TUC president and POA leader STEVE GILLAN speaks to Ben Chacko on the eve of Congress 2026
DESPITE their reputation for needing constant watering, the pumpkins and other winter squashes in my garden have done exceptionally well in this year's record-breaking heat.
The plants haven’t grown as wildly as usual, presumably limited by lack of rain, and in place of long trailing stems and rampant foliage, I’ve ended up with a number of very large fruit weighing several pounds each.
They’re called “winter squashes,” of course, even though they’re grown through the summer, because they can be stored for eating during the winter. That useful quality, however, depends on them being picked at the right moment.
MAT COWARD says the heatwave is a testing time for gardeners — but he has some tips
More expensive by weight than gold, saffron is surprisingly simple to grow. MAT COWARD explains
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


