Cucumbers
Like courgette plants, once cucumbers start producing, the fruit will come thick and fast, so be prepared with a repertoire of winning cucumber recipes like these.
Salad
Peel a cucumber, half it and scoop out the seeds. Slice thinly and mix with 2 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1tbsp caster sugar and 2 tsp salt. Cover and leave for half an hour. Drain the juice off, which will take with it most of the salt - you'll be relieved to know.
Add a little chopped parsley or dill to finish, but not essential.
Tzatsiki
Peel half a cucumber with a speed peeler and grate it. Put into a sieve and mix with 1/4 teaspoon of salt to extract some of the water content. After half an hour squeeze out excess water and pat dry with some kitchen roll.
Then mix 200g greek yogurt, along with a very finely chopped garlic clove and a few chopped mint leaves. If it's too thick add a little water to create the right consistency.
Serve with pittas and a few black olives.
Greek Salad
Yes we've all had it many times, but it's a classic salad, and now you're growing your own ingredients with stacks more flavour it's worth revisiting.
Peel a cucumber and cut into cubes. Take 8 ripe cherry tomatoes and cut into quarters.
Pour over a dressing made from 1/2 a lemon and 4 tbsp olive oil and a little seasoning.
Top with 125g feta cheese diced up, a dozen black olives and a sprinkling of dried oregano (wild Sicilian is best if you can get it).
Perfect Pimms
Fill a large glass half full with ice. Add a double measure of Pimms and a single measure of gin. (The manufacturers reduced the gin content of Pimms No 1 cup a few years back and it's never had its original kick since). Add a slice if cucumber, cut lengthways, and a few sprigs of mint bruised with the back of a spoon to release the fragrance. Top up with chilled lemonade so the ice doesn't melt. Add a squeeze of lime/lemon and serve immediately.