HOW TO · PLANT & GROW
Plant & Grow
Practical guidance for sowing, planting, propagation, bulbs, vegetables and herbs — from the first seed to strong, established plants.
SOW · PLANT · PROPAGATE · GROW
Find your way into Plant & Grow
Seeds, sowing and young plants: when to start, where to sow and how to get new plants established well.
Bulbs, borders and new planting: choose the right place, plant at the right depth and help roots settle in quickly.
Cuttings, division and making more plants: simple ways to multiply good performers and fill gaps without starting from scratch.
Vegetables, herbs and edible growing: practical guidance for productive beds, containers and crops close to the kitchen.
Start with these guides
How to sow seeds indoors for spring
A practical guide to sowing seeds indoors for spring, from timing and compost to light, watering, pricking out and hardening off.
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How to sow hardy annuals in autumn
How to sow hardy annual flowers in autumn for earlier, stronger plants, including direct sowing, modules, winter care and spring thinning.
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How to divide established perennials
A step-by-step guide to dividing mature perennial plants, choosing healthy sections, replanting them and helping new divisions establish.
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How to take softwood cuttings
Make new plants from fresh young growth with this practical guide to taking, preparing, rooting and potting on softwood cuttings.
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How to plant bare-root roses and shrubs
How to plant bare-root roses and shrubs properly, from keeping roots moist and preparing the soil to planting depth, watering and aftercare.
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How to grow salad leaves in containers
Grow fresh salad leaves in pots and troughs with practical advice on varieties, sowing, watering, succession cropping and harvesting.
View guide →What to grow now
Timely planting and growing ideas selected from the Garden Calendar for this point in the season.
Planting bulbs for spring
Spring bulbs are one of the easiest ways to bring early colour into the garden. Most are planted…
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How to divide established perennials
A step-by-step guide to dividing mature perennial plants, choosing healthy sections, replanting them and helping new divisions establish.
View guide →
How to sow hardy annuals in autumn
How to sow hardy annual flowers in autumn for earlier, stronger plants, including direct sowing, modules, winter care…
View guide →Guide library
Browse every Plant & Grow guide, filter by subject or search by title.
12 guides
- Choosing plants for a sunny border
- Growing herbs close to the kitchen
- Growing vegetables at home
- How to divide established perennials
- How to grow salad leaves in containers
- How to plant bare-root roses and shrubs
- How to sow hardy annuals in autumn
- How to sow seeds indoors for spring
- How to take softwood cuttings
- Planting a garden for the seasons
- Planting bulbs for spring
- Why raised beds remain useful
Growing well starts before planting
Good growing starts with reading the place before choosing the plant. Light, soil, moisture, shelter and timing shape what will thrive with the least intervention. A plant that suits its conditions establishes faster, needs less correction and usually looks more convincing in the garden. Use the guides above for the practical steps, then return to the bigger picture: choose for the site, prepare the ground well and give roots enough time and space to settle.
Think of Plant & Grow as the practical layer between an idea and a healthy, established plant. Sowing, propagation, edible growing and border planting all become easier when the fundamentals are right first.
Go deeper: Choosing plants for a sunny border → · Planting bulbs for spring → · Peat-free compost in the garden →
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