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Find out how to encourage the best sweet pea crop, by following Sarah Raven's video guide, with tips on pot selection, pinching out and which plants to choose.OctoberMore advice on growing sweet peasHow to use plant supportsMonty's advice on sowing sweet peasHow to pot on sweet p...

. It is down to earth and a great part of the British countryside. Cardamine pratensis is commonly known as the cuckoo flower, presumably because it flowers at the same time as the cuckoo appears (we noticed both on the same day). The cuckoo flower is a member

There are many plants in flower in February that can be used to create an instant spring pot display. Daffodils and primulas go together beautifully, and work well with the contrasting foliage of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and a brightly

Hostas reign supreme when it comes to striking foliage. All hostas look great in containers, but for something a little more unusual, try Hosta nigrescens. Its upright habit makes an eye-catching patio feature.May - JuneJune - August30 minutes Hosta nigrescensLarge, glazed contai...

Sown now in the greenhouse, dahlia seeds will produce young plants ready to plant outdoors in late May to flower this year. Seed companies sell a range of quick-growing bedding strains that are suitable for growing this way. You can also use

staking than other varieties, which tend to have dense, heavy heads of petals.Cactus dahlias are perfect for providing extra colour to herbaceous borders, as they have such a long flowering season. They also come in a rangeof heights, so can be planted

Sweet peas are the classic annual climber and look just as lovely in pots as they do in a border. 'Spencer Mix' has large flowers and long stems, good for cutting, but 'Cupani' and 'Painted Lady' are particularly good as their short stems give good

Watch Monty Don as he creates a scented garden using a variety of lavender plants, with suggestions for encouraging bushy growth.summerMore advice on growing herbsMedicinal herbs by Jekka McVicarPicking herbsRaising new mint plantsPlanting herbs in a window box video projectBrows...

Watch Sarah Raven's video demonstration of how to plant allium bulbs in the dry garden at Berryfields, with advice on the ideal location, soil condition, and planting depth.autumnMore advice on growing alliumsHow to collect allium seedsDiscover plants suited to dry soilChoose all...

Bring life to a shady corner with this mix of shade-loving favourites. There are hundreds of fabulous hostas to choose from. At the back of the planter the green fern adds strong textural contrast. If you can't live without flowers, mix in some