Getting down to the roots (From Blackpool Citizen)

Getting down to the roots

9:59am Thursday 31st May 2007

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THIS week I plan to plant some carrots and leeks in the two bins I bought from a shop in Bolton - once I get some more compost.

At only £8 a bin, they are cheap and perfect for growing crops which need space for their roots.

I know that normal-size carrots, as opposed to the small, fat, baby carrots I planted in my raised beds, need long roots.

They are also best grown, so I have been reading, above 30cms in height in order to avoid the dreaded carrot fly which can decimate a crop.

I'm assuming that leeks, by the nature of their long, sleek, edible bits, also need some room for their roots to develop.

So begins the start of another garden experiment because, to be honest, I don't know whether what I am doing it right - especially where the leeks are concerned. I have also sent off for 32 strawberry plants on offer from a new garden magazine. The plants are different types which should give me abundant fruit until autumn.

How they transport plants through the post without killing them is beyond me, but I will let you know what condition they are in when they reach me.

My wife and I also bought some narrow planters as a home for the leftovers when we bought too many plug plants for the raised beds.

The potted patio potato plants, which I transplanted to a potato barrel, are doing fine, with great bushy greenery and I am building up the compost around the roots, as it says in the instructions in the books I am following.

I thought the seed potatoes given to me by a colleague were dead, but in the last few days, following the rain, I have noticed strong shoots poking through the compost.

The rest of the plants, especially the red lettuce and other salad leaves are blossoming.

The exterior tomato plants are growing very slowly, while the tomato plant in the conservatory has almost doubled its height in three weeks and looks to be a very vigorous plant.

I'm sure you will be as delighted, as I am, that finally my water butt has arrived - about eight weeks after it should have done and too late for all this rain we've had to endure.

No doubt when I fit it we will have a glorious sunny spell.

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