I bounded into the room with a huge, excited grin on my face and a large white skinned cucumber in my hand.

The first of my experimental polytunnel crop was had reached the showing off stage. I held the vegetable out in front of me and got the desired reaction.

Gasps of astonishment and pats of conngratulations, followed by a strained well, what is it?' I nervously took the large kitchen knife out of its wooden block and ceremoniously held it over the sacrificial white cucumber. I hesitated. This was the first of a large developing crop. I hoped that it would justify its place in the poly tunnel, and not turn out to be too dry and bitter. It would also damage my efforts to try and get my colleagues to accept other forms of fruit and vegetables, apart from the tried and tested, standardised version.

The skin was slightly thicker than the supermarket ones, so I trimmed this off. I usually skin my supermarket cucumbers anyway, unless they are organic ones, because that is where all the nasty chemicals and preservatives accumulate. In today's modern times, I try my best to limit the amount of potentially dangerous toxins building up in my body.

The flesh inside was bright white, like marble. It was firm, but crisp and full of juice. The seeds were larger than usual, but added to the taste, and weren't tough at all. All in all, a resounding success. I hope the yellow round cucumber and the outdoor green one fare just as well.

I thought at one point I was getting quite cucumber obsessed when, out on one of my regular walks around site, I noticed a wild plant growing across the pathway, that looked to me, a bit like a cucumber. The leaves were similar, as where the tendrils and the flowers. I ran to my identification books, and after a lot of searching (it wasn't in the standard books) it was identified (thank you mother) as White Bryony.

White Bryony is a climbing plant with long and conspicuous tendrils and clusters of greenish white 5-petalled flowers with dark veins. It is found in hedges, woodland margins and scrubland, usually on soil that lies on a bedrock of limestone. It flowers from late spring to early autumn. The beautifully veined greenish flowers develop into red berries in the autumn, when the plant is very conspicuous. It is common in England except in the west and the north, where it is very rare, so we are quite privelidged to have it growing in Croft.

It is a plant to treat with caution though. Despite being the only member of the cucumber or melon family to grow wild in Britain, it can have some nasty side effects if eaten. Symptoms can include digestive disturbance with acute diarrhoea, profuse urination and sweating, respiratory difficulty, un coordination, convulsions and severe constipation. And that's just the berries. The roots are especially dangerous and should never be eaten.

There is another Bryony native to Britain, but they are completely unrelated. Black Bryony is the only member of the Yam family that we have in this country. The heart-shaped leaves are very shiny and have lovely autumn colours (from dark purple to bright yellow), which in combination with the red berries make a good show. Although Black Bryony has a large, fleshy root too and the young roots have been used as food this plant too is dangerous in unskilled hands and can cause violent vomiting. However, the young shoots are said to be good eating when dressed like Asparagus. In southern Spain they eat them boiled with oil and salt, after they have first been soaked in hot water Perhaps I shall have experiment with something less poisonous and complicated in the polytunnel next year, like tomatoes perhaps. Hang on, aren't they in the same family as some of the nightshades?

JOBS THIS WEEK

Keep well watered during dry spells, and weeds under control by hoeing. Cut down canes of summer fruited Raspberries that have finished cropping, tying in new canes to supports. The runners of new Strawberry plants should be secured into pots of compost or soil allowing them to root. The foliage should be removed just above the crown of each plant remembering to clear away any debris. Grape vines can be tied to supports.

Deadheading should be done regularly, and flowers trimmed just above the top leaf on the stem. Stem cuttings can also be taken for propagating.

It may seem a long way off, but now is the perfect time to start planning the displays of bulbs that will fill your garden with colour next spring. Take a look at our comprehensive range of great value bulbs and perennials, and get your order in now. We've got all your favourite varieties of Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths and loads more. Go on - make sure next spring is your brightest ever!

Use a net to remove any dead flowers or leaves. Overgrown pond plants can be thinned, and it may prove useful to take note of any Waterlilies which will require dividing next spring. Feed fish regularly, taking care not to over-feed, with a varied diet to build them up. Any food remaining in the pond after ten minutes should be removed. To help aerate the water and keep fish healthy top up water levels. Oxygen can be increased by letting water gently fall into the pond from a hose at a height of approximately 1m (3'). It may prove necessary to increase the amount of oxygen to fish and plants during thundery weather in which case leaving the fountain running overnight will prove helpful. If you haven't a fountain then a gentle spray using a hose over the surface from time to time will beneficial.

POST SCRIPT Brigid presents Ask about Gardening' every Sunday on BBC Radio Cleveland 95FM from 1.00-2.00pm. Questions will be answered on the day by e-mailing Cleveland.studios@bbc.co.uk, texting 07786200995 or phoning (01642) 225511. Alternatively, send questions to brigidpress@hotmail.com or The Clow Beck Eco Centre, Old Spa Farm, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2TQ clowbeckeckcf@tiscali.co.uk