when to plant

[stella]

Hi can anyone tell me when I should be planting things. I keep reading on the vine that people have got their toms in, are planting parsnips next month and I recently read an article about starting carrots off in modules after Christmas. However the back of all the seed packets says to start in the spring? Totally confused please advise

[stella]

Understand now about toms from another thread but what about carrots to plant or not to plant

[Flummery]

Check the date on the posts you have seen. I always go by the seed packet. You can get some very disappointing results from sowing too soon. There really isn't enough light in most parts of Britain to get things like carrots and parsnips off to a good strong start. It's the weak leggy plants that get attacked by slugs and snails too.
Plants started off later will catch up when the weather's good. I won't sow anything now until mid-Feb - and that will be my chillies.

[piskieinboots]

Stella - I hope my 'germinated' thread isn't throwing you confusion, I can understand how it might - I manage to cause confusion wherever I go

In my case, I am experimenting with sowing seeds in a greenhouse over winter to see what temperatures they germinate at etc ... this is all part of my Hort studies - but of course I get to (hopefully) eat the micro-greens

For outside sowing/planting always refer to the packet and other gardeners in your locale