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exciting varieties to grow on yourself.Potted orchidSpecialist orchid compostOrchid fertiliserall year round20 minutesStand the young orchid plants in trays in the greenhouse, well out of any direct sunlight. If the compost looks very dry, water the plants

Garden compost, bagged compost or soil improverBonemealSpadeWatering can or hosepipeMarch - October 20 minutesChoose a suitable place for the plant in your garden. Using a spade, dig a hole that's slightly bigger than the size of the pot that it's growing in

: granular, liquid, powder, or organic manureWatering can (for liquid application)Spade or fork (for digging in manure)March - August20 minutesWell-rotted horse and cattle manure contains plenty of nutrients for plants. It can be added before planting or used

of young bean seedlings an hour before planting. The roots of the plants should be well developed, but not pot-bound in the container.Erect a wigwam of long bamboo canes or sticks over an area of soil that has been improved by digging in plenty of well

Sharp sandKnife or secateursRooting hormone (optional)September 20 minutesSelect healthy, squat and fat shoots. Remove them from the parent plant by cutting immediately above a bud.Remove flower buds and lower leaves from the bottom half of each cutting

with a larger rooting area and stop them drying out in hot weather, which is better for the plants and means less watering for you. 2 - 3 tomato plants60 or 75 litre bag of multi-purpose compostKnife or scissorsHand forkTrowelJune (or May in a greenhouse

your garden grow, or go on holiday, safe in the knowledge that your plants won't go thirsty.Watering kit (this one is 2 PotKit, available from AutoPot)summer30 minutesSet out the watering kit, attaching the pipe to the tank and valve. If you raise

the country and it will really make a difference. And my reward, apart from doing my bit, is lovely compost to dig in and improve my soil.

repeated each year!First on my list of 'revolutions' is the vow to improve my meagre success with carrots. Only the purple varieties seem to work for me, so I'll be sticking with them in 2009; I think I'll skip a year before trying orange cultivars again

mulches and organic matter. Returning nutrients to the soil is vital for healthy plant growth and decent yields, improving soil structure and moisture retention. If in doubt, stick to home-made garden compost, leaf mould or composted green waste from