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Carol Klein demonstrates how to sow ipomoeas and cannas from seed, germinating them under a heated propagator.springMore advice on growing exotic plantsCaring for cannas video project with Carol Klein.Planting eucomis bulbs in a pot.Planting marsh

Osteospermum 'Tresco Purple' and rosy Diascia 'Red Ace' although any crimson or maroon trailing bedding plant would work well.1 Ipomoea 'Sweet Caroline'3 Calibrachoa 'Million Bells Cherry'1 Osteospermum 'Tresco Purple'6 Diascia 'Red Ace'36cm metalware basket

Buy plug plants and young bedding plants to grow on for baskets, pots and bedding displaysThin out heavy fruit sets on peaches and nectarines, leaving fruits about 10cm apartSow annual climbers, such as cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea), nasturtium

Each blue or magenta flower of Ipomoea, the morning glory, lasts just one day, but it blooms reliably throughout the summer. The dense mat of heart-shaped leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the cheery flowers.How to grow annual climbers from

out in Junesummeran hourSpanish flag, Ipomoea lobata x1Canary creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum x1Bidens ferulifolia 'Golden Eye' x3Lysimachia punctata 'Gaulthier Brousse'44cm square tub1.2m willow wig-wamJohn Innes No.3 compostMulti-purpose compost

than plant a rose or another wisteria - there might be some unpleasantness hiding in the soil - I decided to stick with annual climbers. We usually have morning glories (Ipomoea species) in pots, so I moved one of them to fill in and it did an admirable

in the Gardeners' World Awards 2010 has highlighted their popularity.The category for 'Best Plant for Bedding' was won by pansy and viola with a very respectable 20 per cent of the vote. They beat summer favourites like pelargonium with 17 per cent of votes

more (that's a topic for another day).So, what are the alternatives? There are quite a few annual climbers to choose from actually. Morning glory (ipomoea) is popular, but their flowers are all too short-lived. The purple bell vine (rhodochiton) is nice

, endlessly flowery) and Nicotiana sylvestris, which looks slightly spectral and smells delicious in the evenings. The third is the irrepressible Nigella that seeds itself in the gravel under my pergola.The other two are climbers. The first is Ipomoea purpurea

Last summer I discovered a twining, tender climber called Lophospermum, or lofos. I bought two varieties, 'Burgundy Falls' and 'Summer Cream' (both pictured left), as plug plants from a mail-order seed company. I grew my lofos under cover, in 7.5-10