As you were all made aware in my previous column, I am growing some of my vegetables in pots tubs and bags sitting on concrete in front of the garage.

This weeks column shows a photograph of how well they are growing.

It is an example that even without a garden, it is possible to grow your own produce that that is free of chemicals and absolutely no carbon footprint.

Do not get me wrong, it is time consuming especially in the hot weather that we have enjoyed this spring.

I have had to check continuously the pots, bags, and tubs to make sure that the compost in which the plants are growing contains sufficient moisture to grow on without receiving a check to growth that could end up with the plants going to seed.

In the greenhouse at the end of May, the thermometer was showing a temperature of 126 degrees farenhight by mid afternoon and this was with the door and windows open.

I normally water first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but with these temperatures I was watering at mid-day especially on the tomatoes and cucumbers.

In the case of tomatoes, if the compost dries out and you then add water to the pots, the sudden upsurge of water being taken up by the plant roots will cause the tomatoes growing on the trusses to split the skins.

Another problem caused is the appearance of blossom end rot. This appears on the bottom of the fruit and looks like a brown leathery patch, so care should be taken to make sure that the compost is kept moist at all times to prevent these problems from occurring.

On the fence in the back door I have planted up five baskets of trailing begonias, which hopefully bring a good bit of colour to the fence.

In the front garden I have planted 40 upright begonias and five tubs of geraniums.

Another that I have completed is weeding between the slabs and the gravel from the front to the back, a very satisfying result with everything neat and tidy.

My good friend George has been keeping me up to date on my allotment as I am unable to go there.

The winter planting onions that I planted on October last year have started swelling.

He tells me they look a good onion and will be ready for lifting at the beginning of July.

This type of onion is called Radar. I have done my time – my three months staying in – and I am ready to start my resumption of productivity down in the allotment.

In preparation for this hive of activity, I have some leeks, peas, runner beans, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and swede.

Not too bad considering that half the growing year is gone already.

Anyone growing strawberries, they should by now be just about ready for cropping.

It is advisable to place straw underneath the fruit to prevent damage by slugs and have a net over the bed to prevent the birds destroying your crop.

Summer fruiting raspberries will also be cropping just now so keep these crops well watered and put a mulch round the roots to help preserve the moisture.

Well friends I will close for now and wish you all every success with your garden.