EASY VEG PROJECT
Fresh, succulent homegrown salad is a treat in winter and growing it in a wicker basket will make it a beautiful feature too
1 What you need
Use a sturdy willow basket to grow your salad in. The handle will make it easy to move the plants around without disturbing their roots.
2 Make a liner
Line the basket with black polythene or an old compost bag. Make sure that you pierce holes in the bag for drainage.
3 Fill it up
Fill the basket almost to the top with a good quality multipurpose compost. Firm it down gently, so the surface is 2cm below the basket’s top.
4 Sow the seed
Sprinkle the seed evenly over the compost surface and disperse any piles of seed, so that you get an even coverage of leaves later.
5 Cover your sowings
Put a thin layer of sieved compost over the seeds you've sown, covering them with a layer equal to the depth of the seed.
6 Label your crop
Add a label to the compost edge, away from where you have sown. Make sure to write the label with a waterproof pen.
7 Water in
Gently water the seed using a watering can with a rose-head sprinkler attachment. Keep moving the can as you water, so that no puddles form.
8 Leave them to grow
After sowing, grow them in a sheltered spot for a couple of weeks if weather is mild. If below 10C, move to a cold frame or cool greenhouse.
9 Enjoy your salad
Growth will be slow and steady, but gently water each time the compost is dry and you’ll have welcome fresh pickings through winter. These can be snipped off with sharp scissors for a cut-and-come-again harvest.
