A type of soil found mainly in coastal areas. When you pick up a handful and run it between your fingers it trickles through them. It drains very rapidly and as a result nutrients are leached out of t [..]

see Compost above

The process of filing or cutting the outer skin of a very hard seed, eg sweet pea, in order to allow moisture to enter. This process hastens germination.

A dense heavy soil which tends to be wet, and is often water-logged

Any plant which has thick, fleshy leaves or stems in which water can be stored. These plants are adapted to survive in arid conditions.

The fine crumbly surface layer of the soil.

Such soils have a pH of 7 or over. They are chalky soils, that is, they contain carbonate of lime in the form of chalk. It is difficult to correct this type of soil as rain washes more lime into the s [..]

A plant which germinates, flowers

A term used for setting out bedding plants, hardy or half-hardy annuals, biennials or perennials which are used for display during the summer. They can usually be bought ready for bedding out from a n [..]

A plant which has a life cycle spread over two years. During the first year the plant produces leafy growth; during the second year, it produces flowers and seeds, then dies. Examples are Dianthus bar [..]