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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

grow from seeds or sets, you can start to harvest bulbs in early summer and have plenty to store through winter.As with the majority of vegetables, onions grow best in a well-lit position, with soil that has been enriched with generous amounts of plenty

proportion of male flowers and fruit is only borne on female flowers. Plentiful water is also needed for the fruit to swell.

place to ensure they germinate.Tomato seeds e.g. 'Gartenperle'Good quality seed compostSmall pots x2ClingfilmJanuary - April10 minutes to sow the seedsJuly - AugustFill two small pots with seed compost. Water the compost with tap water and leave

'Multi-purpose compost7.5cm plastic potsPlant labelsPencil or waterproof penWatering can with rose attachment Plastic bottlesMarch - May30 minutesJune - SeptemberUse a good multi-purpose compost to fill 7.5cm pots to 1cm below the rim. Tap each pot to settle the compost

your own sweetcorn from seed, fill modular seed trays with multi-purpose compost. Sow a single seed in each, pushing them just under the surface. Water well.After germination, wait until the roots of seedlings have reached the base of the seed tray cell

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

Growing tomatoes with ring-culture pots involves surrounding the crop with a bottomless ring and adding layers of compost at 10-14 day intervals. This encourages the tomato to root from the stem so it can take up more water and nutrients than

with a thin layer of soil. Sow from March to August for regular pickings.Water well to help germination – lots of moisture is needed by this fast-growing crop, which should appear in 2-3 days.Thin out emerging seedlings to leave plants about 2-4cm apart

once it is 30-40cm tall, to encourage branching. Tie stems to canes. Encourage flowering by feeding weekly with a high potash tomato fertiliser.Encourage fruit to set by tapping the flowers to release the pollen or spraying lightly with tepid water