Seeds and cuttings - a 'better' way to create a garden?

Cem and I have decided to make a much more concerted effort to grow our garden from cuttings and seeds in the future. It is so easy to nip out to the garden centre and buy a few ready-grown plants, but I'm beginning to realise that you just don't get the same effect. Raising your own plants from seeds and cuttings is so much more personal than buying plants in. There's something wonderful about the whole process, and it certainly creates a deep relationship between gardener and plant. And so I have spent some time this past week busily taking cuttings and sowing seeds.

In a previous post, I said I was going to try my hand at taking some basal cuttings of Veronica "Red Fox". I have now done this and said cuttings are now sitting in a pot of compost in the greenhouse (and I hope are putting their energy into pushing down healthy new roots). I have already had some success with my penstemon cuttings (I have the variety "Laura"). I usually have a success rate of 1 out of 5, which I don't think is particularly great but it seems to be my average.

I had a great time last weekend generally pottering about with seeds and pots and compost in the shed. I've sowed some varieties of grass which I have never tried before: Pennisetum "Fountain grass" and Lagurus ovatus "Bunny Tails", both of which should make lovely architectural features in the borders. I also sowed Delphiniums to flower next year, these are a white variety "Galahad" (which I bought just because of the name!)

I sowed some Cornflowers just about a week ago and am completely astonished that I have had 100% germination rate and the seedlings are already about 1cm high. Apparently, they like to germinate in cool conditions, and it seems to be unseasonably cold in my greenhouse this year (perhaps due to the leylandii that our neighbour helpfully planted in her garden. These trees are a complete menace and now the majority of our veg patch is in shade until mid-summer, humph).


Well, I'll be out there again this evening, I've still got veg seeds to sow: peas, pinto and berlotti beans and spinach. As well as cucumbers, butternut squash and courgettes indoors.