As gardeners, we will often spend a lot of time cutting off blooms that are past their best (deadheading) to ensure a continuous supply of flowers throughout the season.

As we wind down at the end of the growing season, now is the perfect time to let some seed heads develop so that you can collect seed ready to sow either now or next Spring.

Some plants, such as calendula, set seed so plentifully that you might be able to give some away.

I have a few pink malva plants that I first grew over twenty years ago when the seed came free in a magazine. They return each year and some years I save the seed heads and let them dry out to sow a fresh batch for elsewhere in the garden.

If you have enough seed to give away, I have a tip that I saw on Instagram this week. Make a sustainable gift box from a toilet roll inner. This eco-friendly cardboard pillow has the advantage of providing lots of protection so that your seeds are not crushed. Keep the ends closed with raffia, jute twine or some ribbon saved from another time.

@midsomerdiariesgarden