Growing spaces: ground

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.

A deep trough and forty days is all it asks. Thin ruthlessly for straight roots.

Cut-and-come-again greens for a kitchen garden — ready in six weeks from a shallow trough.

A clump of scented grass that mosquitoes avoid and tea drinkers cannot do without.

A hardy monsoon spreader with long traditional use, easy to grow and valuable for small insects.

The household holy basil — thrives in a pot, keeps pests down and brings pollinators to a balcony.

A whole pharmacy in a tree, and the source of the safest home pest spray. Needs ground space — not a balcony…

Flowers best when slightly starved and thirsty — the classic mistake is watering it too well.