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in the year, to encourage them to put on growth before winter sets in. Space them at 10cm intervals in rows 20cm apart, and water well. If you don't have seedlings to plant out, you can usually buy plug plants from garden centres and mail order companies

It couldn't be easier to freeze fresh herbs. All you'll need are a few ice cubetrays, chopped herbs and freshly filtered tap water. The frozen herbcubes can then be stored in the freezer until you're ready to use them.Home-grown herbs such as basil

The huge bulbs of hippeastrum already have the flowerbud inside, so they couldn't be simpler to grow. All you need to do is pot it up, water thoroughly and stand the hippeastrum in a well-lit place to enjoy its spectacular blooms. Hippeastrum bulb

roots from its base, while new shoots will emerge through the tip and sides.Dracaena house plantSecateursJar of waterPlant potsMulti-purpose compostall year roundan hourChop up the stem into sections 20-30cm long. Note which end is the base and which

.Your salad leaf seedlings will be ready to transplant when their roots fill the compost in the guttering. Use a garden trowel to make a wide, shallow drill in prepared soil and slide the seedlings in place. Water them in thoroughly.AdamWater the young lettuce

Spread a compost mulch around border plants to suppress weedsPut pond pumps and fountains back into pools, thoroughly cleaning filters firstLay turf or sow new lawns from seedClean out bird baths and top up with fresh waterCheck tree ties

Pot up rooted cuttings and young plants that have outgrown their potsSow seeds of marrows, courgettes, squashes, cucumbers and melons in a heated propagatorWater pots and trays of seedlings with a solution of copper fungicide to prevent damping

Regularly water crops in pots and growing bags, daily if needed in warm weather Plant trailing tomatoes in hanging basketsFeed young plants weekly with a solution of liquid fertiliserVentilate the greenhouse during the day, but close vents

Give wooden furniture a facelift, sanding smooth then applying teak wood oilCut back climbing plants that are hanging down from arches and pergolas Empty, mix and refill compost bins to improve the composting processWater hydrangeas with a colourant

Prune suckers away from the base of ornamental treesCollect hoses, sprinklers and other watering equipment to store in the shed over winterProtect glazed pots from frost damage by wrapping up or bringing into a shedOrder bare-root roses for planting