Rachel De Thame interview

What made you get into gardening?
"I grew up in a family of keen gardeners and I spent nearly all of my childhood outside, so I associate gardening with being happy. I think it improves your quality of life."

Where would you most like to have a garden?
"I've always had a yearning to have a garden in the south of France. It would be a completely different way of gardening."

What do you hate doing in the garden?
"I'm repeatedly trying to get rid of one pernicious weed. No matter what I do, I know it'll pop back up again a couple of days later."

What's your favourite thing to do in the garden?
"I love planting because it's all about the promise of the future. You can get really artistic with them."

What would be the ultimate garden luxury?
"A bold water feature."

What plant would you like named after you?
"Somebody once named a rose 'Rachel' after me. It was the best present I could have had!"