Sow biennials for flowering next year

Sow spring bedding biennials like wallflowers and sweet Williams outside in a nursery row, so you can lift and plant them this autumn to flower in the garden early next year.

Find an area of clean soil and create a shallow drill. Water the bottom of the drill before sowing the seed. Cover the seed with 1cm of fine soil. Germination takes about a week.

Protect from slugs and snails. Plants will be stronger if you thin the seedlings when they are big enough to handle. Expect to lift and plant them out by October.

Use a cane to mark out a shallow drill for your seeds