Grow your free seeds

When I was brought up in a tiny village in Hampshire in the 1950s and 60s, even the smallest cottages had gardens big enough for large vegetable plots. I remember one January day walking into a neighb

Time to wake up! Olga Grieves is getting busy as everything is springing to life

If you’re new to sowing seeds or haven’t had much success in the past, then let me take you through the basics. It’s such a rewarding, cheap and easy way to fill your pots, borders and veg patch. Some

There’s nothing quite like the taste of freshly picked salad leaves. Homegrown salads are fresher, more flavourful and far more varied than anything you’ll find in a bag bought from a supermarket. Whe

I love growing summer flowers from seed for my cutting garden and to fill gaps in borders and containers to bloom all season on my patio and garden table. I sow hardy and half-hardy annuals alongside

Fancy growing something a bit unusual? Then give chickpeas a try. They need a sheltered, sunny site with free-draining soil. Warm the ground with cloches or fleece before sowing. If you have heavy cla