Category Archives: Spring gardening

Starting Leeks

Here’s the way I do it. I just add potting soil to an empty container and sprinkle 30-40 seeds on top, moisten to water, and then put the top on for a few days. They will probably all come up, but I only need 3 squares of them. That means 27 leeks.

Theres been times when I’ve kept leeks, chives, or green onions in their container for 9-10 months. At some point they stop growing. Then all I do is locate the container in the garden(I keep them outside all the time), and separate the leeks to drop into their respective holes. It’s a good way to always have things ready. Its worked for me anyway.

Tomato cloche

Got a little wet and cold the past couple of days. I’ve had my early cherry tomato plants out and didn’t want to take a chance of losing them. Just an old orange juice container with the bottom cut out and placed gently over the plant has always done the trick for me. If it gets colder at night I will put the cap on but am sure to remove the cap by morning.

Growing in bags

If you don’t get the right soil, nothing else really matters. Here’s an example of great soil used in a grow bag made from homemade compost. Pictured in the bag is Queensland lettuce, green ice, claytonia, and red sails lettuce. Harvest it correctly and this small bag will feed you for weeks with a great fresh diner salad.

A quick start for spring gardens

I don’t have a soil block so I put together a homemade version. And it works perfectly. In 17 days, or sooner, these will be ready to plant right into my sun box. After about 10 days they go right into the garden, where they will grow very quickly. What the difference between a sun box and a cold frame? A lot. I’ll be teaching a class on how to have the earliest spring garden possible in zone 6.