Moroccan Chickpea & Sweet Potato Tagine

Onions

• Plant onion sets or seedlings in early spring in a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil.
• Ensure consistent moisture, especially during bulb formation, but avoid overwatering.
• Space plants about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) apart to allow for good bulb development.

Garlic

• Plant individual cloves, pointed end up, in well-drained soil in autumn, about 6-8 weeks before the ground freezes.
• Provide a sunny spot and enrich the soil with compost before planting.
• Ensure consistent moisture, but avoid waterlogging which can lead to rot.

Sweet Potatoes

• Plant 'slips' (sprouted shoots) in warm soil, typically after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are above 18°C (65°F).
• Sweet potatoes need full sun and plenty of space to spread, as their vines can grow quite long.
• Grow in raised beds or containers in cooler climates to help warm the soil and improve drainage.

Tomatoes

• Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, transplanting seedlings outdoors into full sun once temperatures are consistently warm.
• Provide sturdy support like stakes or cages early on to keep heavy fruit off the ground and improve air circulation.
• Water deeply and consistently at the base of the plant to prevent cracking and blossom end rot.

• Use floating row covers to protect young onion plants from onion maggot flies.

• Practice crop rotation for garlic to prevent soil-borne diseases like white rot.

• Regularly inspect sweet potato plants for flea beetles and hand-pick any visible pests or larvae.

• Hand-pick tomato hornworms from plants; they are large and blend in, but their droppings are a good indicator.

Onions

• Harvest when the tops begin to yellow and fall over naturally, typically in mid to late summer.
• Loosen the soil around the bulbs and allow them to cure in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area for several weeks before storing.
• Pulling onions too early can result in smaller bulbs, while leaving them too long might lead to splitting or rot.

Garlic

• Harvest when the lower third to half of the leaves have turned yellow or brown, but before all the leaves have died back.
• Gently loosen the soil and lift the bulbs, being careful not to bruise them.
• Cure garlic in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area for 2-4 weeks before trimming roots and tops for storage.

Sweet Potatoes

• Harvest before the first hard frost, typically when the leaves and vines begin to yellow.
• Carefully dig up the tubers with a garden fork, starting about 30 cm (12 inches) away from the plant to avoid damage.
• Cure the harvested sweet potatoes in a warm, humid environment for 1-2 weeks to sweeten them and improve storage life.

Tomatoes

• Pick tomatoes when they are fully colored, firm, and easily detach from the vine.
• Harvest regularly to encourage continuous production throughout the growing season.
• If frost is imminent, pick all mature green tomatoes; they can ripen indoors on a windowsill.