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Q – Last year I sowed 5000 onion seeds of ‘Santero’ and 5000 onion sets – when they dried, the onions from sets had rot but the seeds didn’t – why is this? Ìý

Bob – Soil conditions are very critical for allowing rot into plants – The seeds and sets grow in different stages. By using a soil mill, you can damage the basal plate – if that’s bruised it can let the rot in. It’s not a good idea to push sets into the ground – better to put them on the surface, cover them with some soil until they have managed to root then brush the soil away.

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Q – Soon I will be living in a small campervan - can the panel recommend any plants to improve the aesthetic of the van?

Matthew – Bonsai trees.

Pippa – it’s going to be difficult – you could grow something in a long, slim trough-shaped container that you could train up a trellis – maybe with variegated Ivy and a Clematis. You could also plant some spring bulbs in the base.

Bob – Herbs: Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, Mint and Oregano.

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Q – I have a greenhouse in my school garden, it’s in full sun and has little ventilation – what edible crops can we grow that will harvest before July 20th? Ìý

Pippa – Put some ventilation in there – the temperature will be too high without it. Take out a pane of glazing to create a window. Early crops of strawberries and tomatoes. Also lettuces.

Bob – Fruit plants in big pots: Gooseberries, Blackcurrants, Redcurrants and some grape vines – ‘Siegerrebe’ and ‘Boskoop Glory’ varieties are good. Bring them inside from February. Ìý

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Q – I have a problem with my rose bush – can you help?

Pippa – It’s a classic example of proliferation, the petals are really densely packed – a lot of them are green with the orange colour in the centre and right in the middle there is a collection of buds and more growth. It’s a second rose growing from the centre – it is usually caused from physical damage – it could be frost or hail at the wrong time. It could also be a virus or a mycoplasma – I would remove the potentially infectious plant.

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Q – How do I differentiate weeds from the other small plants?

Bob – I would sow in a pattern such as an H shape – this will help to know where your plants should be growing. ÌýYou could also take a handful of soil from the area and plant it up separately, everything that grows out of that will be a weed and should help you to identify the weeds in the future.

Pippa – I would sow straight lines. Before you sow the seeds you should cultivate the soil and remove the large crop of weeds.

Matthew – you can create a herringbone pattern by sowing in alternate patches of straight lines.

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Q – We plant edible plants for the public to pick and use – we have acquired a south-facing bank with stony, dry and unproductive soil. Which herbs and fruit can we grow to provide interest for 12 months of the year?

Bob – Nuts; Hazels/Cobs/Filberts – especially red-skinned are good on a dry, stony soil.

Matthew – You could produce wine from vines on the stony bank – start small but they will work well after the roots are very deep into the ground. Use the rule ‘2 bottles per square yard’ (9 square feet/ 0.8 square metres).

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