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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

before planting out. Long, root-training modules such as this (see picture) encourage longer root development. Water the compost well before planting out.Using a garden trowel, plant seedlings into well-prepared ground, ensuring that the top

and firm gently.Sow one seed per pot - sunflowers germinate reliably and form large seedlings. Poke the seed into the compost.Cover the seed with about 1.5cm of compost. Label each pot and water well so that the compost is just moist throughout.Cover each

about 1cm apart. Lightly cover with a thin layer of compost then stand pot or tray in water to moisten.When the seedlings are a few inches tall, prick them out and transplant into fresh compost. Once established, transplant seedlings into the garden, 10

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 seed and scatter thinly along the drill or you will waste seed and spend more time thinning out.Use a trowel or your fingers to cover seeds with 0.5cm of soil. Label the rows and water using a watering can with a rose attachment.Thin seedlings out once

could use a pre-marked board for accurate spacing.Thin out the weaker seedlings to give your plants room to grow, so you're left with just one plant every 10cm.AdamIn warmer districts and on light soils, try to sow the parsnip seeds in February and March

Plant runner beans now and these vegetables will thrive in the warm, moist soil and quickly twine up their supports. At this time of year you can still sow seeds, which will produce a good harvest of succulent pods, or you can buy young plants

seedling by its leaves, gently tease the roots into the planting hole. Firm the soil around each plant and water.AdamMore on growing tomatoesRead Pippa Greenwood's blog on growing tomatoes outdoorsGrowing basil from seedGrowing salad leaves from seed

, the best results come from growing plants on a windowsill indoors or in a greenhouse. Large fruited varieties such as 'Black Beauty' should yield three to six aubergines per plant. Smaller fruited varieties like 'Fairy Tale' will produce at least 10