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honesty. It's one of the many plants that grew in the garden of my childhood. I remember being small, looking at the intricate markings through the semi-translucent seed pods, and watching my mum transform these 'spent' plants into beautiful dried flower

The woods around us consist mostly of ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior), and every autumn we have a few weekends of frantic leaf collecting (particularly frantic around the chicken run). The trees seem to shed leaves at random – one tree

Flowers are not the only attraction in winter gardens. Biennial honesty (Lunaria annua) is a good example of a plant that keeps delivering after its flowers have passed. Once the petals have fallen, enchanting disc-shaped seed-pods are formed

stems, Verbena bonariensis can be planted alongside a variety of different bananas, ginger lilies and bamboos.Design ideasSeeds can be sown directly in the ground in spring, or you can start them off under glass in late-winter, then pot them on to plant

. Acclimatise them to outdoor conditions by placing trays outside during the day, and bringing them indoors at night.Plant seedlings into well prepared soil, about 20-25cm apart (check seed packet for spacings of larger flowers). Once planted, firm the soil

kaleCollect traditional non-F1 hybrid varieties, but only when they’re grown at least 250 yards away from other varieties of the same veg which might cross-pollinate them. Don’t save F1 hybrids: the resulting plants are too varied.Save money on seeds

In last week's Observer Magazine, Dan Pearson wrote about collecting berries from hedgerows near him, so he could grow plants with local provenance. This is a subject I've been thinking about a lot recently, so I read on with interest.Put simply, a

Free and easyFavouring a more laid-back approach to gardening, I love plants that self-seed with abandon. Here are a few of my favourites...Find out how to collect allium seedsSelf-seeders are the opportunists of the plant world. They may

three to four days.AdamIf you get the sprouting bug, many of the seed catalogues, such as Suttons and Kings Seeds, sell a range of suitable pulses.Growing plants indoorsGrowing a peanut plant - video project with Rachel de ThameSarah Raven gives advice

A greenhouse or polytunnel allows you to grow a wider range of plants, and extends the growing season. Once the structure is in place you'll need to kit it out with a few essential items, listed below.You’ll have more success raising your own seeds