Fancy a spot of gardening?

Have you ever dreamed of having a flower-filled terrace without having to spend too much time on it? Here are some flowers that deliver fast results with the minimum of input from you:

• Morning Glory comes in many different colours (blue, pink, violet, red and white)
• Cosmos comes in varying heights and thrives even in partial shade
• Nasturtiums: whether creeping or climbing, they’re perfect for beginners
• The classic French Marigold is robust, flowers right through to the autumn and is insect-resistant
• Cornflowers (in pink, blue, white and red) are happy in all types of soil
• The California Poppy grows even in the poorest soils
  

If you like climbing plants, try these:

• Runner beans with their red and white flowers
• Ipomoea, which likes light and heat
• Sweet peas, with their fragrant flowers
  

Aromatic herbs are the essential ingredients that transform a plain meal into a culinary masterpiece! Easy to grow anywhere, they require very little care.

Parsley, chives, basil, chervil… you can buy them all in pots ready to plant out. Put them in a sunny place and remember to water them regularly. You can even grow them in planters or large pots in a corner of your garden or terrace. Put them close to the house beneath the kitchen window, and they’ll always be within easy reach!

Thyme can be unpredictable, but requires little watering and soil that’s not too rich. It sometimes seems to prefer growing on a gravel or pebble path. Rosemary is less demanding, and will spread very quickly to form a fragrant bush.

Fruit and vegetable growing can take a lot of time, care and skill. If you dread the thought, why not simply share the pleasure of creating a kitchen garden with your children?

Prepare the soil for them and help them sow seeds or prick out easy-growing plants they’ll be proud to harvest, like radishes and strawberries.
You can also try some more spectacular plants...

• Cherry tomatoes need a sunny spot and must be trained as they grow
• A sunflower will soon be taller than the children themselves
• Purple beans will amaze the whole family
• And looking forward to Halloween, don’t forget to plant a pumpkin, whose long stem will twist and turn… so leave plenty of room!