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glass jar and discard the flesh. Cover the seeds with water.A mould will develop after about four of five days. This helps to remove the gelatinous coating on the tomato seed, which can prevent germination.Pour the seeds into a sieve and wash thoroughly

, which can be planted out in March or April for a quick-growing crop. Sets are available from garden centres or by mail order, and although the range of varieties is not quite as wide as from seed, it's is an easy, reliable method of growing.Whether you

, depending on how much support is needed.Removing sideshoots is an important job which prevents the fruits being shaded by leaves. It also diverts the plant's energy into the growing fruit, so making it more productive. And it's a simple task: simply grasp

vegetables, you will get a heavier crop if you grow leeks in a well-lit position, with soil that has been improved by the addition of plenty of organic matter. Leek seedsMulti-purpose compostPots or seed traysGarden forkStringBroom or large dibberWatering can

of clean straw. In cold areas, add a layer of soil for extra frost protection. Cover with plastic sheeting.More on growing and harvesting carrotsHarvesting carrots video project.Growing carrots in a container.Thinning carrots.Browse a variety of vegetable

from the garden. Large bucket, dustbin or decorative rhubarb forcerStraw (optional)November - February10 minutes harvest January - AprilClear around the base of a rhubarb crown, removing old leaves and weeds. Use a large pot, dustbin or decorative

As soon as your strawberry plants have finished fruiting it's time to clear away all the straw or matting to discourage slugs and snails from nibbling at the plants. It's also a good time to raise some new plants from their abundant runners

, unblemished apples, as damaged fruits are likely to go mouldy and infect the entire crop. Check your stored apples regularly and remove any damaged ones immediately.The following storage suggestions will help you decide which option is best for you

of light. Aim to keep the room at 21°-25°C while the seeds germinate.Remove the rootball from the pot and gently separate each plant with a pencil.In a new pot containing multi-purpose compost, make planting holes with your pencil. Then, holding each

Carrots need space to develop fully so, once germinated, go over your rows of carrots and pick out the weakest-looking vegetable seedlings to leave a 2cm - 4cm space around remaining seedlings. If you're very careful in extracting the seedling from