How to Grow Flowers from Seed

Marigolds are an example of a hardy annual that's really easy to grow from seed. Clare takes us through the process of sowing a hardy annual with large seeds.

Clare shares another method of sowing hardy annuals that will help to ensure success for smaller seeds.

Clare shares a third easy sowing method that's tailored to this popular hardy annual that enjoys a long root run.

Growing perennials from seed needn't be daunting, and can save a lot of money. Clare takes us through the process and some of the easiest perennial plants to grow from seed.

Learn how to prepare ground and direct sow outdoors, with the example of this popular and easy hardy annual.

Half-hardy annuals are generally from warmer climates and are sown a bit later than hardy annuals and perennials. Clare shares popular examples, along with the process and the value of hard-hardy annuals in the garden.

Separating out your seedlings into individual pots, known as pricking out, is a key step in nurturing your developing plants, and can be really satisfying. Clare discusses when and how to prick out.

Planting out at the right time and in the right way will really help your plants thrive. Clare shares her top tips, and how you can use half-hardy annuals such as cosmos to boost your borders.

Clare introduces some of her favourite flowers for using in borders, such as dahlias, Ammi and Verbascum, and how to grow them from seed.

Seeing her cut flower bed coming to fruition, Clare reviews what she has learned, and how you can still enjoy an abundance of cut flowers even with very little space.

Sweet peas are one of the most popular, easy and rewarding annuals to grow. Clare shares her growing and care tips to get the most from your plants, including why it's key to keep picking.

Clare introduces us to biennial plants, which include many cottage garden favourites, and explains when and how to sow them.

Clare explains how she uses her seedlings to plant up a pot for an impactful display in a small space, and what you'll need to get started.

As Clare shares how she created and maintains her gravel garden, we discover a totally different way to use plants grown from seed – and encourage plants to grow themselves from seed – for a dynamic and rewarding garden that stands up to drought.

We explore how the plants you grow from seed can be used to fill gaps and bring a border to life, and how Clare creates successional interest that lasts over the whole growing season.

The hollyhocks that have naturalised in the gravel in front of Clare's house bring joy both to her and to passers-by. Clare shares how to grow this easy and rewarding plant for striking summer colour.

Clare explores how anyone can create a beautiful display in a small space, sharing some container planting inspiration and giving her top tips for creating impact and getting the most from your pots.

Clare shares how flowers grown from seed can be used in the vegetable patch to provide benefits for biodiversity and to other plants.

Clare discusses one of her personal favourite annuals – a new, easy-to-grow poppy that has proved popular for its unique colouring.

We go behind the scenes at Chiltern Seeds to discover where some of our seeds come from and the journey they go through to make it into seed catalogues, as well as current trends and favourites.

Clare introduces the easy and rewarding process of collecting your own seed, including which types of plant are likely to produce the best results, and some basic science behind seed 'trueness'.

Clare shares tips on how to find the best time to collect your seeds and discusses the diversity of seedheads you might come across.

We learn when and how to easily collect our own seed, and how to store it to ensure it keeps for as long as possible.

Clare explores why it's so worthwhile saving your own seed, and delves deeper into the collection methods she uses for different types of seed that ripen later in the year.

Clare explains the value of growing biennials along with recommendations for biennial plants to try, and shares tips on when and how to plant them out.

A farewell message from Clare to inspire you to go out and try growing from seed for yourself, and discover this wonderfully joyful and satisfying process at the heart of gardening.