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Why not try growing pulses indoors when the weather puts you off venturing outside? Mung beans and lentils are easy to sprout in jars and can be bought in most supermarkets and health shops.Mung beans, lentils or another type of sprouting bean

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

and shrubs. If you're new to gardening, limit yourself to growing one or two types of annuals. Sow about 20 seeds to see how you get on. You can always sow more a week or two later.SeedsSeed compost Seed trays or potsPlant labelsPencil or waterproof pen

Encourage your children's interest in gardening, by learning to grow peanut plants with Rachel de Thame's video advice.springMore plants to grow in a greenhouseTomatoesCactiOrchidsEarly strawberries

It couldn't be easier to freeze fresh herbs. All you'll need are a few ice cubetrays, chopped herbs and freshly filtered tap water. The frozen herbcubes can then be stored in the freezer until you're ready to use them.Home-grown herbs such as basil and mintIce cube traysummer-aut...

Free-draining compost or cactus compostSilver sandNewspaperSheet of glassPencil (to prick out)Seed trayall year round20 minutes to sowFill a broad terracotta pot with a moist, gritty, loam-based compost, such as John Innes. Firm down and make the surface level

high x 15cm wide x 5cm deep for the baseSix 1 metre-long, 8mm diameter zinc thread rods 30m of 1.5mm galvanised garden wire5m of 1mm galvanised garden wirePliers to cut the wireDrill and 8mm drill bitall year round1 afternoonMark a circle of 14cm

and sunny spot, or with pretty campanulas spilling out of the pockets, as here, for a cottage garden in partial shade.Roll of lead, 45cm x 300cm, from any builder's merchantMarine plywood, 30cm x 85cm18 clout nails (large-headed, galvanised nails)3 pots

compost and keep them in a bright place to ensure they germinate.Chilli seeds e.g. 'Cayenne'Good quality seed compostSmall pots x2ClingfilmJanuary - May10 minutes to sow the seedsJuly - AugustFill two small pots with seed compost. Water the compost

end pieces, adding an extra 1cm along the top edge of each piece to form a lip above the top of the box. Measure the thickness of the slate and add double this to the length of the longer side pieces. If you're using broken slates, you'll need to plan