Cold comforters

The flat-headed plates of tiny flowers are also a magnet to bees and butterflies, so attracting beneficial insects to the garden. Sedums are extremely easy to grow and are tough plants, shrugging off droughts and pests which would damage more delicate perennials.

They are happy in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.Create autumn interest by planting them with asters or ornamental grasses.

Good varieties include S. ‘Brilliant’, which bears deep pink flowers, or ‘Autumn Joy’, whose salmon pink flowers can go on to November.

This year I grew an aubergine plant in a pot on my warm, sunny patio and am just now starting to harvest the rich, deep-coloured vegetables which are delicious grilled and filled - I’m particularly partial to grilled aubergine strips with a topping of feta cheese, chilli and mint.

Anyway, I found them surprisingly easy to grow, provided they are planted out late or under protection, because they won’t survive without warmth. When planting out in early June, add a general balanced fertiliser to the soil but avoid feeding too much with nitrogen in the early stages, or you’ll have lots of leaves and not much fruit.

If you are growing aubergines in a pot, just use one plant per pot, using good quality compost and ensuring the pot is no smaller than 30cm (12in). When the first flowers appear start liquid feeding with a tomato fertiliser more regularly.

Harvest the fruits once they reach around 14cm long but before the surface gloss has disappeared. Good varieties include ‘Bambino’, ‘Moneymaker’ and ‘Long Purple’.