Last year, amid the chaos of a vegetable patch that was apparently giving off major 'I've given up' vibes, one gardener made a daring decision: devote the sunniest bed to perennial fruit. The move, which involved a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry known as the tayberry, has now paid off handsomely, proving that sometimes the boldest gardening choices are also the most delicious.

The tayberry, a vigorous hybrid that fruits abundantly with proper care, was planted as small potted plants - though the gardener notes that bare root stock in winter is cheaper. For those lucky enough to know someone with an established plant, propagation via tip layering is also an option, because nothing says friendship like sharing fruit-bearing branches.

Despite initial fears about giving up prime real estate in a small space, the tayberries have thrived, offering a less water- and resource-intensive option once settled. The gardener's 'big and fairly consequential change' has turned out to be a masterstroke, proving that sometimes the best thing you can do for your veg patch is to stop treating it like a high-maintenance diva.