Tomatoes

Raise in a propagator or under glass from February to March at around 19 degrees (65F)

Sow the seed quite sparely and then sieve compost to cover them. Stand the container (foil tray, seed tray, yoghurt pot, anything so long as it has drainage) in water to let the compost soak it up. If you water from above you’ll wash away the seeds.

Wrap up in clingfilm or cover with glass if you don’t have a propagator and they shouldn’t need watering again until they’ve germinated. This should take about 8 – 11 days.

As soon as you see them poke up through the soil, take off the cover and lead out of direct sunlight in a bright place.

When the seedlings are big enough to handle you are ready to pot them on. Make sure they’ve been watered ahead of time and have some containers filled with compost and a hole made with a pencil for each plant. Ease out your seedlings and making sure you touch the leaves, NOT the stems, move to their new pots, with the first set of leaves just above the compost surface. Firm and water well.

Harden off the seedlings carefully. This means preparing the young plants for the world outside.

Put them in a cold frame at first with the lid off during the day, but cover up on cold nights.

In early summer, when they are about 6 – 8 inches tall, plant outside in a sunny, sheltered spot, putting climbing types 45cms (18ins) apart and the bush ones 60cm (24in) apart. Mulch them and cover them with fleece or cloches (you can use clear 2L water bottles, with the ends cut off).