Just caught up with my January copy of RHS the Garden. There is a full page on when to sow hardy veg seed both indoors & outdoors. More info on 'Sowing vegetables' at rhs.org.uk
I'm just looking back to the original post..the thought was to get an early start on a few specific seeds and to share some of the excitement.
I can say for sure almost eveyone would agree leave the 'annual' sunflower until spring...nothing to gain from planting now.
Another plant was the Perennial Ecinacea. I seeded some a week ago. I can confirm my Ecinacea White Swan seeds germinated in five days! I have just half a dozen or so, which means only a few pots to 'nurse' forwards.
ADVICE PLEASE: I also have several hundred campanula latifolia alba, occupying 20 small 'modules'. Can anyone share advice on pricking out these? Without further guidance, my gut feeling would be 1) wait for 'true' leafs. 2) that should be another few week away. 3) to prick out about 3 seedlings per 9cm pot ( i reckon on about ten pots).
Upnorth - wait until true leafs - prick out into individual pots / cell tray smaller than a 9cm, I normally use 12 or 20 cell trays, a 9cm pot in mine opinion is to large for seedling. After they have filled their little pot then plant in a 9cm.
First thing to get sown here is onion seed. 15th feb it'll go out in the garden in late april or early may, possibly with a stint in an unheated greenhouse in-between, depending on the weather (last frost June 1st though not too critical with onions) I do use lights though, as I have one yes ONE south-facing window, and that is occupied by my three house plants. I can only have three as all my other windows face northwest! After onions there will be lettuce sown in mid march for greenhouse growing, everything else has to wait, I ALWAYS start my toms too early, every year I say I won't and I still do. I think I must be an idiot!
Skandi- No you're just keen to get going we all are. Some years you get away with it some not. We have a lady on our allotments that starts everything early we all tell her TOO early. Everything in an unheated aluminium greenhouse. She usually has the last laugh it seems to work for her, none of us can work out why, if sowed as early as she does my seeds would just rot or damp off. There must be something about where her greenhouse is sited that gives added protection.
Not as black and white as some posters have implied, and good to see people's enthusiasm undimmed
I agree with anyone saying it depends on circumstances, heat, light, what you're growing, whether you have sunny windowsills, space, and a greenhouse etc for the various stages. It definitely won't always be the mistake or disaster that some people have said. Just needs some knowledge and planning to make the best of the potential for the growing season.
There don't seem to be many chilli growers here? It's quite common to start chilli seeds in January, especially for varieties that take a long time to germinate, and if you have a place with reasonable light for the seedlings to start growing indoors.
If you are really itchy to sow something. Sow some micro greens. Sunflower seeds, peas for pea shoots, mustard seeds etc. could be ready to eat within one week to 2 weeks.
I love the seedlings thread, and am usually chomping at the bit for spring to arrive and start sowing ??? but lacking motivation this year ?.
I'll have to look back, but I think I'd started some chillies off in the heated prop by this time in 2017 ??? There are more experienced chilli growers on the forum Chris 11, Bob and Torg spring to mind. The chilli thread is out somewhere on the forum, with some excellent advice from Bob for newbies like me ?
I do the bulk of my flower sowing in March. I might dig out the prop over the weekend and think about starting off some lobelia, they take ages to germinate for me.
I have to admit after my early spurt of enthusiasm, life has gotten in the way of my seed sowing plans anyway! But, taking in all the helpful nuggets above, next weekend I will start with a few verbena and echinacea seeds as the least risky choices for a slightly early start - I am very excited
Posts
Just caught up with my January copy of RHS the Garden. There is a full page on when to sow hardy veg seed both indoors & outdoors. More info on 'Sowing vegetables' at rhs.org.uk
I'm just looking back to the original post..the thought was to get an early start on a few specific seeds and to share some of the excitement.
I can say for sure almost eveyone would agree leave the 'annual' sunflower until spring...nothing to gain from planting now.
Another plant was the Perennial Ecinacea. I seeded some a week ago. I can confirm my Ecinacea White Swan seeds germinated in five days! I have just half a dozen or so, which means only a few pots to 'nurse' forwards.
ADVICE PLEASE: I also have several hundred campanula latifolia alba, occupying 20 small 'modules'. Can anyone share advice on pricking out these? Without further guidance, my gut feeling would be 1) wait for 'true' leafs. 2) that should be another few week away. 3) to prick out about 3 seedlings per 9cm pot ( i reckon on about ten pots).
Thanks in advance.
Upnorth - wait until true leafs - prick out into individual pots / cell tray smaller than a 9cm, I normally use 12 or 20 cell trays, a 9cm pot in mine opinion is to large for seedling. After they have filled their little pot then plant in a 9cm.
First thing to get sown here is onion seed. 15th feb it'll go out in the garden in late april or early may, possibly with a stint in an unheated greenhouse in-between, depending on the weather (last frost June 1st though not too critical with onions) I do use lights though, as I have one yes ONE south-facing window, and that is occupied by my three house plants. I can only have three as all my other windows face northwest! After onions there will be lettuce sown in mid march for greenhouse growing, everything else has to wait, I ALWAYS start my toms too early, every year I say I won't and I still do. I think I must be an idiot!
Skandi- No you're just keen to get going we all are. Some years you get away with it some not. We have a lady on our allotments that starts everything early we all tell her TOO early. Everything in an unheated aluminium greenhouse. She usually has the last laugh it seems to work for her, none of us can work out why, if sowed as early as she does my seeds would just rot or damp off. There must be something about where her greenhouse is sited that gives added protection.
Not as black and white as some posters have implied, and good to see people's enthusiasm undimmed
I agree with anyone saying it depends on circumstances, heat, light, what you're growing, whether you have sunny windowsills, space, and a greenhouse etc for the various stages. It definitely won't always be the mistake or disaster that some people have said. Just needs some knowledge and planning to make the best of the potential for the growing season.
There don't seem to be many chilli growers here? It's quite common to start chilli seeds in January, especially for varieties that take a long time to germinate, and if you have a place with reasonable light for the seedlings to start growing indoors.
If you are really itchy to sow something. Sow some micro greens. Sunflower seeds, peas for pea shoots, mustard seeds etc. could be ready to eat within one week to 2 weeks.
I love the seedlings thread, and am usually chomping at the bit for spring to arrive and start sowing ??? but lacking motivation this year ?.
I'll have to look back, but I think I'd started some chillies off in the heated prop by this time in 2017 ??? There are more experienced chilli growers on the forum Chris 11, Bob and Torg spring to mind. The chilli thread is out somewhere on the forum, with some excellent advice from Bob for newbies like me ?
I do the bulk of my flower sowing in March. I might dig out the prop over the weekend and think about starting off some lobelia, they take ages to germinate for me.
Happy growing seedaholics ?
I have to admit after my early spurt of enthusiasm, life has gotten in the way of my seed sowing plans anyway! But, taking in all the helpful nuggets above, next weekend I will start with a few verbena and echinacea seeds as the least risky choices for a slightly early start - I am very excited
Last edited: 27 January 2018 15:26:13