How to sow your free basil seeds

You Will Need

• Basil seeds
• Multi-purpose compost
• Pencil or dibber
• Plant label
• Watering can with rose attachment

Step 1

Pour multi-purpose compost into a small pot. Gently tamp it level to about 1cm below the rim to leave room for watering.

Step 2

Scatter the seeds onto the surface, spacing them as evenly as possible and cover them lightly with more compost.

Step 3

Water using a small watering can with a rose, so the seeds are not dislodged. Place in a warm spot and keep the compost just moist.

Step 4

Pricking out: Gather your seedlings, some slightly larger pots, fresh multi-purpose compost and a dibber. Fill your new pots with compost.

Step 5

Holding a seedling by a leaf, use the dibber to lever it out of the compost, bringing all of the roots with it and move into the new pot.

Step 6

Make a new hole for each seedling in the new pot, several centimetres apart, then lower in the seedlings.

Step 7

Water the seedlings using a small watering can with a rose attachment.

Coming up - more free seeds

May: Cosmos and carrot

A couple of classics in this double pack worth £5

• Cosmos 'Purity' - this much-loved favourite will give you a dazzling display of large white flowers right through summer. Also great for cut flowers
• Carrot 'Royal Chantenay 3' - sow direct in the ground, or in containers. Kids will love growing and eating this fast-growing variety and the small, sweet roots are delicious cooked whole

June: Zinnia and cornflower

Get speedy results with this colourful couple, worth £4.80

• Zinnia 'Early Wonder' – large dahlia-like blooms in a mix of showy, vibrant colours
• Cornflower 'Blue Ball' - easy to grow, with masses of bee-friendly blooms, cornflowers are the perfect cottage garden flower