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on the surface of the compost and cover with perlite, the white granular material that can be purchased at most garden centres. Then put the seed tray or module tray in a propagator or on a heated mat at 16°C. The seeds will germinate in about 20 days, depending

. The plants are for our own display, the theme of which is the myth and magic of herbs. Calendula is steeped in both. It was first used in Indian and Arabic cultures, before being discovered by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. In medieval England, marigolds

In 15 years of exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show, I've never known such a late spring. Here on the farm the blackthorn, Prunus spinosa, is still flowering. Interestingly, because it flowers early in spring, a cold spell of weather at this time

description of culinary or medicinal uses. I hope this extra information will further inspire those that see the display to grow and use herbs.

themselves.When Kevin Smith asked our theatre audiences at Gardeners' World Live whether they used edible flowers in their cooking, very few people responded. What a missed opportunity.The flowers of chives and many herbs are edible, including rocket

't often seen together. The Gardeners' World TV crew was camped outside it for a large portion of the day, so look out for it on tonight's programme (13 May, 2011).Talking of diversity, the warm spring has ensured that the plant marquee has a much greater

and climbing beans to flower and set seed. Several herbs readily do this too, like coriander and parsley. As the picture (top left) shows, flowering coriander attracts many beneficial insects, like hoverflies, which feed on its pollen.In fact coriander often

2cm between the top of the compost and the basket's rim. Water in well and leave it to drain before hanging in position.AdamGive your plants a regular once-over for pests such as aphids, and beware of snails, which can sometimes sneak in too

plants will attract a wide range of pollinating insects.Pinch out the growing tips of the plants to encourage bushy growth, then hang the finished basket in a sunny, sheltered site where you can enjoy its scent.May - JuneJune - September20 minutes

video.Garlic bulbsModular seed traysMulti-purpose compostTrowel for planting outNovember - January1 hourharvest July - SeptemberBreak garlic bulbs into individual cloves ready for planting. Take care not to damage the cloves as this can lead to rotting