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. Ripe seed should be shiny and black. If possible, sow the seed immediately as it doesn't store well. If you do need to save it, put it in an envelope or paper bag and store it in a cool, dry place.Sow the seed on the surface of compost in half

and firm gently.Sow one seed per pot - sunflowers germinate reliably and form large seedlings. Poke the seed into the compost.Cover the seed with about 1.5cm of compost. Label each pot and water well so that the compost is just moist throughout.Cover each

The cup and saucer vine, Cobaea scandens, grows 3m or more in a single summer. It is wonderfully dynamic, with winged buds and flowers that are cream when they first open, turning to dusky purple bells as they mature. The curling, tongue-like stamens and claret-tinted stems are c...

The bright, cheery colours of Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata, formerly known as Mina lobata) and Canary creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum, combine to make a stunning summer pot display.Canary creeper is an easy-to-grow relative of nasturtium. You might have to trim its fig-like leaves...

outside later. Verbena enjoys full sun, but tolerates dappled shade, and it's worth incorporating some organic matter into the soil before planting. Verbena also benefits from a light feed in spring with a seaweed fertiliser or chicken manure.Sowing seeds

Small lawns needn't be plain and uninspiring. An emerald green, healthy lawn will give any garden a lift, big or small, and there's a lot you can do to keep it looking good - from choosing the right grass seed, to aerating. You can even make a feature out of it.Discover our top t...

arrangements.I acquired the seed of my white honesty about five years ago, from a man who had cut down his spent plants and left them in a pile in his front garden. He was happy for me to help myself so I filled my pockets with seed and took them home.I sowed

. Use them to fill gaps in summer borders or grow larger quantities in rows on the allotment or veg plot. Stagger sowings by a few weeks to give you a regular supply of blooms.Many of the best summer blooms are easy-to-grow hardy annuals and, with seeds

There are many hardy and half-hardy annuals that can be grown for cut flowers. Many attract bees and butterflies and some species can be dried, for use in long-lasting displays.Sow hardy and half-hardy annuals between March and April in small pots

Salad leaves can be grown on a cut-and-come-again basis; harvesting the larger leaves by cutting them, allowing the smaller leaves to grow for a second crop. If you make successional sowings of seeds every three weeks, you will have a constant