Gardening Tips: Sowing the seeds of a new garden

Here are some simple ideas which should help you in the garden with the minimal financial outlay.

Increasing your plant stock can easily be done by using the simplest propagation methods. For example, why not collect seeds from your existing plants. All you have to do is allow your plants to flower fully and not deadhead them; allow the seed heads to set as hard and as dry as possible then collect them.

Place you seed heads on some newspaper and allow them to dry fully indoors. Once dry remove any husks or shells (known as chaff). Place your seed in a packet and label ready for use next year.

Good plants to propagate in this manner are marigolds, lupins, poppies and nasturtiums. Another way to increase your plant stock is by splitting root division. This involves taking one large plant and dividing it into several smaller plants.

Simply dig up your plant then gently tease apart using your hands or if you have any difficulty hand forks or digging forks can be used. Then either replant your new plants somewhere else in the garden or pot them up for future use.

Some of the easiest plants to propagate like this are hosta, geranium and erynguim. Once you are producing more plants you may be looking for containers to grow them in. Why not make your own; you can use almost anything as long as you put drainage holes in the bottom.

I have seen containers made from all sorts of things, even a toilet pan.

For example an old metal watering can, simply drill the holes in the bottom and then paint with an outdoor varnish to waterproof it. Boat varnish is best.

Remember to varnish your container both inside and out. Once dry you can paint it or leave it natural. It is as simple as that.

In my years as a gardener I have seen containers made out of all sorts of things for example, old kettles, watering cans, boots, fruit and fish boxes, old sinks and even a toilet pan.

GEORGE ROBERTSON