Segment 4 of S4E5 Early April Garden questions answered- The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener radio show

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Garden questions answered in segment four by Joey and Holly
indeterminate tomatoes

Q: Can you plant indeterminate tomatoes in containers with any success? If so, what varieties do you recommend? Tomatoes I’ve grown in the past have been; Brandywine, Old German, & Roma as well as yellow Grape varieties. Thanks for any guidance you can provide.
A: All tomatoes can be grown in a container Id suggest not growing them in a grow bag no smaller than 10 gallons or a 5 gallon bucket with drainage holes, and cage or trellis them also. Brandywine, black krim, any cherry tomatoes will do well for you.

Leeks bolting
Q: I have grown leeks for years, but lately they are almost all bolting. What is going on?
A: The most common answer to that questions is that a the leeks are planted when it is cool as we do then it get warm, hot early in the season then cold again then turns to summer. The up and down of temps effects the plant to make it think it is in it second year of growing so then it bolts my suggestion would be to wait a little longer before planting them so the risk of up and down temps are less.

Spring Garlic?
Q: I didn’t get around to planting garlic last fall – can I still plant garlic in the spring? If so what is the best variety?
A: Yes you can, you want to plant it as soon as you can get it in the ground as it need cold hours to grow correctly Any heirloom hard neck variety work well for us German hardy is a good choice here in the north soft neck in the south. It may not be as big as fall garlic as we have found but it is better in the ground growing if you can find some to plant.

Leeks and Fennel
Q:Can direct sow leeks and Fennel ?
A: Leeks do not do well from direct sowing as they take 150 days to grow if you do not start them indoors you can get them at the garden center as we have and they do very well . Fennel can be grown from seed as it take 90 days you can soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting. Plant the seed when the soil is 50F to 70F

Celery Problems
I have been growing celery for the past 2 years. Part of my quest to grow all of my sauce ingredients. I start my celery from seed indoors. I have 2 locations. My own backyard garden doesn’t get more than 5 of direct sun. The celery does ok, but tends to be skinny and more ‘herbie’ tasting. Is there anything I can do to improve the flavor and size?
A: Celery needs calcium for best growth, so mix in bone meal or gypsum. Bone meal is a good all-purpose amendment adding this to the ground it will help all plants to have better growth. It also may be the variety also that cases that taste. Size will also be improved by adding nutrients to the soil you could try if it is (continued)