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Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a woodland plant, much valued for its fragrant summer flowers. Its low, spreading habit also makes it ideal for growing as a ground cover plant. Convallaria thrives in a moist, shaded spot, and gradually spreads to form dense clumps of ...

a firm tug.More tips on sowing seedsVideo guide to sowing bluebell seeds, with Chris BeardshawCarol Klein gives advice on growing exotics from seedGrowing dahlias from seedPropagating from seeds and berriesView a variety of cyclamenChoose plants

growing conditions to encourage the tubers to develop roots. Plant them in pots and keep them in a heated greenhouse or propagator.Before planting, study each tuber closely to see which end has a shoot growing out from the tip. These shoots are the plant

Ensure a burst of spring colour by sowing polyanthus seeds in the previous summer. Watch Monty's video, including tips on compost and aftercare, to find out how.summerMore advice on primulasHow to rejuvinate primrosesBrowse primula varieties

Summer is the ideal time for taking cuttings, as plant cells divide quickly, promoting root growth. Propagating plants by cuttings is an easy and cheap way of replacing straggly, old plants. For best results, take cuttings first thing in the morning

Monty Don shares a wealth of tips in this step-by-step guide to sowing seed indoors. Learn about the best compost mix for seedlings, how to cover freshly planted seeds and discover an ingenious method for boosting light levels during the early

Monty Don and Chris Beardshaw demonstrate how to sow a range of vegetable crops in a greenhouse, including chillies, cucumber and lettuce. Pick up tips on choosing compost, watering, spacing, preventing disease and covering your seeds

of 18-21°C to germinate, so do consider investing in a heated propagator to maintain a constant temperature through March and April.Good quality seed compostPotsSummer bedding seedsVermiculiteMarch - April10 minutes to sow the seedsJune - September

Several varieties of lily form small bulbils on their stems from late summer to autumn, from which new plants can be propagated. If they fall off the plant, they rarely grow into large plants, so it's best to remove the bulbils by hand and plant

You can never have enough lettuce in summer, but sowing directly into the soil takes up valuable space in the garden. Keep a regular supply growing by sowing seeds in lengths of plastic guttering: short, 1m lengths are convenient and easy to handle