STEP BY STEP Sow hardy perennials

You can save a lot of money by growing perennials from seed, and if sown now, many will be ready to plant out in summer. Check packets to see if seeds should be covered with compost or surface sown.

1 Overfill small pots with sieved multi-purpose or seed compost, then gently brush off the excess to create a loose, level surface. 2 Tap the pot to settle the compost just below the rim. Don’t firm it down. Sow the seeds thinly over the surface. 3 Cover with a thin layer of sieved compost or vermiculite (if surface sown). Label and place in a tray to take up water.