So what exactly is everyone sowing at the moment against the advice on the pack?!

[Lesley Jay]

Those instructions and photos were posted by Wizer.

Welcome to the Grapevine Silverfork - you should have joined us earlier!!!

[JennieAtkinson]

Good advice Piglet - my best harvesting year, was three years ago when we had a holiday in Spain in May and I came home at the end of May and sowed all my seeds then!

[bramble]

Hi Sue, the best place to get unwanted pots is in the cemetary. Most people throw the plant and the pot into the dump in the cemetary when the plant is finished flowering. My mother lives opposite the local cemetary and its unbelievable what is thrown away.I have got bulbs, cuttings and bushes as well as pots that people discard because they don,t know that these may flower the next season.

[Crazy Chickie]

Good advice Piglet - my best harvesting year, was three years ago when we had a holiday in Spain in May and I came home at the end of May and sowed all my seeds then!

I agree with you on this one Jennie, might be because we're so far north we're a couple of months behind england. was thinking of trying to start some stuff off early again this year, but last year my outdoor late may sowings did better than my indoor march/april ones.

Thanks for the paper pot links folks, will have to try.

[Sue]

Bramble
Our cemetary is the other side of town but will ask my neighbour who is on a nature conservation clean up team to keep an eye out, amazing never would have thought of this one!
Sue

[Kimbo]

Hello all,
I'm exceedingly confused, it seems everyone is sowing veg at the moment which my seed packs say to leave till later in the year! I succumbed to planting my onions and have sowed some tomato seeds and marigolds which have all germinated beautifully on the dining table as I have no green house. Hoever now I have seen that people are sowing courgettes (my seed pack says wait till March!!) and Chilli peppers of various descriptions (February)

I'm wondering whether to just ignore the seed packets ad sow what I fancy. So my question is, what can I sucessfully sow at this time of year (i.e: what is everyone else sowing!?) which I may be misled by the seed packet not to sow until later in the year?

Looking forward to hearing your replies because I am terribly impatient to start my sowing and growing this year
Cheers
Morty

I have two mini greenhouses wooden shelves with plastic covers which are placed up against the wall of my house for protection and I was wondering if there is anything I can start off yet ie broad beans, peas, cauliflowers, calabrese (green sprouting)

Kim

[supersprout]

Starting off the early beetroot and carrots now - I cluster-sow (3 beet seeds, <6 carrot seeds) in plant trainers. In about six weeks will plant out the whole module under a cloche or pot up in the greenhouse if we're due for a frozen spell. Sow every ten days or so until the end of August. Good varieties are Pronto for baby beet, Parmex or Paris Market (stump rooted) for baby carrots.

Trying something new this year - cauliflower All Year Round planted two to a module, thinned to one, for succession of caulis. I'll sow in succession as for baby beet and carrot. Got this tip from Nick Hamilton at Barnsdale Gardens, hope it works!

[jlottie]

I have been making my pots out of newpaper for years as I always run out of plastic ones at the wrong time. I dont use a gadget just small piece of gutter piping and bits of masking tape. I use broadsheet paper 2 sheets at a time, wrapping the paper around the pipe and securing with masking tape(gives approx 6 layers of paper). The paper tube is then usually cut into roughly 5" pieces. I then snip all the way around into one end of the tube roughly 1" and tuck these pieces in, place the tubes into trays and fill with compost - and thats it. The masking tape can be discarded when planting into the soil. I have been making paper tubes for sweetpeas and using a looroll as a guide too - forgot to save the loorolls

[Jan]

all this info is really useful as I too was beginning to worry that I haven't got things germinating yet - tried it last year with first attempts at gardening. Tom plants looked strong and healthy so planted them out in late May only to be hit by a very late frost on 2nd June. Will follow the advice and set things later this year but I agree with feeling impatient so will set some pea shoots to try - Hi madderbat, I'm also interested where to buy peas by the kilo?
Alfalfa sprouts are wonderful and sooooo easy in the jar method mentioned - I think I heard somewhere that mung beans germinate best if sandwiched between damp kitchen towel and with a plate and weight on top? haven't tried them myself, what do they taste like? Anything home grown at the mo is great

[madderbat]

- Hi madderbat, I'm also interested where to buy peas by the kilo?

Hi Jan, fraid I got them from the plant man on the market. Markets up here seem to have so much more that I remember in London region. Maybe there's a small shop in your area? Don't know if garden centres do that kind of thing. Will post you some if you like. pm me if you want.

[supersprout]

Good garden centres will sell peas and broadies loose in a bucket with a measure. Pint or half-pint at mine!

[Earthbabe]

I'm also interested where to buy peas by the kilo?

Hi Jan

If you can get to a seed swap or potato day (if there are any more to come) you may be able to buy by the pint or half pint. Alternatively try seeds by size

http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/peasb98.htm

Happy growing

[Jan]

Thanks for the info - when you say garden centres you don't mean like Homebase etc do you? other than that it's a dead loss round here.
Just tried buying a pack of peas whilst I wait for my order to arrive from Marshalls - 1.99 for a small handul in a pack! I really liked the idea of the pea shoots but at these prices they may have to wait till I can learn to save some seed later this year

[Lesley Jay]

Then Jan you must try Seeds By Size. Earthbabe has posted a link. You buy the seeds by weight and they are a damned sight cheaper than normal packet seeds. Robert Size has a huge range of varieties to choose from and you only buy exactly what you need. You don't have to buy a big packet of seeds when you only want to grow half a dozen plants.

[Morty_007]

Thanks for the "seeds by size" link, just off to have a look....oh pooh, look at the time.....or I could go to work and pay the bills....Hmmm, tough call