Â鶹Éç

Choose windowsills that get plenty of sun - five hours a day or more during summer preferably.

The wider the sill the better, as you'll be able to get bigger containers onto it. And if it catches the rain as well, that's even better - it'll save on watering later.

Don't be too ambitious - plants hate being crowded and will be weak and small if they haven't got enough space. Containers need to be at least 15cm across for basil, while a couple of beans, a handful of carrots or a scattering of salad leaves would each suit a 25cm pot. Choose the deepest pots you can.

Plant pots and windowboxes are easy and cheap, but why not use your imagination and recycle - how about using decorative tins for salad leaves, or wooden boxes for basil?

The deeper your windowbox, the greater the variety of veg you can grow. Make sure it's properly fixed and supported, as it'll be very heavy once it's full.

A 20cm deep windowbox is fine for salad leaves and 30cm for the Dig In carrots and beans. Very few windowboxes are big enough to suit a courgette plant - they need a lot of room.

If space is very tight, grow some basil indoors on a sunny sill, and a pot or two of salad leaves outside. Basil will appreciate the warmth, while the salad is a bit tougher. A small, shallow windowbox is also fine for salad leaves.

If you've room, try 25cm wide pots or boxes planted with a handful of Dig In carrots or a couple of bean plants.

Remember, bean plants need something to climb up, like a cane or some string, and will get up to 1.8m high. These veg will grow well in deep windowboxes too.

Use compost specially designed for containers, as it will hold onto water better and have extra nutrients to get your plants off to a good start. Things to look out for on packaging are; soil or loam-based composts; extra nutrients or plant food; and water-retaining granules.

Put a layer of stones, bits of broken pots or, if you want to save weight, broken polystyrene packaging in the bottom of your pots and windowboxes to help excess water drain away. Then add the compost and lightly firm it down. Give it enough water to be just moist, and you're ready to start planting.

Water can be a big problem on windowsills - containers dry out very quickly, and often rain can't reach them because of roof overhangs. Water often, but don't overwater - that'll kill plants too. Test if you've got it right by poking a finger into the compost. If it's slightly moist just below the surface, that's perfect.

Don't forget to give your plants an extra feed once they've got going. Living in pots and boxes, they'll soon use up all the nutrients in their compost. Get a liquid feed and use once a fortnight at least.

Lots of veg like being planted with flowers, and some - like the Dig In beans - have pretty flowers too. Brighten things up by planting a few flowers among your veg - French marigolds are particularly good because they discourage pests as well as looking pretty. Or you could even slip veggies among your flowers - how about a frilly edging of salad leaves?