It starts with a seed

Nothing gives as much pleasure in the garden as a plant that you have sown yourself. John Hoyland shows how

- John Hoyland

The magical transformation of a tiny seed into a flowering plant is one of the wonders of gardening. Few things bring as much pleasure as nurturing a plant from the moment a seed is sown until it is a flourishing part of the garden. It is a delight that never becomes stale. Growing plants from seed is easy and requires no sophisticated equipment. A pot, some compost, water and a sheltered place are all that is needed. Every year, the gardeners at Glyndebourne in East Sussex raise thousands of plants from seed. All begin life in a basic 3½in pot.

If old pots are being reused, make sure that they have been washed and scrubbed clean of any lurking pests or disease. Use a ready-mixed seed or cutting compost, usually a combination of loam, coir, grit, composted bark or vermiculite. These are formulated to be fine-textured and low in plant food. Do not be tempted to use either your own compost or a potting compost, as these will be too rich and too coarse for the seedlings.

Begin by overfilling the pot with the compost and removing the excess with the side of your hand or with a flat piece of wood. Gently firm the surface so that it is about a quarter of an inch below the rim. The bottom of any empty pot will help with this. Don’t push too hard: the aim is to create a flat surface without compacting the compost.