austin

Whatever they come up with – be it venison, partridge or trout from the estate’s river – will then be prepared by the chef in the octagonal kitchen, its domed roof painted blue with gold stars. The size of the dinner depends on the success and skill of the foragers, who can then feast on whole haunches of venison, a delicate salad made with herbs foraged from the garden, and puddings of berries gathered up with hungry hands.

The two-day event lets curious gourmands find out exactly where their food comes from, at the same time as learning team-building skills and reconnecting with the land – all while staying in a luxurious, homely and stylish mansion. 

Val Bourne on getting her grandchildren growing and eating fresh food

Expert gardener Val Bourne enthuses her grandchildren with a love of growing and eating the freshest food.

I can always get plenty of help from my grandchildren when it comes to harvesting and collecting food, because they really enjoy eating. Their favourite task is collecting the eggs from our bantams. They love to cradle the warm, new-laid eggs in their hands and Jess, my youngest, always strokes her cheek with hers. We always hope there will be four in the nesting box, one for each grandchild, and we’ve been known to smuggle one back before they arrive – but please don’t tell them.

When we’ve plenty, the Best Beloved makes egg and rocket sandwiches for James. Or we’ll have boiled eggs and soldiers for tea, two eggs apiece because bantam eggs are tiny affairs but with lots of yolk. Then the trickery begins. Egg shells are slyly upended and a spare egg (empty) is offered around to great hilarity.

Their favourite task is collecting the eggs from our bantams

Not everyone can keep chickens I know, but having some fresh food to harvest teaches children that food is a precious resource as well as an enjoyable experience. My lot realised long ago that the freshly dug parsnip roasted in winter, or the juicy carrot straight from the ground, tastes far better than a shop-bought one. And children can taste the difference because they have more sensitive palates than adults. Their dislike of Brussels sprouts, for instance, is not pure caprice – it’s down to sprouts tasting far stronger to them. 

Harvesting food enforces the fact that fresh vegetables and fruit are healthy options and you’ll experience a range of foods throughout the year. My four grandchildren each have their favourites but they all adore purple carrots, which are sweet and nutty with orange middles. “Purple Haze”, which needs more warmth than orange carrots, goes down a treat and Jess likes warm beetroot. The F1 variety “Alto”, which is sausage-shaped, is easy for them to harvest because the root is partly visible above the soil.

By autumn the sweetcorn on the allotment is ripe and a couple of years ago India, Ellie, James and Jess all went with the Best Beloved with strict instructions to pick two cobs each. They got carried away and snapped off 28 in two minutes. We spent an unexpected evening freezing sweetcorn.

Little helpers: if you have room to keep chicken, children love to collect their warm, new-laid eggs Credit: getty

Beans are popular too and can be accommodated in a vegetable patch or flower border because they’re so decorative. They keep going until the first frosts arrive and the purple climbing bean “Blauhilde”, which has lilac flowers and dark foliage, always has an autumn flourish. Green beans, such as “Cobra”, “Polestar” and “Moonlight” are good additions too. __garden pea “Hurst Greenshaft” and broad bean “Jubilee Hysor” crop heavily and the rows are tall enough to hide behind, so scrumping is a regular activity. At least the parsnips, always F1 “Gladiator”, can’t be eaten raw.

Autumn is apple time and 'Pitmaston Pine Apple' is a reliable cropper

Fresh fruit is well worth growing. The strawberries have finished now, as has our favourite huge blackberry “Karaka Black”. Autumn raspberries are in, though, and the classic variety “Autumn Bliss” is bountiful. There’s normally enough of a glut for jam, and raspberry jam is India’s favourite.

Autumn is apple time and “Pitmaston Pine Apple” is a reliable cropper and the small, golden apples are sweet and aromatic. They don’t last long after picking, especially if James has anything to do with it, although in theory they will store until after Christmas.

The greenhouse also provides an autumn glut of tomatoes and the small “Sungold” is sharp and sweet with lots of amber-coloured tomatoes on each truss. We can’t grow enough of these, or enough glasshouse cucumbers. And a home-grown cucumber, such as “Tiffany” is crisp and sweet. As these crops finish, the winter salads go in and they can be picked throughout winter. Chicories, endives, mizunas, rocket and lettuce are sown in trays and the seeds are large enough for children to handle and are fast to germinate. Rocket is a much better crop in winter – and can be grown on a window sill.

Val's top tips - #2

Protecting your garden

When it comes to protecting your garden, Churchill home insurance policies cover contents and plants up to £1,000 (with cover of up to £250 per plant), including loss of or damage to trees, shrubs, plants and lawns. 

Is your home and __garden covered this autumn? Find out about Churchill insurance at churchill.com

Xanthe Clay's potted salmon and chive bonbons

In this video, Xanthe Clay reveals how to create delicious potted salmon and chive bonbon bites, perfect to serve at any event.

This is part of a new Telegraph video series where Telegraph food writer Xanthe Clay shares a range of delicious yet simple canapé recipes to inspire you this party season.

Future recipes in this series include radishes stuffed with pea guacamole and chorizo-stuffed mini peppers.

 Dusting the bonbons with smoked paprika before serving adds a festive touch to these bonbons Credit: Telegraph

INGREDIENTS

• 150g hot smoked salmon
• 75g cream cheese
• Lemon juice
• Black pepper
• 25g chives
• Paprika (optional)

METHOD

Mix the salmon and cream cheese with a generous grinding of black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice to make a rough pate.

Chill the mixture if it is soft.

In the palms of your hands, roll into small-sized balls.

Finely chop the chives with a sharp knife.

Roll the ball in the herbs and chill until you serve.

Optional: dust the bonbons with smoked paprika before serving.

Last week’s episode shared Xanthe’s recipe for her juicy roasted tomato, mint and feta canapés.

Xanthe Clay’s roasted tomatoes, mint and feta canapés Play! 00:57