I'm in the US, in the Maritime Northwest, growing zone 8b, very similar to the UK, I also am loathe to use insectisides. I found quite by accident that "volunteer" plants, seeds that dropped from last years plants, come in much earlier, are way hardier, and resisitant to bug attack, mildew, etc. Most of my plants are annuals and reseed very readily. I suspect the parent plant passes on genetically an enhanced ability to deal with whatever pest is in that locale. I also tried leaving my dahlias in the ground over winter. I lost a couple, but the ones that did survive came in way earlier than the tubers I planted this summer. I had flowers about 6-8 weeks before the others. I enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing! 😎
