My containers had grapes in. I try to buy unpackaged fruit but these were a gift.

Re-cycle containers to germinate seeds

Other containers you can use are often sold with cakes in and have a hinged lid.
Mine have some holes in the bottom so before I fill one with compost I line it with newspaper.

It is good to have drainage holes but line with newspaper to prevent the compost going through

Then fill with moist compost and firm gently, this means tap the compost with your fingers flat, you don’t want it to be solid but also you don’t want big air pockets.

Use your fingers to press gently on the compost

Water your compost if it is a little dry. I use a spray as you don’t want it too wet.

Moisten compost with a spray, moist not saturated

Cabbage seeds ready to sow

Can you see the seeds?

A thin layer of compost or vermiculite

Water well again!

Invert the other container to make a mini-green greenhouse.

Make a label for your seedlings.

Babs Beetroot gives us her top tips on growing plants from cuttings.

“Imagine being able to cut a limb off, an arm or a leg, plant it in water and watch a new person grow from it. As a human this sounds crazy. However with some plants you can cut off part of the living stem and with a bit of care and patience you can grow a new plant. While a human would need to go to hospital if they cut an arm or a leg off, if you are careful when taking a cutting from a plant it will remain healthy. I would recommend asking people before you take a cutting from their favourite plant, most people say yes, and then within a year you’ll have your very own.”



Using a Propagator to grow cuttings

Order your Secret Seed Propagator Kit
Make an upcycled propagator from old packaging

Diabetic Diva Susan with her latest recipe book.

Diabetic recipes are ‘Healthy’ because they have limited amounts of refined sugars and salts so if you want more healthy recipes take a look at her website.
Remember you don’t have to be diabetic to enjoy Susan’s tasty recipes, in fact eating these healthy feasts can help prevent you becoming diabetic so tuck in!

TWIRLY SPAGHETTI & MINCE SAUCE

A family favourite and so easy to make. Rearing beef has a detrimental effect on the environment but this can be made with vegetable alternatives.The mince can be prepared in a batch and frozen for at least 3 months. Good with jacket potatoes, rice, pasta, mock pizza.

Main ingredient: Mince beef or vegetarian alternative, spaghetti Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes Serves 4:

EQUIPMENT
Chopping board
Sharp knife
Can opener
Measuring spoon
Large saucepan with lid
Wooden spoon

For spaghetti
Measuring jug
Measuring spoon
Medium size saucepan with lid
Spoon for stirring

INGREDIENTS
500g lean ground mince beef
½ sweet pepper, roughly chopped
½ onion roughly chopped
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 jar pasta sauce
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 tsp dried Italian herbs

METHOD
COOK the mince in a pot stirring with a wooden spoon until it’s brown in colour and no pink bits remain. ADD the onion and peppers and cook for another 3 minutes
NEXT add all the other ingredients and let meat mixture cook until the sauce starts to bubble. TURN the heat down to low and let this cook for at least 20 minutes
SERVE with spaghetti and a salad (even a teeny weeny one would be great) Remember your 5 A Day.

SPAGHETTI
PUT 500ml of water and ¼ tsp salt into a pot
LET it boil
ADD 100g wholemeal spaghetti to the boiling water
COOK for 8 minutes (al dente) cooked still firm
DRAIN and put on a plate
SPOON some mince sauce over
If you like sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over and dried parsley.

Try these
Make mock pizzas using the mince sauce. Slice a wholemeal French roll in 2. Spoon some of the sauce over and about 2 tbsp grated cheese. Grill under hot grill until cheese melts.

Or add red kidney beans, ½ to 1 tsp chilli powder and dried Italian herbs to make chilli.
Here is Susan cooking with some children.

Children love to cook when there's a grown-up to help.

But how can I protect my plants?

It’s simple!  You can make your very own ‘Cloche’!

OK, but what exactly is a Cloche?

A Cloche is something used as a cover and placed over plants.

Cloche’s act like mini-greenhouses – they collect warmth from the sun during the day which warms the soil and keeps it warm at night.  This is how Cloche’s stop plants getting too cold when the temperature falls at night time. Clever eh?!

That is clever!  So how do I make my own Cloche?

The best way to make your own Cloche is to reuse any recycled glass or plastic jars and bottles that you may have.  Using something that is see-through is important because the soil under the Cloche needs light to help the plant grow.

Remember: the number of cloche’s you need to make depends on how much room you have to grow your seeds.

I used an empty jam jar, a plastic cup, an empty bottle of squash and an empty bottle of water.  I thought I would try different ideas see which worked the best. Keep a look out for see-through containers that could be recycled.

Making your Cloche:

1. Wash and remove any labels.

If you are using jars or cups that already have an open end then you can go to the next stage – ‘Prepare Your Garden’.  If you are using a plastic bottle you have just one more thing to do before it is ready for the garden.

 2. When you have washed and dried your bottle, you will need to get yourself a Grown-Up who can cut off the top with scissors.

Prepare Your Garden:

3. Now you’re ready to get planting! Make sure the soil is loose using a trowel or fork.

4. Next, place your Cloche’s upside and push them down into the soil so that you have made a circle mark – this is the area that you will plant your seeds in!

Plant Your Seeds:

5. Pour a few of your chosen seeds into the palm of your hand so that you don’t have too many all in one go.  Scatter them all over the circle and cover with a half centimetre layer of soil and firm down with your hand. If the soil is dry give them a sprinkle of water.

6. Finally, place your home-made Cloche’s back over the circle and push down hard so that they are firmly in the ground.  Now your seeds will be nice and snug and ready to start growing!

Remember: Your seeds will still need plenty of water to stop the soil drying out.

If you don’t make a cloche many seeds can be started off in a pot on a sunny windowsill.

Don’t forget to send us a picture of your homemade cloches! You can write to us at: Seed H.Q, Studio 013, Netil House, 1a Westgate Street, London E8 3RL. Or you can email us here.

Here’s some guidance on how to make 4 courses from your lantern. Every pumpkin is different so add your own flair!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Spiced Pumpkin Soup

To serve 6. Keeps in fridge for 3 days or frozen.

Put the following in a tray to roast in oven 180 degrees, till soft and golden, about 30mins:

Put the following together and liquidise until desired smoothness:

Place in a saucepan and bring back to the boil

Caramelised Pumpkin Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt

Serves 4-8. Store in freezer to eat another day

Put the following in a tray to roast in oven 180 degrees, till soft and golden, about 30mins:

Leave the pumpkin to cool then blend: