I AM OFTEN TIMES A LAZY GARDENER. NO APOLOGIES.

This nice full head of radicchio ‘Castelfranco’ was started by letting one head go to seed last year, then shaking the seed around the vegetable garden. When the seeds decide to germinate in the fall, I poke the little starts in wherever there is room to winter over. This one is planted among garlic. I like to let lettuces go to seed; the flowers attract small birds and insects, and the seeds, when dispersed about the garden come up on their own schedule and when they are large enough, I transplant. Red tinged oak leaf lettuce sprouts too at the end of summer, grows slowly through the winter and is ready to harvest about now. I also let a few leeks self sow each year and about this time of year it is time to move them to their own bed. Their big, round airy heads are quite lovely when left to bloom but not as showy as some of the large ornamental alliums. So, be a little bit lazy!