Latest news with #vegetablegardening
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Maximize Your Yield With Square Foot Gardening
Do you own a small backyard and dream of growing enough food for your whole family? Square Foot Gardening (SFG) might be your best friend. It is a method of dividing your garden into small, manageable squares, allowing you to pack in more plants without the chaos. Experts say that home gardens using this method can produce significantly more food than traditional row planting in the same space. While the exact increase in produce depends on your crops, climate, and maintenance, a 20-30% increase per square foot compared to row gardening is a realistic ballpark estimate. Mel Bartholomew first introduced square foot gardening, which has changed how people think about growing vegetables. Because this method is incredibly low-effort and requires less space, you can easily do it even as a beginner with a small yard. You don't need to dig long rows, bend over for hours pulling weeds, or haul heavy tools around. The raised beds and defined grid make everything easier on your back and knees. Here are 14 expert tips to maximize your produce with SFG. 1. Plan Your Layout Before planting, it's important to sketch out your garden like a puzzle. Square foot gardening divides your raised bed into 1x1-foot squares, and each of those little boxes has a specific purpose. Planning your layout (and which plants will do best) helps you avoid overcrowding and makes sure every plant gets the space, sunlight, and airflow it needs. Think about what you love to eat, what grows well in your area, and how tall each plant gets. When everything is spaced just right, your plants grow better, and you can fit more in a small area. 2. Use Raised Beds for Better Results To make Square Foot Gardening work effectively, opt for a raised bed. These square-shaped plots are usually 4'x4' and 6-12 inches deep and give you control over the soil, drainage, and spacing. Raised beds can produce 2–4 times more produce than in-ground beds due to improved soil quality and drainage. They also make it easier to reach your plants without stepping on the soil, which keeps it fluffy and full of oxygen. Additionally, raised beds warm up faster in the spring, allowing you to start planting earlier and extend your growing season. 3. Stick to the 'Mel's Mix' Soil Formula Mel Bartholomew recommended a mix of 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 compost, called 'Mel's Mix.' This combo is lightweight, holds moisture well, and is packed with nutrients. This blend boosts plant growth as compared to regular garden soil. This mix also reduces the need for constant fertilizing. It's easy to work with and helps plants grow strong roots, which means more fruits and vegetables from each square. Refresh your soil each season by adding compost to maintain fertility and avoid heavy clay or sandy soils, as they either drown roots or dry out too quickly. 4. Follow Proper Plant Spacing Guidelines Overcrowding leads to competition for nutrients, resulting in stunted growth. Stick to Mel Bartholomew's classic square foot spacing, for example, one plant per square (tomatoes), four plants (lettuce), or 16 plants of radishes. Correct spacing can increase productivity and lower the risk of plant diseases caused by poor airflow. Neat spacing also makes harvesting easier and keeps the garden looking tidy and healthy. 5. Rotate Crops Each Season Just like in big farms, rotating crops helps prevent soil exhaustion and pest buildup. When you plant the same veggie in the same spot every season, it uses up the same nutrients and attracts the same bugs. Rotate plant families—like moving tomatoes after planting leafy greens. Crop rotation can reduce soil-borne diseases and increase long-term production. It's an easy habit that makes a big difference. 6. Water Deep, Not Often Watering deeply encourages strong root growth, whereas frequent shallow watering can weaken plants. Watering when the top inch of soil feels dry and soaking it to at least 6 inches deep is usually recommended. Use a watering can or drip system to keep the water near the base of each plant. Early morning watering helps avoid mold and mildew while saving water by reducing evaporation. This way, you'll grow plants that are more resilient, productive, and efficient with water, which is crucial for maximizing yields in your square-foot garden. 7. Add a Trellis to Maximize Vertical Space Trellises are perfect for square-foot gardens because they allow you to grow plants like peas, melons, or squash upward. This method saves ground space for shorter crops and improves airflow, which helps prevent disease. Use strong materials like metal mesh, bamboo, or wooden stakes. Trellising reduces fungal infections and enhances air circulation, promoting healthier plants and higher yields. 8. Companion Plant to Boost Growth Some plants grow better when paired with the right neighbors. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can enhance flavor and reduce pest infestations. Marigolds also repel insects when planted alongside veggies. This is called companion planting. Companion planting improved yields by 15–30% in certain combinations. It's a smart way to keep your garden healthy without chemicals. 9. Use Mulch to Lock In Moisture A thin layer of mulch—such as straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves — keeps the soil cool and moist. It also stops weeds from growing. Mulching can reduce water loss significantly. This is especially crucial in square foot gardening, where soil can dry out quickly in tightly planted beds. Mulch also helps prevent soil from getting onto leaves, which can spread disease. Just make sure it's not packed too tightly around stems, so air can still circulate. For container square foot gardens, cocoa hulls or pine needles are lightweight options that won't compact over time. 10. Start from Seed When Possible Seeds are cheaper, offer more variety, and give plants a stronger root system from the start. Seedlings grown directly in the garden adapt better to their environment than store-bought transplants. You can start early indoors or sow seeds directly into your garden. Direct seeding reduces transplant shock and saves a large amount of costs compared to buying nursery plants. 11. Harvest Often to Encourage More Growth The more you harvest, the more your plants will keep producing, especially for crops like lettuce, beans, and cucumbers. Letting food over-ripen on the plant tells it to stop growing. Keep a harvest basket handy whenever you visit your garden - you'll be amazed how much more food you'll gather with this simple habit. In square foot gardening, frequent harvesting is a crucial technique to maximize every inch of your space. 12. Track What Works (and What Doesn't) Keep a small garden journal or use a garden app to record what you planted, how much it produced, and any challenges that arose. This info helps you make better choices next season. Keep a simple garden journal noting which varieties performed best, germination rates, and planting dates. Over seasons, you'll develop a customized planting guide perfectly suited to your microclimate and gardening style. With practice, seed starting becomes one of the most rewarding and economical skills in the Square Foot Gardener's toolkit. 13. Extend the Season with Row Covers & Cold Frames Row covers and cold frames are great tools to stretch your growing season, especially in cooler climates. They protect plants from frost, wind, and sudden temperature drops, giving you extra weeks of growing time in spring and fall. Row covers are lightweight fabric sheets you drape over your plants, while cold frames are like mini greenhouses made of glass or plastic. Both trap heat and create a warmer microclimate for your crops. This means you can plant earlier, harvest later, and even grow cold-loving veggies like spinach, kale, and lettuce all winter long in many zones 14. Feed Your Soil, Not Just Your Plants Healthy soil is the secret behind every thriving square foot garden. Instead of just adding fertilizers, focus on improving the soil by regularly mixing in compost. It provides essential nutrients, supports beneficial microbes, and enhances water retention. You don't need fancy store-bought compost—kitchen scraps, dry leaves, and garden clippings work just fine. When you enrich the soil each season, your plants will grow stronger, resist pests more effectively, and yield a more abundant harvest with less effort. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why Aren't Your Tomatoes Turning Red?
Are your tomato vines covered in plump green fruits that just won't turn red? While tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, they can be finicky at times. Several factors slow down or stop the ripening process, causing tomatoes to linger in the green stage. Extreme temperatures are the most common culprit, but soil nutrition and plant care also play a role. If your tomatoes are not turning red, don't fret. Find out the reasons behind this common problem and easy ways to promote your tomatoes to ripen, either in the garden or are not necessarily deep red when ripe. Heirloom tomatoes and hybrid tomato varieties offer plenty of variation in tomato colors. Before you jump to the conclusion that your tomatoes aren't ripening, check what color they are supposed to have when tomatoes is a slow process. The developing fruits require six to eight weeks to fully mature from the time of flower pollination. The time it takes the fruit to mature varies between tomato varieties, but sometimes there is more at play. Understanding how weather conditions, soil nutrition, and plant care impact fruit development will help you troubleshoot problems with ripening. Temperature is among the most limiting factors when it comes to fruit set and ripening. Summer temperatures often exceed the optimal temperature range for ripening tomatoes, which falls between 68°F and 77˚F. In the fall, temperatures commonly drop below this range. When temperatures stray from the ideal range, the ripening process slows down. Excessive heat, in particular, stops the ripening process because the pigments responsible for coloration, lycopene and carotene, are not produced when temperatures rise above 85°F to 90˚F. Heat-stressed plants will also divert energy away from ripening fruits and into survival, such as growing deeper roots. When temperatures are too hot or too cold for vine ripening, tomatoes can be finished off the vine, as described below. When plants fail to perform as expected, gardeners often reach for fertilizer or the watering hose, trying to nurse plants into production. However, this is detrimental to fruit ripening. Although tomato plants are heavy feeders, too much nitrogen fertilizer encourages leaf growth at the expense of flowers and fruits. The nitrogen needs of a tomato plant vary as the plant grows, requiring more during the early stages of establishment and vegetative growth. Excessive watering also slows down fruit ripening by reducing air movement in the soil. When tomatoes fail to ripen, maintain regular irrigation practices to provide consistent moisture and time fertilizer applications according to plant development. Tomatoes benefit from a fertilizer low in nitrogen, high in phosphorus, and medium to high in potassium. Make your first fertilizer application when preparing the soil for planting using a complete fertilizer ( 5-10-5, 10-20-10, or similar). Fertilize again once the first tomato is golf-ball you would conduct a soil test in the spring or fall before planting, which will give you a baseline of the nutrient content in the soil and help you determine the fertilizer have been bred to produce ever-larger harvests, but sometimes tomato plants are simply overloaded with fruits. This is particularly true when plants are trying to manage other stresses, such as high heat or drought. The developing fruits compete with roots, flowers, and foliage for limited resources. The same stressors can also cause plants to lose foliage, which means there is less energy being produced through photosynthesis. When fruits are failing to ripen during periods of stress, it may be helpful to thin out some of the fruit. Start with any fruits that are fully grown but stuck in the green stage and let these ripen on the countertop. This will reduce the energy demand on the plant, allowing more resources to reach the remaining tomatoes. While tomato plants require full sun for the best performance, the fruits themselves do not require sun exposure to ripen. In fact, too much direct sun causes sunscald on developing fruits and increases temperatures in the plant canopy that delay pigment formation. Sunlight powers flower and fruit development through photosynthesis, which takes place in the leaves. It is the foliage, not the fruits, that needs direct sunlight. Therefore, pruning foliage is not conducive to ripening fruits. Keep the leaves in place to produce energy and shade the developing fruits. It is natural for gardeners to want to 'fix' problems, but when it comes to ripening tomatoes, patience is your best course of action. Tomato fruits require adequate sugars and hormones to ripen. As gardeners, we can, however, hasten the process at times and adopt practices that direct energy toward developing fruits. Pruning tomatoes benefits fruit development of indeterminate-type tomatoes by limiting excessive leaf growth that directs energy away from fruit production. It also reduces the number of fruit-producing branches, which prevents overloading plants with too much fruit. When plants overproduce, thinning fruits, as described above, limits competition for water and nutrients. Pruning also increases airflow through the plant foliage, which helps fight foliar diseases and keeps plants healthier. A developing tomato plant produces a main shoot, called a vine, from which suckers (side shoots) and fruit clusters develop in the leaf axils, which is where the leaves meet the stem. Begin pruning when the plant produces its first flower cluster. Follow these steps: Remove all suckers except the first one below the lowest flower cluster. This is the strongest sucker and can be left as a secondary shoot for fruit production. Remove suckers by pinching them between your thumbnail and forefinger, cutting them as close to the stem as possible. Use pruners on thicker suckers. Remove the bottommost leaves to limit fungal infections and reduce competition for water and nutrients. It is best to remove suckers when they are still small. Check the main vine and secondary shoot regularly for new suckers and remove them promptly. As fruits in the upper canopy begin to plump, stop pinching suckers from the upper portion of the vine to allow the canopy to develop. This will shade fruits and protect them from sunscald. When weather conditions do not favor ripening fruit on the vine, fully grown green tomatoes can be harvested and ripened indoors. Many gardeners do this in the fall before a frost. Tomatoes must reach their mature size before harvesting, as immature green tomatoes will never ripen. Look for the first hints of color change to indicate a tomato is ready to harvest. Even tomatoes that refuse to turn red will lighten in color to a paler green, or even take on yellowish hues. Store harvested tomatoes indoors at room temperature. Do not refrigerate tomatoes (even fully ripe ones) as the flavor deteriorates, and green tomatoes need warmer temperatures to ripen. Remember, the optimal temperature for ripening is between 68°F and 77˚F; this applies indoors, too. Green tomatoes may take several days to fully ripen. Tomato ripening is powered by ethylene, a hormone produced by plants. Many of the tomatoes sold at grocery stores were harvested while still green and ripened through exposure to ethylene gas. Plants and fruits also produce ethylene naturally. We can use this to our advantage when ripening tomato fruits off the vine by placing a few green tomatoes together in a paper bag. This creates a closed environment for the ethylene being released by the tomatoes to collect and power ripening. Some fruits release a lot of ethylene as they ripen. Bananas, for example, are ethylene powerhouses, which is why many people store them away from other fruits. Use the ethylene released by bananas (or apples or avocados) to hasten tomato ripening by placing them together on the counter or in a fruit bowl. Green tomatoes ripened indoors taste almost as good as their vine-ripened counterparts, but not quite. For the best-tasting tomatoes, allow the fruits to fully ripen on the vine. Follow proper pruning, watering, and fertilizer to maintain healthy, vigorous plants and reduce competition for limited resources. Be patient. Tomatoes take a long time to ripen, but the flavor is worth the wait. Read the original article on Southern Living
Associated Press
12-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
A Widow's Journey to Self-Sufficiency
Published by Action Against Hunger. Contact [email protected] for inquiries. Aling's Story Aling and her husband lived in Mayom, Warap State in South Sudan, and they had five beautiful children —two boys and three girls. Tragically, one day, her husband was killed in a communal conflict. At the age of 32, Aling found herself alone, shouldering the responsibility of raising her children without any support. Life was increasingly hard for Aling and her family following her husband's passing. Money was tight, and Aling struggled to keep enough food on the table for her family. The hardships multiplied when her youngest daughter fell gravely ill and became acutely malnourished. Desperate to save her daughter, Aling went to Action Against Hunger's nutrition site for assistance. A New Beginning Action Against Hunger enrolled Aling's daughter in a comprehensive nutrition program. In a matter of weeks, she was back to full nutritional health. To Aling's immense relief, her daughter's lively spirit had returned. While her daughter was undergoing treatment, Aling was introduced to vegetable gardening as a means to diversify her family's diet and enhance their overall well-being. Action Against Hunger supported her with training and tools to start gardening. Over time, Aling saw a revolutionary change in her children's quality of life with the increased nutrition in their diet. Amazed by the impact on her family, she became passionate about sharing her newfound nutritional knowledge and gardening skills with others. It became her mission to educate fellow mothers in Mayom. Now, several other women have thriving gardens and are able to improve their families' diet as well. They have been able to grow enough to sell surplus vegetables for profit. With the support of Action Against Hunger, the women were able to establish a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA). A VSLA is a powerful way for community members to extrapolate the financial benefits they gain from gardens by offering a safe place for them to manage their money. CARE describes a VSLA as a group of members who meet regularly and create a group fund, so they can take small loans as needed and build insurance against emergencies. For example, if a drought wipes out their crops — which would typically devastate the families' nutritional and financial wellbeing — the VSLA savings fund can be used to buy new seeds or other materials to restart the garden. They are also able to use the funds to invest in scaling-up farms with better equipment or other tools. This resource is a sustainable way for members to manage their finances and safeguard the wellbeing of their income and diet. Aling's VSLA has become so successful it can also make loans to the surrounding community and local NGOs, supporting the development of the growth of the local economy. The VSLA is a self-sustaining funding mechanism that reduces the need for additional external aid. It safeguards the women against unexpected challenges, and they obtained greater agency for financial decision-making than ever before. Through hard work and dedication, Aling was able to move from kitchen gardening to large-scale farming, now supplying local markets with her produce. She is able to maintain her family's nutritional wellbeing and rest in the knowledge that she has a steady income with the financial safety net of VSLA membership. Wanting to lift up the women around her, Aling has been an enthusiastic advocate for nutrition and gardening. Against Hunger's program with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office gave her initial support, and Aling has amplified that support into an incredible ripple effect that is still shaping the community around her. 'I no longer feel like a widow struggling to provide for my family,' Aling said, her confidence radiating. Aling's evolution into a self-sufficient woman is a testament to her resilience in face of tragedy and hardship. To her community, she has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others facing similar challenges. Her story serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when individuals and organizations come together to create positive change. Hunger in South Sudan Unfortunately, Aling is one of many people in South Sudan who have suffered from hunger due to conflict. The United Nations reports that nearly 7.7 million people in the country are facing severe food insecurity. This is largely driven by the escalating conflict in Sudan, which has sent 1.1 million people flooding over the border into South Sudan, which was already grappling with strained resources. Now, resources fall significantly short of meeting the needs of the population. To make matters worse, displaced people who are dealing with insecurity and poverty have also been impacted by disease outbreaks. Cholera, a deadly disease that is closely linked to dehydration and malnutrition, has been rampant since October 2024 and is only worsening. At the end of April 2025, UNICEF recorded over 54,600 cases, including 1,059 deaths, across 47 counties. Action Against Hunger is actively working to improve nutrition, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in South Sudan to stop the rise of disease and hunger. For long-term impact, we are boosting food security and livelihoods (FSL) with long term solutions like the VSLA group in Mayom. Aling's journey exemplifies the kinds of transformations that can happen when people impacted by conflict, disease, and hunger have access to resources; she now has the agency to uplift her family's health, manage her finances, and act as a catalyst for change in her community. *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Action Against Hunger
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Not all weeds are bad news – but these interlopers have no place in my garden's veg patch
I started my growing season late this year. Life got in the way. By the time I was able to get stuck in, my veg patch was busily filling up with plants that had found their own way there. Now, I'm firmly in the camp of those who believe a weed is simply a plant that's not where we'd like it to be. Our growing spaces and the creatures that dwell in them benefit from the gardeners who are able to live with some uninvited plants. That said, my veg patch had become something of a wilderness and, while there are plenty of so-called weeds I am happy to host, some had to go if I was to grow the edible plants I love this year. First on the chopping block was creeping buttercup. Both pollinators and I adore their flowers, but with their capacity to spread by throwing out runners and tentacle-like roots, they had covered half a vegetable bed and the paths around it. Its botanical name, Ranunculus repens, describes its horizontal growth habit – repens being the Latin for creeping. Another plant with the same creeping moniker is the perennial couch grass Elymus repens, which also spreads through the soil by developing a tangle of roots and underground stems from which wide blades of grass emerge. While not an issue in the wilder parts of my garden – and welcomed by moths and butterflies when in flower, and as food for some larvae – its rampant spread needs curtailing in my veg patch. Unearthing its cable-like roots and rhizomes, or underground stems, can be disruptive but, by approaching it slowly and steadily, they can be ousted without too much soil disturbance. It's a Sisyphean task, though, as couch grass can regrow from any segment that's left behind. Next up, dock. This is another species needed by a plethora of insects yet, as each plant develops a hefty tap root and can produce thousands of seeds that remain viable in soil for years, docks need to go! Excavation can be messy, so I'm careful to replace the soil when the job is done. Last, any ephemeral plants – those that can move through a full lifecycle several times a season, such as chickweed, bittercress and groundsel – can be easily removed by hand or hoe. They're not of huge concern, but their ability to reproduce at pace is not something I want to encourage. Most of these so-called weeds grow near the wire fence around my patch. Beyond this is a field filled with these plants in flower and the insects that feast on them. So I have to contend with uninvited plants every year, but can be sure that considered weeding won't unduly affect the ecosystem. If that were not so, I'd probably hand over more of my garden to these often beneficial, if over-zealous interlopers.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The 7 plants to get in the ground this month, and you'll have a veg patch bursting with life in just eight weeks
IT might seem like too much hard work to some, but there are others desperate to grow their own vegetables and herbs. And with the average time waiting for an allotment in the UK reaching a staggering 37 months, more and more people are choosing to start their own vegetable patches at home. 3 3 Not only does growing produce in the back garden help save money on groceries during the cost of living crisis, it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. While you might not realise it, now is the perfect time of year to get your patches planted - and there are seven plants you need to get in the ground this month. Beetroot "Beetroots don't need much encouragement to grow, making them a low maintenance veg to grow," the sustainability team at 100Green said. To get started, sow your seeds 2.5cm deep with 10cm spaces between them. Remember to water them regularly - usually every 10 to 14 days - but they may require more in dry spells. If you stick to this regime, your beetroot will be ready to harvest after just eight to 10 weeks. Sweetcorn It's worth adding some sweetcorn to the patch too. Just start by sowing it in a small pot and keep it inside as they need warmth to germinate. You can then move them outside - to a sunny, sheltered area - once they reach 8cm in height and we're past any risk of evening frost. Alan Titchmarsh's 'easiest' tip will fix bald patches on your lawn in two minutes flat this spring & no it's not seeding Again, remember to water them regularly, as they need around one inch of water a week. They'll be ready to harvest when the silky tassel on them has turned brown. Carrots Carrots are another easy veg to start with, as you can sow them directly into the ground. Water them every fortnight, and prepare to harvest them 12 to 16 weeks after planting. Tomatoes Tomatoes make the perfect addition to the vegetable patch for late May, as they do best in warmer soil temperatures of around 13 to 16C. Pop them in a sheltered, sunny spot, and when the first tomato appears, be sure to remove the leaves around them. May gardening jobs The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you need to crack on with in May. GARDEN growth can go from nought to ninety in May, depending on the weather. The last UK frosts are generally seen at the beginning of the month, so all of a sudden there's so much more to do and grow. Plant out dahlia tubers It's a joy to finally plant out your dahlia tubers. Remember how big they can get - and space accordingly - anything up to half a metre apart. It's a good idea to put your support stakes in now instead of trying to work around them. And make sure you include lots of well rotted manure or decent compost to feed it and then mulch to keep it moist and suppress weeds. They generally start blooming in July. Final feed to Spring flowers You can give a cheeky feed to all your remaining tulips and daffodils. Although the majority of bulbs aren't guaranteed to come back year after year any more, as long as you've left them to die back naturally there's a good chance they'll have stored enough energy to come back again. Tomato feed is fine. Tie up climbers Your clematis, honeysuckle and rambling roses should be well on their way by now - try to use plastic free string to tie them back into their support, or tuck them round each other to make sure they don't sprout off in crazy directions. Feed the lawn It's not too late to give your lawn a good feed. Whether you use granular or liquid, it can give it a good boost to see it through the harsher summer months. While mowing, don't go too low with your cut length yet and never take more than a third off the grass height. Get creative It's also time to get creative with hanging baskets and pots. Trailing pelargoniums, which a lot of people call geraniums, and Begonias are a good, low cost way of getting lovely returning blooms throughout the summer in your baskets. And pots can be planted with spring bulbs. Don't forget the greenhouse! Give your greenhouse a good tidy and clean the glass inside and out. The improved light will help plants grow quicker inside and tidying is good for the soul. You can just use a household white wine vinegar and water solution - or even neat if you're feeling spendy - which gives a really good shine. This means they will continue to get as much sun as possible until they ripen and are ready to harvest. Herbs Herbs are another plant that you can grow at home - with basil top of the list. "Basil is perfect for growing herbs in pots, you can sow them from May and pot them in a pot after they've grown slightly," the sustainability pros advised. "They do well with plenty of light and warmth so you can even keep them on your windowsill while they grow." Don't water them too much as basil doesn't like sitting in wet soil. "Use scissors to cut a lead stem just above a pair of leaves to help encourage your basil to grow and become bushier," they added. Another herb that makes a delicious addition to your cooking is parsley, which can be sown directly into soil. Remember to keep it well watered - at least two to three times a week - and pick it as you need it throughout the summer and autumn. And dill completes the herby triad. "Sow dill seeds into soil around 1cm deep and keep them well watered (1-2 times per week)," the experts said. "It's usually best to use the leaves fresh, so don't harvest until you're ready to use them!" 3
