Gardens: what to do this week

Salvia ‘Amistad’ will bloom from May to October. Photograph: Alamy

Try this

Forget what you’ve heard – chilli plants are short-lived perennials, not annuals. So if you’ve grown a chilli this year, don’t compost it, but try overwintering it inside on a sunny windowsill. Remove remaining fruits, reduce watering and prune off weak growth. It’s a hit-and-miss affair, but succeed and you’ll get an even better harvest next summer.

Visit this

If you believe that gardens are not only good to dig, but good to think (to misquote Levi-Strauss), too, head for the Garden Museum Literary Festival at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire this weekend. There’s an outstanding lineup of speakers, including our own Alys Fowler.

Plant this

‘Amistad’ is a new variety of perennial salvia with velvety dark purple flowers. Deadhead regularly, and it will bloom from May to October. It is frost-hardy, but in more northerly climes needs a sheltered spot and winter protection. Height and spread: 120cm x 50cm. Buy a one-litre potted plant for £7.99, or two for £12.98 (prices include free p&p). To order, call 0330 333 6856, quoting ref GU393, or go to our Readers’ offers page. Dispatched this month.