Sow what you reap

They might not be especially striking to look at–if you can see them at all–but seeds are among the natural world’s most awe-inspiring marvels, says John Lewis-Stempel

Saving your own seeds saves you money, helps you continue to grow important or favourite varieties, preserves links with the past and means you can share your seeds with others. But more importantly,

Toby explains how plants and trees set up natural defences and outlines what we can do to help

In September the garden is brimming with seeds – poppies, eryngiums, geraniums, lunarias, sanguisorbas, salvias, corydalis, sanguisorbas, gillenias and most of the grasses. Everything is there, just w

NATURAL SEED HARVESTING

Alexandra Campbell provides a comprehensive growing guide to these easy, colourful and wildlife-friendly wonders