Do you need to soak dried borlotti beans before cooking? As with most legumes, if you’re cooking dried borlotti beans, then soak them overnight. This will soften them enough to make them easier to cook. Never soak for longer than 12 hours, or the beans will lose their texture and flavour.

Do you get the sun in a west facing garden? West facing garden benefits They get the sun in the afternoon and early evenings so are ideal for sun catchers who like the warmth. Your house will be lighter for longer, so you can enjoy the natural light and often save on energy bills.

How big do broad beans grow? The broad bean is a bushy, hardy annual that can grow from 3 to 4½ feet (. 9-1.3m) tall.

How far back can you cut a privet hedge? You can cut the hedge back approximately within 30m of the ground. Any further and you may end up with a plant that cannot grow back at all. Be sure to feed the hedges after with fertiliser and mulch, while keeping it significantly hydrated.

Can birch trees be grown in pots? Silver Birch tree (Betula pendula) in a pot – up to 2m tall Silver birch trees are fast growing and will establish well in any soil in a sunny or partially shaded location.

What is the best month to plant carrots? Carrot seeds can be sown from early spring right through to late August and can be harvested almost all year round. Most varieties are sown outdoors between April and July. Early cultivars such as the ‘Nantes 2’ can be sown under a cloche or started in greenhouses from February.

Should you kill woodlice? No treatment is necessary but if they persist put right any dampness, remove infested vegetation and use an insecticidal powder or long-lasting spray around door-thresholds or other points of entry. Amateur use products are available from your local garden centre or hardware store.

Do hedges stop growing in winter? Can your hedges grow in winter time? It may not seem like you see much progress in the garden over winter, but generally speaking deciduous hedges grow rapidly in the early part of each year, which happens to be in the peak of winter.

What do I do if I have badgers in my garden? Badgers can usually be discouraged or prevented from entering gardens with solid, effective fencing and locked gates. A badger-proof wire mesh, buried to a depth of 1m (3ft) may prevent them digging under fences. The bottom 30cm (12in) should be bent outwards to stop the badgers burrowing underneath.

What should I plant in a flower bed? To attract pollinators to your garden, select flowers and herbs with yellow, red, orange or blue petals and a fresh, mild and flowery sweet scent. Some popular pollinator favorites are zinnias, lantana, bee balm and both annual and perennial sunflowers.