Regions: north

Drought-hardy bean of the west — fixes nitrogen and crops where little else will.

Regrows from the root end of a shop-bought bunch — the cheapest crop in the house.

Host plant for tiger butterflies — plant one and the caterpillars arrive on their own.

A pot by an open window does more for a summer evening than any air freshener.

Grows from a bare cutting pushed into dry soil; flowers scent a whole terrace.

A slow, tough native tree for a hot courtyard, with fruit that makes the summer sherbet.

The fastest useful tree there is — 3 m in a year, with edible leaves and pods.

Peppery leaves in five weeks, and yellow flowers for the bees if you let a few stalks run on.

The monsoon green that grows itself — heat-proof, rain-proof and ready in a month.

Summer staple for a sunny terrace; pick every second day or the pods turn woody.