The recent heatwaves revealed how ill-prepared Britain remains for a hotter future – and how unequal the ability to cope with it has become, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
IN THIS country there aren’t many edible plants that are available to use 12 months of the year, which is one of the reasons rosemary is worth a place in every garden, large or small.
As well as being an evergreen, Salvia rosmarinus is a long-lived perennial. Proverbially it lasts for 33 years, the same as Jesus, but in any case you’d be unlucky not to get 15 years out of it provided it’s planted in the right place.
There are numerous varieties and cultivars available, offering differences in flower and leaf colour, height and the shape of the shrub. Rosemary is most commonly grown in the ground, but will do fine in a large pot, provided you prevent the roots from getting waterlogged.
MAT COWARD takes a look at some of the options for keen gardeners as we enter 2026
Commiserations if you failed this year, MAT COWARD offers six points which, if followed religiously, will ensure you succeed next year
MAT COWARD sings the praises of the Giant Winter’s full-depth, earthy and ferrous flavour perfect for rich meals in the dark months
MAT COWARD presents a peculiar cabbage that will only do its bodybuilding once the summer dies down


