I’ve just watched that videolink @Dovefromabove and @punkdoc. By the look of the size and state of the seed tray Monty used to sow his dahlia seeds in, I don’t think it was destined for a kitchen windowsill but for his greenhouse. And although he keeps his greenhouses frost free I don’t think he has them heated to 10 degrees. So does this mean they might be ok in a greenhouse if you sow them in March or April (as opposed to February, as recommended by the February 2021 GW magazine).
There’s been a number of posts recently from people who followed the advice in the magazine to sow their free seeds in February, were very happy when they germinated but subsequently had them killed by cold weather. I think the magazine has got it wrong on this occasion ☹️ Its a shame, because lots of budding propagators (no pun intended) will have had their confidence dented.
Don’t give up @jo.ilott .....have you got any left in the pack to start another batch off?
When I sow seeds of half hardies, I tend to keep them in the house until they are quite sizeable plants, then move them to the g/h in April, to start hardening off.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Wouldn't it be nice if there could be a couple of gardening programmes for those who are new to gardening on how and when to sow seeds, compost to use, soil temperature, hardening off etc. The advice given on a seed packet can be too general ie sow undercover, what does that mean to a lot of people? So many have got into gardening during lockdowns and they need encouragement to carry on.
The problem is, no 2 gardeners do any of this stuff the same way. I remember when I started, looking in all the books, and everyone had a different method. Over time we all learn a way that suits us, our conditions and our available equipment. I would love to heat my g/h, but it is over 200 yards from the house, so would be too expensive.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
I'd love to have a greenhouse, but I don't have space for one so I find ways of managing without. Sometimes it's a learning experience . Last year April and May were so warm I wished I'd sowed things a bit earlier, and some years we can get a late frost in June. There's always an element of guesswork and sometimes it goes wrong, even for experienced gardeners.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Posts
There’s been a number of posts recently from people who followed the advice in the magazine to sow their free seeds in February, were very happy when they germinated but subsequently had them killed by cold weather. I think the magazine has got it wrong on this occasion ☹️ Its a shame, because lots of budding propagators (no pun intended) will have had their confidence dented.
Don’t give up @jo.ilott .....have you got any left in the pack to start another batch off?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Over time we all learn a way that suits us, our conditions and our available equipment.
I would love to heat my g/h, but it is over 200 yards from the house, so would be too expensive.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border