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The sowing of large areas. This is done either by scattering seed by hand or mechanically.

1) A narrow furrow in the soil for sowing seed. 2) A row of small plants resulting from sowing seeds in a furrow.

Monty Don explains the best methods of harvesting fruit from cucumber plants, with tips on recognising and removing male flowers.summerMore advice on growing fruit and vegMonty's video demonstration of how to harvest carrotsSowing beetroot seeds

Alliums are spectacular plants and it's worth saving a few seeds to sow in the spring to grow some more for the garden. The seeds will germinate quickly and reach flowering size in a couple of years.SecateursPaper envelopesSeptember - October20

Sow seeds of herbs in pots to grow on your kitchen windowsill, such as coriander, parsley and basilLook out for woolly aphid on fruit trees, and spray any with soapy waterThin out seedlings from earlier sowings to their final spacings

Saving seed from your garden plants is easy to do and will provide you with plenty to sow next season. Leave a few seedheads on your plants after they've finished flowering, removing the rest to conserve the plant's energy. Alternatively

Plant bulbs, corms and tubers like achimenes, begonias, gloxinias in potsSow coleus and other houseplantsWatch out for pests, like whitefly and red spider mite, and treat at oncePut a mouse trap in your greenhouse if you find seeds and plants being

Sow seeds of dwarf beans in rows and climbing ones alongside canesPlant out crops being raised in pots under glass, such as marrows, courgettes and tomatoesCover soft fruits with netting to prevent birds eating themSow a few seeds of salad leaves

Collect fruits and berries from cotoneaster and pyracantha, and sow their seedsCheck stored bulbs and tubers for signs of rot Bring potted strawberries into the greenhouse or put in a cold frame to protect from coldWash glazing inside and out to let

Plan your seed-sowing year by organising packets in sowing order in a shoe box or trayTrim lawn edges to keep the area neat and tidy Apply residual path weedkillers to paved and gravel areasLay sheets of black polythene on lawns overnight to bring