ONE of the questions I’m asked most frequently during the growing season is how do you propagate your plants? writes TOM ATTWOOD.

The answer is a mixture of techniques but hands down the bulk of the 40,000 plants we grow annually are produced from seed. The reason being that it is economical, the plants are completely acclimatised to your environment from the very beginning and seed can easily be collected, sourced and stored for months and even years. The seedlings are grown on to produce plug plants. Now, plug plants are a superb way to grow large numbers of plants in a small space and this would apply to a small domestic greenhouse, polytunnel or cold frame. Many plants can now be bought as 'plugs' which lend themselves to be being sent in the post. It’s cheaper buying plants this way (in most cases) than larger more mature plants of the same variety or species.

Vegetable plants are becoming increasingly more available as plug plants; I’ve noticed an enormous change in recent years. When the Marshalls vegetable catalogue arrived in the post this year it really stood out how the proportion of plants available as plugs is increasing. I can understand the demand, it streamlines the process and makes it simpler, easier you might say but missing out on the seed sowing stage and enjoying the spectacle of seeing what you planted germinate seems slightly tragic. A large number of vegetable plants need to be sown directly into the soil as they won’t tolerate being moved as seedlings but a large number will. I found growing plants as plugs and planting them out massively helpful in several gardens where it was a race between what you planted, the slugs, snails, mice and the elements to get the plants to succeed. Whether you choose to produce plants from seed or opt for those already established, plugs will come down to your budget as much as anything. I will always lean towards seed as I’ll never tire of those first shoots emerging into the light.

Next week: what to look for when choosing a greenhouse