Poppy among cushions of forget-me-nots in one of my overgrown veg beds. I decided not to clear two of the beds in the autumn and plan to plant in between the self seeded ammi, verbascum and poppies once the forget-me-nots have gone over. Sorrel and Tuscan kale plants are in the mix already. It’s an experiment on two beds - the other two are cleared and covered with compost ready for traditional rows of veg. Watch this space - will this polyculture system work? The theory is that growing multiple plant species together creates a resilient vegetable garden by mimicking natural ecosystems. The multiple root systems encourage a healthy soil flora with improved nutrient intake and in theory pests and diseases are reduced too. Watch this space.