I’ve had to abandon growing leafy annual herbs like basil, chervil and dill in the herb garden because the soil is too poor.

It’s fine for the tough Mediterranean plants but even with additional top soil, the annual seeds germinated poorly, then withered and died.

Then I had a brain wave…

We’d finished the early crops of pak choi and spinach in the greenhouse cold frames and they were now empty. I transplanted some dill, chervil and coriander I’d raised in plugs and also sowed more drills directly into the soil. I’ve kept them well watered and they have thrived. Lush, leafy, aromatic little fronds of loveliness that just keep on coming. Just as well because the cucumber is about to crop and Sarah Raven has an amazing marinated cucumber and dill salad recipe.