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Forcing rhubarb by covering the crowns will encourage the plants to make early growth. These forced stalks can be harvested for use in cooking when they are 20cm - 30cm long and make a useful substitute for fruit when there is little else in store

Learn how to grow an early crop of beetroot in or out of the greenhouse, in this video project featuring Sarah Raven.late-FebruaryMore on growing vegetablesPlant profile of beetroot variety 'Boltardy'Growing potatoes in a binGrowing parsnips from seedHow to grow carrots in a cont...

Find out how to grow salad leaves from seed in a container, in Monty Don's step-by-step video guide, including tips on compost and spacing.springMore on raising crops from seedRead Pippa Greenwood's blog on growing salad leavesGrow salad leaves from seedGrow basil from seedGrow t...

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 supply of salad throughout the year....

Plant lily bulbs in pots for colourful summer displaysPrune shrub roses to low new shootsCut back overgrown honeysuckle stems close to their base, just above new shootsTrim back old shoots of perennials left for winter interest, taking care

Place poinsettias in the total dark for 14 hours a day to encourage colourful bracts to form, moving into full light for the rest of the dayWater indoor cyclamen after their summer rest to encourage new growthPlant lachenalia and veltheimia bulbsPick off the lower

overwinter. Just before the new spring growth appears give the sedge a trim. Birds will love the seedheads of the thrift so wait until late February before cutting back the foliage.AdamAll these plants thrive in very well-drained soil. Plant them in a free

This willow border edging is ideal for supporting billowing plants and its rustic appearance will blend into any style of garden. Bear in mind the willow will sprout into leaf in spring, so you'll need to wind in new growth to keep it looking neat

and summer bedding plants can also be propagated by this method.Plectranthus house plantScissorsJar of waterPlant potsMulti-purpose compostall year roundan hourChoose healthy shoots of new growth and cut lengths of roughly 10-20cm. Cut below a leaf joint

by the silver leaves of the cascading dichondra, which are even more lustrous in full sun. Water generously - twice a day if it's really hot - and feed regularly to promote new flower growth and ward off mildew in the verbena.May - JuneJune - August30 minutes