In the garden this week: Courgettes, plus hanging baskets

Courgette succession You may be starting to harvest courgettes , and the glut days are ahead, but the plants won't go on all summer. Sow replacements now, and they'll be ready to pick up the slack when the early ones run out of steam. Sow direct into the soil (sow two in each spot, then weed out the weaker), but you run the risk of slug damage if the seedlings are not well protected. Alternatively, sow in pots and plant out in a few weeks. Drink deep Even if it's raining, hanging baskets can get really dried out: they sit close to walls, so don't get hit by rain anyway, and their large surface area makes them prey to drying winds. Daily watering and weekly feeding are essential, but you might also occasionally lift them down and give them a long dunk in a cold bath or big sink.