Seed drill

I STILL find it magical that seeds carry all the information needed to become a full-grown productive plant. Our task is to ensure that this nugget of potential falls into the right place at the right time in the right way.

- Mark Diacono

There can be a month between when I sow here in my fairly well-drained garden in the South-West and when my cousin does in her heavier Lancastrian soil. Although the seed packet provides a guide, trust your instinct: if it says to sow in March, but it still feels like February, then wait.

Sowing direct that is, straight from the packet to the soil-is by far the cheapest way of sowing and the most efficient use of your time. The seed is in its home immediately; germinating, developing and maturing without transplanting. It suits many of the hardier vegetables, such as beans and peas, most of the roots and many salads, with midspring warmth the ideal time to start for most.