Fiann Ó Nuallain's gardening tips

Pinch out energy-sapping tomato sideshoots that develop in the leaf axils (between the stem and leaf)

When it comes to raspberries, blackberries, and hybrid berries, be aware of cane spot, spur blight, rusts, mildews, and moulds

Lift/ventilate cloches and covers to enable bee/pollinator access

Depending on recent weather, some fruit and veg can be approaching drought stress. Grass clipping tea anyone?

De-sucker fruit trees and thin any crowded raspberry shoots

Although nettles are in active growth all summer, this month, focus upon eradication or containment because they are about to flower and seed and will make any effort to tackle them at least a thousand times worse. That said, leave some for the ladybirds and your home fertilizers

Cut the lawn and breathe deep — and if you are near Orchard garden centre in Celbridge, hurry up, I’m on at 2pm

Fiann will be in Waterstones, Cork on Saturday, May 21 from 2.30pm signing his new book — be there or be square!