The weather calls for a mix of warm and frigid days during the rest of winter.  You can't control the weather, but by planting in containers, you can control how it impacts your winter crops!  By companion planting a root vegetable and leafy greens, you can maximize space in your containers and get the most bang from all that work and cost of seed starter mix.

Here are the steps I took:

1)  Carrots love the loose soil mix of a container.  Choosing short length carrots works best.  mesclun salad mixes have a short growth period, and can be eaten as tiny baby greens, or a salad quickly.  Maybe even have some in a salad by Valentine's Day!




2)  Find a deep pot and fill it with a mix of 40% sifted compost, 40% moistened coconut coir, 15% worm castings and some rock amendments (greensand and rock phosphate).


3)  Sprinkle carrots seeds liberally across top (you will need to thin later).  Cover 1/4 inch with a light mix of compost and worm castings.
4)  Sprinkle lettuce seed over that, barely sprinkle your light mix over that.
5)  Water, place in sunny spot, bring in or cover on below freezing temps.
6)  Keep moist but not water-logged, fertilize with Worm Wine every 2 weeks after germination.
6)  Enjoy salad in 15-30 days and carrots in about 60 days.