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Last spring I found a foxglove seedling in a pot, which had presumably self-seeded from a neighbour's garden. Excited, I potted it on and nurtured it in anticipation of seeing it flower this year. (Foxgloves are biennial, so flower in their second

prefer to use mains water for seedlings and very young, or tricky, plants.If the seedlings are at all etiolated or leggy and drawn (usually because they are too close to each other and are lacking sufficient natural light), damping off is also more likely

around in there for hours among my little forest of seedlings. I've got everything from Ageratum to zinnias coming up - it's going to be a colourful year!I've been struggling a bit with keeping them warm during the night, though. I do keep my greenhouse

Two years, I felt the need to grow a local, native plant in my garden. I gathered rosehips from a field rose at the edge of a nearby canal, soaked them in water and sowed the seed in coarse compost.The pots sat in a corner of my patio, doing nothing

Will our love affair with Verbena bonariensis ever wane? This fabulous flower looks as good growing individually among low border plants as it does planted en masse. The open, airy quality of the stems only adds to the appeal. Wildlife loves V

or polytunnel, and cooler conditions outside. It is used to harden off seedlings and young plants by opening the lid on warm days.Cold frameGreenhouses are easily fitted with guttering for rainwater collection, providing a convenient water source. Where possible

soon germinate.I do prefer sowing in small pots in my greenhouse, and then planting out seedlings, but if you really don't want the hassle just sow them directly into the soil in May at the base of a support. Once shoots have grown about 15cm tall

-grown seedlings, spring and early summer is the time to plant them out. Raising them from seed is cheaper but adds a few weeks to the process - so if this is for you, it's time to get sowing!Young brassica plantsGarden line or string and canesTrowelSeed trays

plants in spring. Honesty can be established to ensure new seedlings every year, much as you would with other biennials, such as foxgloves.Honesty is well worth a place in any garden – I’d recommend adding it to your seed order right away. You’ll find

everything we might like, so it's important to be selective when choosing which crops to grow.Make the best use of your time by growing the four crops recommended below.Raise young plants on a windowsill indoors, then plant out in late May into well