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to grow, and get started. A greater range of young plants and seedlings are now available than ever before, providing a good alternative to anyone who thinks sowing seed is tricky. However, you certainly pay for the privilege of buying plants compared

of cress.I love growing cress. The seed is ridiculously cheap, and incredibly quick to germinate. And, of course, growing cress is a great way of introducing children to the pleasures of gardening. Just buy the packets of seed, get sowing and you'll see

There's something really rewarding about cupping your hand under an old foxglove flower, tapping it gently and collecting the seeds that cascade out of it. It must be something like collecting coins from a slot machine when you've hit the jackpot

into pots of soil to root new plants. Only ever propagate from healthy, disease-free stock. After fruiting, trim off all strawberry foliage with shearsSow seeds of vegetables now, including beetroot, cabbages, endive, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, rocket

.Plan your seed-sowing year Trim lawn edges to keep the area neat and tidy Apply residual path weedkillers Around the gardenPlant lilies in large patio pots for summer displaysPrune shrub roses to low new shootsCut overgrown honeysuckle stems close

in potsSow strawberry seeds, including alpine varietiesVisit garden centres to buy young bedding plants Greenhouse30 minutesLearn effective lawn mowning techniques

from hyacinthsFlowersPlace card collars around the stems of brassicasSow pots of herbs such as parsley, coriander and basil Plant out early potatoes, onion sets and shallotsFruit & vegPot up rooted cuttings and young plantsSow seeds of marrows

tomatoes with Bordeaux mixture to prevent blightThin heavy fruit crops, picking off the smallest. Aim to leave developing fruits about 10-15cm apart along the stems, perhaps thinning congested spurs down to just a single fruitSow seed of herbs now

on growing seedsPricking out seedlings, with Monty Don from BerryfieldsInsulate your greenhouseSow seeds indoorsBrowse a variety of tender perennial plantsView plants by soil type

for sowing next year's coriander crop. Allow the seeds to ripen fully on the plant before harvesting.In the greenhouse I save seed from chillies, tomatoes and sweet peppers. The rule of thumb here is not to save seed from F1 hybrid varieties, as their progeny