These days we can get plants from the garden centre ready to go straight into the ground. Why bother to grow from seed

A.� For the casual or occasional gardener then there is no reason why an occasional trip to the garden centre shouldn't suffice.

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But anyone who has really got the gardening bug knows that there is little more satisfying that actually breeding your own plants from the very start. There is also a real satisfaction in having plants that are truly home grown rather than the product of a large commercial operation.

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There are also good practical reasons. The major seed merchants can offer a huge choice of flowers and vegetables in comparison with your average garden centre where you will usually find just one or two different varieties on offer within each group.

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The second extremely practical reason is price. Even accounting for the compost and seed trays or pots, you'll get a packet of seeds for considerably less than the cost of buying a tray of a few seedlings.

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A. Anything which is labelled half-hardy is started off under glass, in the conservatory or a light windowsill.

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Hardy plants can be sown directly into the ground either in autumn, a good idea with hardy annuals, or spring. However, many people sow both hardy annuals and vegetable seeds inside around this time of year to get a head start, meaning that they have established young plants ready to go in as soon as the weather allows.

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A.� Hygiene is important before you start to do anything. Always wash out pots and trays before use in case they harbouring diseases that could attack seedlings.

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It is also advisable to always use fresh seed compost, like a John Innes No 1, as recycled compost can also be infected. Lastly, use tap water instead of collected rainwater, again because of possible contamination.

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A.� The first thing to do is always read the packet, as different seeds need different treatment.

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If the seed is very fine it is best to water the compost and then sow directly onto it rather than pouring water on top afterwards. Some seeds will require a light covering after sowing while others need light to germinate. Again, it will tell you on the packet.

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Some seeds need humidity to germinate which can be provided by slipping a clear plastic bag or cling film over the tray or putting a pot in a clear plastic bag, making sure you keep them out of direct sunlight. When the seedlings emerge the cover should be loosened to allow air in and then removed altogether after a couple of days.

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