There's no scent that says „summer“ as powerfully as jasmine in the evening. But to have months of flowers and that heady scent, common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) asks you to do a few things right - and one of them most people get wrong.

Start with the spot. Jasmine loves the sun - positions facing south, southwest or west are ideal, with several hours of direct light a day. It tolerates partial shade too, but flowers far more abundantly in full sun. The only things it doesn't like are cold or strong winds, so a sheltered corner is a plus.

The most common mistake is watering. In spring and summer the soil should be lightly moist - neither completely dried out nor flooded with water. In autumn and winter, watering is reduced: let the soil surface partially dry out before you water again. Too much water is the cause of most jasmine problems, including root rot.

The soil should be fertile, rich in organic matter and with excellent drainage - light, fresh earth that doesn't hold water. During the growth and flowering period, feeding helps: compost in spring for plants in the ground, or liquid fertilizer for flowers (rich in phosphorus and potassium) every 3-4 weeks for those in pots.

For shape and richer flowering, do a light pruning - either after flowering ends or toward the end of winter. This controls growth and encourages new shoots that will produce flowers. Guide the stems along a trellis, arch or pergola for even, beautiful growth.

If you want new plants, the easiest way is through summer cuttings - take pieces of 10-15 cm from young, flexible and healthy shoots, below a node, with a clean tool. Avoid shoots that are flowering. And repotting is done every 2-3 years in spring, into a pot just 4-6 cm larger than the previous one - clay ones are best, and avoid metal ones in the summer heat.

When all this is respected, jasmine is a hardy plant that rarely has serious problems. The most common are aphids and scale insects, and they're almost always a sign that something else is off - too much water, poor drainage, too little light. The reward for the effort is well known: from late spring to early autumn, a terrace or garden that smells of the whole summer every warm evening.