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, the best results come from growing plants on a windowsill indoors or in a greenhouse. Large fruited varieties such as 'Black Beauty' should yield three to six aubergines per plant. Smaller fruited varieties like 'Fairy Tale' will produce at least 10

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 stages of growth.springMore advice o...

The huge bulbs of hippeastrum already have the flowerbud inside, so they couldn't be simpler to grow. All you need to do is pot it up, water thoroughly and stand the hippeastrum in a well-lit place to enjoy its spectacular blooms. Hippeastrum bulbBulb fibre or multi-purpose compo...

Tomato plants will thrive on a sunny window sill or in a greenhouse, and may even be transplanted outside in the warmest months. You will need just two small pots to sow your tomato seeds; use a good quality seed compost and keep them in a bright

snap when bent. Hold the stem as you remove each pod to reduce the risk of damage to the plant.AdamHarden off peas before planting out. Whether raised in a greenhouse or bought as plants, this will reduce the risk of a sudden check in their growth

that have been providing interest around the garden, but this potted collection will suffer in the cold. I need to give the plants a sheltered home under cover.In past years I’ve sometimes risked keeping a few in my unheated greenhouse over winter

Basil is an easy herb to grow, and does well on a warm, sunny window sill. After about five weeks, the seeds will be ready for pricking out. You can keep basil plants indoors all summer, or transplant them outside in late-May. Basil seedsGood quality seed compostSmall 7.5cm pots ...

Growing herbs from seed discs is a simple alternative for anyone who struggles with sowing small herb and salad seeds. These are filled with seeds for herbs such as basil, chives and parsley, or salads such as mixed leaves, mesclun or rocket.Seed discsPlant potsSeed compostVermic...

Taking summer cuttings of lavender is so easy. Choose non-flowered shoots of this year's growth and ensure that it is free from pests and disease. Follow our simple step by step and get more of your favourite plants for free.Lavender plantSharp knife10cm potMulti-purpose compostR...

Streptocarpus is easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Summer is the best time to do it, as plant cells divide quickly, promoting growth. You don't need a lot of kit - just a pot filled with sieved compost, a plastic bag, a piece of string and a good sharp knife. Plastic potsSee...