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I spent a lovely few hours in the greenhouse last Sunday. There's something so relaxing about being surrounded by propagators and seedlings.Light levels have been lower than normal and, because I'm convinced that a limb will soon be blown from my

In those wonderful James Herriot stories, there is a woman called Mrs Pumphrey, whose spoilt dog is known as  ‘flop-bot’. With a name like that, there is no need for a description. When a tray of seedlings suffers with the horticultural equivalent

the greenhouse glazing in winter, inside and out. Not only will it look better, but, most importantly, more light will reach the seedlings and plants inside. At this time of year natural light levels tend to be fairly low, and days are still pretty short, so a

failed again).The temperature has been so high during the day that I’ve had to remove the lids from two propagators, to prevent them from ‘boiling’ the seedlings. I keep a couple of watering cans close by, as the plants are guzzling water

individual bulbs of garlic into pots, then transplanting them later on.Everything else is starting to move too, the tomato, pepper and aubergine seedlings are responding well to the increased light levels. I planted a few potatoes earlier but had to protect

of compost in the base, then watered thoroughly. I've then covered the seeds with a layer of moist soil, and finally a layer of dry soil to seal in the moisture. Hopefully this will result in some decent seedlings!

I watered, it rained within 24 hours.The downpours we've had in Hampshire over the last few days have made a serious difference to the plants. The veg plots are suddenly flourishing and some of my miserable-looking lettuce seedlings have finally

with high-wire training to get to those gloves and no doubt the next generation is already in training, well fuelled with seedlings and seeds! They are driving me wild, but you know, somehow I just can't bear to do anything too drastic to them!

, and the compost kept moist. Our resident mouse massacred a couple of the seedlings and the aphids inevitably moved in to attack, so I blitzed them with soft soap solution. The plants looked rather miserable for a while, their leaves still curling from the toxin