When can we start sowing?

[Grovsey]

I was thinking of trying some carrot/beetroot/radish seeds this weekend...

I know it's maybe too early but here on the south coast we havent seen a frost since December and its been 11-13 degrees quite regularly since Christmas.

Your thoughts?

[HeyWayne]

Don't get caught out! There'll be frosts yet.

Heysous! I sounded like an old codger for a moment there, sorry about that.

I'm sitting on my hands Grovsey along with plenty of us here, waiting, patiently, fidgetting, squirming.

Come on spring!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

I am hoping to sow some carrots in buckets in my greenhouse too. Not sure about other stuff, would really recommend sticking to the sowing time on the packages as the daylight hours have a big effect on the quality of the plants you get.

[veg4681]

I think there are both ways, you can and you can't depends on how prepared you want to be looking after your seedlings once they've grown. Do you have the time and resources (cover, heat) to do so.

I don't know about the veggies you've mentioned but I'm sowing all my fruiting vegetables from January onwards against the advice of 'The Usual Experts' here but I plan to give them plenty of light/sunlight in the daytime (so that my plants don't get leggy) and bring them indoors (my warm house of course!) at night in case we have frost etc but please remember I have the time to do this, so ask yourself this.

Also people says their later sowing catch up with mine anyway and if so, be it but I'm not as experienced as them and feel I need a headstart. Just my thinking.

[Cutecumber]

I would say it's still a bit early to sow direct - some of our coldest weather comes in February.

If you can provide shelter - i.e. greenhouse or frame etc - you can be more optimistic and it might be worth sowing a few seeds. Just don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[vegnut]

Hi Grovsey
I'm only down the road from you by about 10 miles, and i would'nt be tempted to do any sowing yet. At least not outside anyways. I'm still sitting on my hands, waiting for the more stable weather to arrive in march onwards.

[Hans Mum]

too soon........we can have snow into mar/apr and certainly heavy frosts, you wouldnt send your kids out without appopriate cover (unless shes a teenager another story) so why your seeds/plants

[Two_Sheds]

Much too soon! Its too cold, and the daylight hours aren't long enough yet.
If you're desperate to start something, what about onions sets and sweetpeas indoors? Keep them cool though not warm. Ours are on an unheated bathroom windowsill

[moggssue]

Keep them cool though not warm. Ours are on an unheated bathroom windowsill

Wont they get too damp and steamy in a bathroom? Would solve my problem of where to put my leeks if not!! Otherwise, I'm in the sitting on hands brigade but its getting might difficult ... theyre very itchy!!

[zazen999]

Sorry, but I can't help myself either - have beetroot just sprouted and lettuce, and of course early toms. Will be sowing peppers and onions in a week or two.
My thinking is I only sow a few at a time, as I like a long growing season; so if a few die then no real harm done; would lose more if I sowed en masse and had to thin them out anyway.
It works for me.

However, now the spuds have arrived [well, most of them], my time will be spent getting those chitted and working out where they are all going to go.

[veg4681]

Sorry, but I can't help myself either - have beetroot just sprouted and lettuce, and of course early toms.

I'm late ! I'm thinking of sowing betroot (Burpee Golden) this weekend as my seed packet says you can sow under glass from Jan/Feb onwards for May harvest.

[Cutecumber]

Seed packets say a lot of things that aren't necessarily true - sometimes including what is inside them

[veg4681]

Seed packets say a lot of things that aren't necessarily true - sometimes including what is inside them

I know what you mean. I bought a Chinese Cabbage from T&M but they grew into something that looked like Psei Tsai that I have never seen or eaten before until I recognised the picture in the Real Seeds...then complained to T&M who promptly sent me another packet but how do I know it's a proper one this time! Just as well I have other Chinese Cabbage variety to fall back on.

[hawthorns]

ive done some musselburgh leeks on kitchen window sill and will plant out when pencil thick. pull them when there finger size for an early crop. winter gem lettuce has been sown under cloche so will wait and see what happens with them

[quark1]

Not a true veg - but 'potentially' edible nonetheless!

I started a couple of sunflower "Little Dorrit" just 5 days ago in my kitchen.

Yesterday they had started to germinate and today they are putting the first 'strike' root into the pot. Very pleased as the packet said it may take up to 21 days to get going! These are destined for my son's bedroom - or if they get too big - will be replaced by "Teddy Bear" which I propose to start today. I'm particularly intrigued by the prosect of taking one-in-three (my choice) of the flower buds to cook in butter sauce and see how tasty they are. Anyone had a go at this - using flowers as edibles?

We'll divide the seed heads between humans and birds in the Autumn.

Will think about early start-up veg v.soon.