whoops! I was a bit too keen....

[linz]

Hi everybody!

I am another keen newbie and got a bit carried away with all my seed packets about a fortnight ago. I've got a raised bed, all compost and peat, the sun has been shining, the rain falling and now I have got loads of seedlings all over the place but I don't know which is which! I forgot to label my seeds as I was sowing them, see... too keen and now I'm very confused! Can anybody help me identify what I have sown? I planted carrots, beetroot, radish, spring onion at one end of the bed and lettuce and parsley at the other

Like I said, I am very, very new...

[sewer rat]

Hi Linz and welcome to the 'Vine. Am just going to search for another thread as it had a link to a site that had photographs of hundreds of different seedlings and you could use that as a reference. Back soon.

[sewer rat]

Linz
Sorry - couldn't find it for you - maybe another grape will have either a)more success in a search for this site or b) a better memory and remember the thread I'm on about.

[noshed]

Radish will probably be up first. Spring onions look like grass.
Carrots look like light green ferns. Beetroot look a bit red. Lettuce look like lettuce and parsley takes ages.
Watch out for the slugs!
I hope this is some use.

[Shortie]

Rat were you after this one?

http://theseedsite.co.uk/

Ooo, and welocme to the 'vine Linz. No matter how new youare to gardening, everyone seems to fit in nicely here. You can become our seedling indetification expert after this little episode

[linz]

big thanks!

thank you guys, what a nice welcome, that's a big help already cos I was really tempted to pull out the "grass" but it must be spring onions!!!
another wee question now, I've obviously been a bit too liberal with the sowing cos I do have nice patches forming altho I did try for neat rows (I'll blame it on the wind!)and I know that I will have to thin them out but how long should I wait before I do this? The radish and lettuce are now about 2 inches tall. And can I transplant some of the seedlings to a barer bit of the plot?
Oh dear, I fear I have a lot to learn .....

[Shortie]

Hi Linz

We we know about the effects of 'wind' in this house

I'm by no means an expert but if they have more than their first set of 'basal' leaves, may start thinning them soon? Don't thin too much too soon as some may die off too and then you'll be left with less than you intended. I usually do a little bit at a time

The only exception to this that I know of would be carrots as thinning them risks attracting carrot fly. And besides, the carrots should push themselves around to get the best spacing in the area available to them, and bigger baby carrot 'thinnings' can be lovely and sweet. If you do need to thin carrots, do it later in the day, try not to disturb the soild too much and water the area straight after. By doing this you should reduce the sweet smell that is let off when carrots are picked - this is what attracts the carrot fly

[linz]

thanks again!!

not going to be doing any thinning tonight or tomorrow by the looks of things as it is absolutely chucking it down here!!! I think we had our summer here last week...oh well, they're getting a nice wee water

any advice on how best to grow herbs? would I best putting them in pots, I've read that mint is best contained because of it's wild roots but what about basil or coriander for example, would they be ok in the plot?

[Shortie]

Mint is definately best in pots as they can take over. Never sucessfully grown basil or coriander...

Rosemary seems good in pots and the ground, and I grow Sage in pots too with no problems...

[sewer rat]

Shortie
You win the prize for best memory - only trouble is, I can't remember what the prize was

[Shortie]

I remember it as it was really good, except I have no idea what di-cotyledon etc means

I think Esky might have origionally posted it

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Linz! If you want to grow mint on your allotment just buy a big plastic plant pot, sink it in the ground so that you can't see it and plant the mint in it. That way the roots are contained and the pot doesn't dry out.

[rosyb]

Hi Linz,
I tried growing coriander in my grow bags but they either didn't germinate or they were very quickly munched by the slugs (had a bit of a problem back then...) I have since started off some pots for the window sill and they germinated really quickly and are now ready for eating. Would definitely advise growing them in pots but also grow some for inside as it means you don't have to go outside to pick in the rain!

Rosy

[Slug]

I grow coriander in the garden in the veg patch - but I never seem to have much luck with basil there. I have found it grows best for me in pots where I can start it off inside (never seems to grow for me when I start it outside).

Depending on where you live (frosts etc..), I think coriander can be quite hardy (providing you haven't thrown it out because it's bolted first!). I was able to harvest coriander quite late into the winter, and one plant even survived until spring out in the garden!

Slug

[Alice]

Hello Linz, coriander should do well for you in pots, inside or ouside. I've never ben able to grow basil outside. It just can't stand having its leaves wet. I grow it in pots in the greenhouse and on the kitchen windowsill and always water from the bottom. I grow mint and chives outside in pots and parsley in the ground. Good luck with your herbs.