While you may think Italian, the name is actually Greek (meaning kingly or royal). Though basil is actually thought to originate from India. But who knows…and it tastes nice regardless!

As ever the year races on, with summer ending so quickly that I was left wondering if it ever came at all. But on the brightside it is once again the perfect time to sort your lawn out. And while you also have another window for lawn sowing in spring, I'd definitely recommend getting started resowing or patching your lawn now, otherwise you'll blink and the year will have moved on. 

Growing from seed is as economical and easy way to grow plants. Whether you're growing flowers or veggies, growing from seed allows you to choose from a much wider range of interesting and unusual plants, while allowing you to enjoy watching and nurturing your plants from the get go.

How you can help the bees!

Moist, delicious and easy to cook, this gorgeous beetroot cake is suitable for all kinds of occasions. It contains barely any flour, and can easily be made gluten free by using a gluten-free flour to dust the sides of your cake tin.

Pruning can sometimes be a daunting task, but if you get the shape right in the first few years you'll find it a fairly easy process. Fruit trees such as apples, pears, plums and peaches can be pruned both in summer and winter. Pruning in summer can make it easier to keep a tree small, but if you're planting a new tree in winter it's worth pruning into shape on the first dry, sunny day.

The backbone of any herb garden, parsley is easy to grow, stores well, is incredibly versatile and tastes utterly delicious, especially when used right.

Perfect for warming you up on those cold days, this delicious recipe is easy to prepare, quick to make and great for making a good impression.

This delicious herb is a mainstay of french cuisine and is one of the herbs in mix of fines herbes that is so important in French haute cuisine.

Caring for a rose needn't be difficult. But it's a lot easier if you set yourself up for success! A rose that is planted in the right spot and is well cared for is far less likely to have problems than a rose in the wrong spot or that hasn't been cared for correctly. And ultimately, getting things right at the start means less work and will make everything much easier.