- When harvesting cabbages, make two cuts crossways on the top of the stump. Within a month or two it will sprout again and give you a second crop of greens
- Store herbs by freezing in ice cube trays with water.
- Use egg cartons for growing seeds. With the cardboard type you can break individual sections off and plant straight into the ground when ready.
- Stop dirt from getting under your fingernails by scratching on a bar of soap before starting. When you wash up the soap comes away and "hey presto", clean fingernails.
- With invasive plants like Mint, keep them in their containers when planting to stop them getting out of control.
- Fill drinks bottles with water. Pierce the screw cap and push into the ground to act as a drip feeder.
- Mulch acid loving plants with used coffee grounds.
- Keep Mosquitos out of your water butt by floating a layer of cooking oil on the water.
- Sink an empty flower pot into the ground near a plant that needs constant watering and when the plant needs watering fill the pot up with water.
- Plant bulbs in pots and sink them into the garden. When they finish flowering lift and store in the greenhouse for next time.
- Fill a bucket with sand and mix in some motor oil. Once the earth is removed from them, plunge your garden tools into the bucket to keep them clean and oiled for next time.
- Place wire mesh under compost bins to keep out vermin.
- When dealing with small seeds, mix them with sand to make sowing easier.
- When watering in the greenhouse leave the can full. Next time you use it the water will be warmer and will not "shock" the plants. It's pretty handy to have a full can available too.
- Line Terracotta pots with bubble wrap. It stops water loss and helps protect against frost.
- Paint plain Yoghurt onto new pots. They'll soon turn green and look like antiques.
- Make friends with neighbours and exchange cuttings and seeds.
- Stamp or mark all tools with your postcode for easy return if stolen.
- Hunt for marked down plants in garden centres. Most only need some T.L.C to revive them.
- Create a log pile to provide a hiding place for Frogs, Toads and Invertebrates.
- Protect Carrots with a 2ft high polythene barrier to exclude the low flying female carrot fly.
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