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Sarah Raven demonstrates the most effective method for picking tulips from the garden to ensure the best display indoors, without inhibiting next year's growth.MayMore advice on growing tulipsTreating tulip virusLayering bulbs in a pot

to cover the bulbs completely.Walk over the turf to firm it down, making sure it's level with the rest of the lawn. Then water the area generously.More on bulbsForcing narcissiLayering bulbs in a potHow to plant hyacinth bulbs in a potBrowse spring-flowering

If you want a spring-flowering display to go on as long as possible, plant separate layers of different varieties of bulbs in one pot. All you need to create a display which flowers in succession is a large pot and a variety of bulbs

them in pots. Grow the bulbils on until the following summer, then plant them out where you would like them to flower. Be patient; it can take up to three years before they start producing flowers.Lily plantPotMulti-purpose compostLate-summer to autumn

Ensure a burst of spring colour by sowing polyanthus seeds in the previous summer. Watch Monty's video, including tips on compost and aftercare, to find out how.summerMore advice on primulasHow to rejuvinate primrosesBrowse primula varieties

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

stages of growth.springMore advice on growing plants from seedSowing seeds indoorsHow to sow sweet pea seedsGrowing exotic plants from seedGrowing dahlias from seed

and bears a resemblance to tadpoles.They are easy to grow, preferably sown fresh and pricked out individually next spring. With a bit of luck they should come to flower the following season.Agapanthus plantsSeed traysSeed-sowing compostSharp horticultural

round. Also, many attract bees, butterflies and other insects, providing a valuable resource for our native wildlife.Raise cut flowers from seed in small pots or modular trays during spring, and the cut-flower plants will be ready to plant out in May