Loam & Leaf
Seed Starting
9 min read
Preventing Damping Off in Tomato Seedlings
Protect young tomato stems from fungal decay during early germination. Adjust airflow and surface moisture to keep seedlings upright.
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Featured
How to Test Soil Drainage with a Percolation Hole
Learn how water moves through your garden beds before planting. Dig a test hole to identify hardpan layers and standing water.
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Field notes on seedling care, compost balance and balcony crops for home gardeners.
- 1 Preventing Damping Off in Tomato Seedlings Seed Starting9 min read
- 2 Raspberry Cane Pruning: Primocane vs Floricane Fruit & Orchard8 min read
- 3 Growing Cut-and-Come-Again Salad Greens in Troughs Edible Greens & Herbs7 min read
- 4 Pruning Apple Trees for Open Center Structure Fruit & Orchard7 min read
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Long reads
Browse by topic
Seed StartingMethods for indoor germination, root development, and lighting.
3 articles
Soil & FertilitySoil structure, compost ratios, and organic nutrition for garden plots.
3 articles
Edible Greens & HerbsTechniques for container greens, culinary herbs, and balcony plots.
2 articles
Fruit & OrchardPruning, pollination, and seasonal care for fruit trees and berry canes.
2 articles
How we write
Clear sowing charts
Dates align with local soil temperatures rather than arbitrary calendar months.
Small space focus
Techniques adapt easily to balcony planters, cold frames and courtyard pots.
Peat-free methods
Soil blends use bark fines, coir and composted garden matter.
Zero brand sponsorships
Writers select seeds and hand tools without commercial compensation.
About Loam & Leaf
Horticulturists and agronomists write these dispatches. We write for balcony growers and garden stewards alike. Every guide relies on repeatable field trials and peer-reviewed soil science.
About usWe test seed germination rates under real daylight. If a method fails our polytunnel trials, we do not print it.
Who writes here
Alastair FinchLead Horticultural EditorWrite to the editors
Send suggestions, inquiries, and technical corrections directly to our desk.
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