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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

few bits to friends, too. If I wanted more I could save some of the ripe seed capsules and sow them to raise new plants, but I think one clump is enough.Apparently you can find it growing wild in parts of southern England, especially on lime-rich soils

Flowers are not the only attraction in winter gardens. Biennial honesty (Lunaria annua) is a good example of a plant that keeps delivering after its flowers have passed. Once the petals have fallen, enchanting disc-shaped seed-pods are formed

, above) I'd recommend sowing fresh seed in March/April in a warm greenhouse or on a windowsill.When it comes to self-seeding, this generous verbena usually obliges each summer. Just let the seed fall from plants where they grow, and with luck you'll enjoy

. In terms of value, a single perennial could cost you, say, £5.00 to buy, but you could pick up a packet of Godetia Dwarf Mixed flower seed for just £1.39, and grow 1,000 plants! Yes, 1,000 seeds in a packet, and other hardy annuals offer similar great value

How tastes change. Going back five years, I hardly remember ever cooking with chillies, but now I use them nearly every week. They're so easy to grow from seed, but you can buy young plants from garden centres, like the pretty 'Medusa' (pictured) I

from pests that search out their desired food crop by smell.Many years ago I sowed these cheerful poached egg plants (Limnanthes douglasii) along the base of my path, under the fan-trained fruit trees. As flowers open through May, in partnership

There's nothing wrong with instant gratification. Who can resist the appeal of primulas at this time of year? Certainly not me.I visited the garden centre a couple of weeks ago to buy seed-sowing compost (much better than multi

.That’s the thing about gardening: it's important to always remain one step ahead. If you don’t sow it or plant it then you can’t pick it or enjoy its blooms.I’m always keen to find bulbs that deliver real value for money. Some varieties have a really short