成人快手

The secret to sowing basil

Post categories: basil,听question

Gareth Austin | 11:12 UK time, Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Gareth Austin, gardening expert with 成人快手 Radio Foyle, answers your questions about growing veg.

Sandra Morris from Pinkneys Green, Berkshire asks: I never managed to get any of the Dig In basil seeds to germinate despite three attempts. I still have a few seeds left. Can I try to grow the basil indoors at this time of year? Likewise I have carrot seeds leftover. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Answer: Hey Sandra, you're not having the best of luck by the sounds of it! The secret to sowing basil is to sown them thinly on to moist compost and only cover them by an inch with compost, place them in a warm position (hotpress or on a towel on a radiator is ideal) and they should start to grow about a fortnight. With the carrots we regularly sow these as a winter crop here in Northern Ireland聽- many believe that carrots sown in autumn and harvested in spring are far tastier and sweeter! Sow them now for a tasty crop come the spring, sow these thinly into well prepared soil and they should start to show in about three weeks or so. You can read more advice on basil in the Dig In growing guide. Good luck!

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About this blog

The Dig In campaign has finished now. Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign throughout 2009 and 2010. We hope you enjoyed growing the Dig In seeds, especially those of you who are new to growing vegetables. This site is no longer being updated, but it is still packed full of useful information about growing veg.

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Expert authors

Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - . He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with 成人快手 Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at , Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at and . Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the 成人快手 Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

Peter Horrocks has an allotment in Newcastle. He's the regional rep for the in the North of England & Scotland, the secretary of the Newcastle Allotments Working Group. Plus, Peter is secretary of a ten-acre allotments site in Newcastle, considered by many to be one of the best in the city.

Ben Raskin is an advisor with the , as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.