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into the soil before planting. I crammed three plants into the end of one of my deep beds, where it can be left undisturbed to flourish. A deep compost mulch and regular watering during last summer's drought got it well established. However, this spring two

grow to about 7-10cm long before cutting off and rooting in a glass of water. Pot them up, and you've got smashing young plants that will start flowering and fruiting in just a few weeks.And when it comes to fertilisers, many people are totally confused

to continue growing. Plants can then be picked over for several weeks before becoming exhausted, and needing to be replaced. All they'll need is regular watering and the addition of an occasional liquid feed to encourage new growth.Salads also need sowing

dwarf narcissi or delicate snake's head fritillaries – I love them all.Like many others I'm sure, I try to work out the cost of these massed plantings of thousands of bulbs. I also think of the sheer effort that goes into planting these areas

distraction. Last autumn I stopped watering my begonias and left the plants to die down on their own, thinking their tubers could safely overwinter in pots of dry compost. How wrong I was. I've just tipped some out to replant into fresh compost but discovered

they hold more compost and have a deeper root run.Large households may well accumulate more cardboard or egg boxes than they can use for raising plants, so I compost all this instead. Just tear the card up into small pieces, moisten with water and mix

it hard to determine when fruits are actually ripe to pick. Many turned soft and fell before I realised they were fully ripe, while others split badly later in the season, and weren't as tolerant of irregular watering patterns (is that my fault

-minutes a day to water a scorched plot, and then made to feel guilty for doing so by the water companies and national press! Warm, wet weather brings salad crops on a treat, but slugs love it, too. Damp weather is perfect for them, and they've been on a

conditions she experiences near the east coast. Rainfall is sparse and infrequent, and watering costly and time consuming, so plants are chosen that relish dry conditions.And that is one of the big lessons I've learned from visiting gardens during this cruise

 and John Innes No.3 loam-based compost. All this weight provides extra stability to prevent the trees catching the wind and toppling over. These acers are no more demanding than any plants in pots, and just need regular watering and feeding.The foliage