Seed sowing

[Odsox]

Just finished sowing my first veg seeds of 2011.
I have to stress that they are NOT for going in the garden ... it's far too early for that, even here.

Sowed in individual pots some cauliflower AYR and some early summer cabbage, also a small trough of early carrots and another of Salad Leaf Mix, which was a freebie and wouldn't normally buy, but can't waste.
Plus, I stuck the soil thermometer in the greenhouse bed first thing this morning before the sun got on it and it read 11c, so I sowed a couple of short rows of carrots in there too (to follow on)
Unfortunately the soil temperature in the tunnel is only 6c, so I will have to wait another week or so before I can start in there.

Feels so good to be starting again.

[Green Aura]

We've already sown our tomatoes, sweet peppers, Chillies and okra. Thus far only the okra and some Winter Warmer chillies have sprouted (but they're in a heated propagator).

[Odsox]

We've already sown our tomatoes

Wow that's early, you must have warmer weather up there.
You made me go back through the last 10 years of (computer) gardening diaries and every year my maincrop tomatoes were sown during the first week of March ... how's that for being a boring predictable old fart.

[boboff]

Funny I just finished washing the soil off of my hands, Rhubarb in the propogator and sweet peas in the bedroom window sill!

Bring on the Spring!

[citizentwiglet]

*sigh*............I'm still stroking my seed packets lovingly......

[happyhippy]

I havent sown anything as yet but I am looking at what I might grow this year.Its quite an exciting time of the year.You get over Xmas and then can start planning your plots ect.I don't think I'll grow spuds this year,tempting as it is,I need more room to grow other stuff.I am re reading some veggie growing books for inspiration which always brightens my day!

[Green Aura]

We've already sown our tomatoes

Wow that's early, you must have warmer weather up there.
You made me go back through the last 10 years of (computer) gardening diaries and every year my maincrop tomatoes were sown during the first week of March ... how's that for being a boring predictable old fart.

We sow ours earlier up here because of the short season. They seem to do better for having a good run up to the fruiting season

and since I posted this morning some have come through - don't know what they'll produce - the ones that have sprouted are purple coloured mini-plum care of Tosscos. Still we've had success in the past with supermarket toms!

[crowsashes]

im planning on getting some lettuce in to grow on the window ledge.
toms, chillis etc will be planted probs the middle of next month. i need to check my list! ... damn this spring is going to be busier than last

[grahamhobbs]

No one sowing their onions yet? Or does everyone grow them from sets?

[AngeB]

I've been making polystyrene coats for my cracker box insert propagators this evening and looking forward to planting stuff, but i'm a bit nervous as i'm a beginner and don't want to stray from what the packets tell me. So first on the list is chillies. but i'm really looking forward to february because I'm dying to grow sprouts

[Millymollymandy]

I can barely get mustard and cress to grow at the moment as it's too cold on the kitchen windowsill but I did go through all my seed packets and make a list of what I need to buy.

[Odsox]

No one sowing their onions yet? Or does everyone grow them from sets?

I shall sow some maincrop onions next week Graham.
This might be the last time that I do though, this year I'm trying Copra which is supposed to be one of the best for storage. Due to the (usually) winter mildness and humidity of the climate here I can only keep onions for a couple of months max, before they either sprout like mad or rot.
Shallots on the other hand will stay in good condition until at least May without any special treatment, so if these Copra are no different I am going to rationalise my onion growing to just a large variety of Spring Onions to use as green onions between April and June and grow a much larger crop of Shallots for using for the rest of the year.

[grahamhobbs]

Ossis, I don't know if this is of insterest, I've only just come across it, never heard of it before.

Spanish Onion shoots - small onion sets are planted in January and grow until June when they reach a certain size when they are pulled and stored until September when they start to sprout. Then they are planted in trenches like celery. during autumn they produce numerous shoots which are earthed up as they develop. By January each sprout attains the size of a gigantic leek.

[Odsox]

That's interesting Graham although I don't know if this reply was intended for me.
I have never heard of that either, although it doesn't really solve my problem it might be an interesting this to do ... providing I remember to pull some up in June.

[Millymollymandy]

My shallots all have green shoots inside so no different from onions - thought they were supposed to store better? All the onions in the shops are the same at this time of year so maybe it isn't just me anyway.