This week in the Kitchen Garden....

[Harrod Horticultural]

In the Harrod Horticultural Kitchen Garden this week, I�ve been trying to beat the Winter blues with some seed sowing.

In our heated greenhouse, I�ve sown Brussel Sprouts and Summer sprouting broccoli. I�ve also sown some beetroot and cabbages outside in the hotbed � bit optimistic, but if you don�t try.....

I�ve also put some celery and cucumbers into the heated propagator today, and placed my seed potatoes into their trays for chitting.

Last week, I sowed some tomatoes, aubergines and peppers in the heated propagator. This week I have a lovely little crop of tomato seedlings and can see tiny aubergine and peppers just trying tot peek through the soil. A promise of summer to brighten any cold day!

Have you managed to get out in the garden or do any seed sowing this week?

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine HH, I've sown pretty much the same as yourself with the exception of Cucumbers. A tad too early for my part of the world. Where are you?.........Please put your location in your profile (I only say this cos someone else will only ask)............

[Harrod Horticultural]

Hi Bigmally

I am based near Lowestoft, Suffolk. Weather here has been pretty dreadful and we even had a flutter of snow again last night. I added my location (thanks for the tip!). Bring on the the spring!

[Bigmallly]

I'll echo that sentiment. One of our resident experts (in my opinion) lives in your neck of the woods. She may make an appearance.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Bigmally

I am based in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Weather here has been pretty dreadful and we even had a flutter of snow again last night. I added my location (thanks for the tip!). Bring on the the spring!

If yer added yer location, it ain't showing yet. Don't know if you as a resident Expert have the same screen as us but at the top ofthe page, you will see a link settings, click on that, on the next screen down the left hand side, click on my settings and on the next screen you should find where you can enter your location.

I've never done mine cos it's kinda obvious where I come from

[binley100]

Well this week I've pricked out toms, aubs and peppers all with true leaves, germinated a whole lot more including fuschias, prickly pear, celeriac , cape gooseberry along with toms, aubs, chillie and peppers. My sprouts , cauli and cabbage are nearly ready to be pricked out ,leeks are growing away nicely and my first sowing of broad beans are being hardenend off. I've also got outside and planted out four new fruit trees, manured a bed , disinfected the gh and got spuds chitting....think I'll have a rest now

[Andromeda]

Toms, chillies, cauli, early cabbage, onions all on the go in the hot house - some will be ready to be pricked out this w/e.

I've recently emptied a bed of early winter brassicas (the late ones are now ready/almost ready) so made use of a pleasant day on Sunday to roughly loosen the soil, remove the first signs of weeds and smother with home made compost ready for use later in the year - if I don't do this I'm in weed hell by March (bitter experience).

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine HH

All I've done up to yet is popped some onion sets into modules and put my potatoes to chit. My chilli and sweet pepper plants are overwintering so I won't have those to sow this year, then the toms and cucs will be sown later on in the month.
I do know I definitely wont be sowing Aubergines after only getting only one fruit from 4 plants for the second year in a row.

[Nicos]

Hi there- and welcome to the Vine from me too!

[rabbit]

Hello! I've sown peas and some calendula in unheated trays and I've only got one heated propagator so I've put my three different peppers (2 of which are chillies) in there. I think the cucs and toms will have to be started in the airing cupboard but I'm goign to wait until it;s a bit warmer as they'll be outside plants anyway. Peppers to but I hope to build a little polytunnel.

[out in the cold]

We have planted Caulis, Broad beans (2 types), peppers, Chillis, about 4 types of toms and have the potatoes chitting. All inside for now, as it was still snowing 2 days ago...

The wee cold frame I am building could yet wind up as a hot box, depending on the snow levels!

[Tripmeup]

Chillies and toms and onion seed is all so far..

[Newton]

I've sown my chilies.....and some brassicas.

I'll seive my parsnip patch this weekend if weather permits.

How would you suggest i grow my parsnips HH? And what about caulis.....they always seem to grow too small?

[Harrod Horticultural]

Hi Newton

I like to sow my parsnips in March and then again in April as a fail safe. Always use a new packet of seed. The leftovers from last year never do well. We plant ours in a raised bed with well drained soil, with some Rock Dust raked in. I alway sow a row of radish at the same time along the same drill as these germinate well before the parsnips, but help me remmber where they are! Warm the soil before you sow, with a cloche or some polythene or fleece. Keep them weed free.

With our caulis I raise them in cells under cover, sowing them late Feb. Caulis need extremely firm, fertile soil so make sure you tread it down really well after digging in some organic matter. They don't like their roots to rock. Small heads usually means they have been checked after planting, maybe by a long dry spell (chance would be nice!). Make sure you water them well and feed them with a high nitrogen fertiliser when they are growing well as this will boost growth further. This year I'm having a go at Calabrese Romanesco as an alternative to cauliflower. They have a lovely green head and look and taste amazing.

Good luck!

[Harrod Horticultural]

Hi Thought I should clarify - The Kitchen Garden borders Suffolk and Norfolk in a village called St Olaves.....Hope this helps!