Sow spring salad leaves

FRESH AND CRUNCHY: BABY SPINACH AND RED AND GREEN LETTUCE

- Alice Spenser-Higgs

Think ahead to cuisine that celebrates spring, like crunchy fresh salads in the place of calorie-heavy winter comfort food. If that idea appeals, how about sowing your own spring salad greens? Although the soil is still too cold to sow directly into it, seeds can be sown into seed trays, windowsill propagators, cardboard egg trays, yoghurt tubs or anything else you have on hand.

The Gusta Garden Harry Herb windowsill pot makes propagating easy. The self-watering wick system feeds into a water tank and only needs topping up once a week. A lid creates a warm microclimate.

Whatever containers are used for germinating the seed, they should have drainage holes so that the germination or seedling mix can be kept moist and not become soggy as the seed will rot.

Before sowing, dampen the germination mix, then sow the seed according to the depth stipulated on the seed packets, firm down the soil and lightly water or mist.

To enhance germination, create a moist microclimate by placing the seed containers in a plastic bag, even a shopping bag, and tying it closed.