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Sarah Raven offers advice on which tomato varieties to grow, and demonstrates how to sow tomato seeds in coir pellets.springMore advice on growing tomatoesGrowing tomatoes in pots and grow bagsGrowing tomatoes from seedGrowing tomatoes outdoors

California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are hardy annuals that bring a vivid splash of colour to summer borders. After their long flowering period the plants will also readily self-seed.California poppy seeds eg 'Golden Values'Bamboo cane

. If you have a clay soil, wait until the end of MarchFor best results, warm soil beneath cloches for a couple of weeks before sowingSow seed in June for a crop of tender, baby parsnips at Christmas.Advice on growing vegetablesRead Jane Moore's blog

vegetables, you will get a heavier crop if you grow leeks in a well-lit position, with soil that has been improved by the addition of plenty of organic matter. Leek seedsMulti-purpose compostPots or seed traysGarden forkStringBroom or large dibberWatering can

Find out how to grow salad leaves from seed in a container, in Monty Don's step-by-step video guide, including tips on compost and spacing.springMore on raising crops from seedRead Pippa Greenwood's blog on growing salad leavesGrow salad leaves from

Nothing beats the taste of freshly-picked sweetcorn in late summer and growing your own couldn't be easier. Sow your own seeds or buy young seedlings to plant now and grow them in a block on the veg plot. Or use them decoratively, planting them

Learn how to grow your own supply of tender, succulent peas, in Monty's video guide. Monty recommends a particularly good long-podded variety and shares advice on soil preparation and seed spacing.springMore on growing fruit and vegRead Jane Moore

Tomato plants will thrive on a sunny window sill or in a greenhouse, and may even be transplanted outside in the warmest months. You will need just two small pots to sow your tomato seeds; use a good quality seed compost and keep them in a bright

Plant runner beans now and these vegetables will thrive in the warm, moist soil and quickly twine up their supports. At this time of year you can still sow seeds, which will produce a good harvest of succulent pods, or you can buy young plants

, which can be planted out in March or April for a quick-growing crop. Sets are available from garden centres or by mail order, and although the range of varieties is not quite as wide as from seed, it's is an easy, reliable method of growing.Whether you