The seedlings are loving the hot weather we have been having- the tomatoes and zucchini are ready to go into the ground. I've also cheated and bought 3 artichoke seedlings (as I failed at propagating these at the last attempt!).

So first things first- I had planted the zucchini into peat pots that can be directly transplanted into the soil. This prevents disruption to the root system with plants that you're supposed to sow directly into the ground. I had to thin out the seedlings as I planted 2 seeds to a pot- the idea is to gently pull out the weaker of the two if both seeds germinate. I'm growing 4 zucchini plants- they take up lots of space, but they also mean plenty of produce so they will be worth it. To attract pollinators (insects like bees) I am companion planting with purple alyssium, which will look pretty as an added bonus.

I used a similar planting process for both the tomato seedlings and the artichokes- mounding up soil enriched with compost to provide lots of nutrients and good drainage. I had already put in stakes for structural support for the tomatoes to climb. I mulched around the seedlings, making sure to leave plenty of breathing space so the mulch doesn't inhibit their growth or cause the stems to rot. I companion planted some marigold seeds with the tomatoes, this time to keep insects away. Once the basil seedlings are ready, I'll plant them nearby for similar reasons.