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Have i started too early?

VeganBettyWhiteVeganBettyWhite Posts: 2
in Fruit & veg
This is the first time I've ever tried growing my own veg and i feel like i may have started a tad too early. I Followed the instructions on the back of each seed packet but i feel like maybe i was a bit too early. 

I'm currently growing the following:
- Pumpkins
- Chili (Quite alot of chilis - i went a bit crazy and bought 4 different seed packets and then also bought 12 seedlings from an ebay auction which were a mixed bag) 
- Cherry Tomato
- Tomato
- Thyme
- Basil
- Red peppers
- One cucumber plant my lovely neighbour gifted me 

Everything is growing really well - We don't have a greenhouse so we've been using the dinner table and it seems to be going well, but that's what im worried about. The pumpkins are almost ready to move outside, along with some variations of chilli. Everything seems really strong, i did start off with a few leggy tomatos but after some repotting theyre doing so much better. 

We're doing minimal garden renovations right now so im getting some planters put in, so then today i decided to make a plan and a calendar of when i would move stuff outside and when i would start acclimatizing them to outside conditions. I live in Sedbury, Chepstow and its a mixed bag weather wise right now, some days are quite cold and others are nice and bright. Im focused mainly on moving the pumpkins outside because theyre growing quite fast but after reading up more information online i fear i may have started them a bit early. Theyre all about 5-6 inches tall and most are growing their fourth leaf, theyre super strong and seem to be doing really well but now im worried because ive started them quite early i may have ruined the whole crop. 

Im not worried about the basil, Thyme, Red peppers, Some variations of chillis and pretty much all the tomatos as they are growing well but still small so i feel like ive got a little bit more time. 

Any help or reassurance would be great, like i said im very new at this so im willing to take any constructive criticism and can provide any more info if needed.

Thanks! 
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Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Sorry, but you guessed right about the pumpkins and cucumber.  I won't be sowing mine for some weeks, so you have plenty of time to buy more seeds for those.  I'm not even going to start my greenhouse cucumbers until May due to the current cold snap.
    The rest will be fine inside the house until the night temperatures aren't dropping below about 10C, but I'd advise chillies are permanently kept in pots and only moved outside during the day when it is at least 15C and moved back in every night until minimum night temps are not falling below 15C, too.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • VeganBettyWhiteVeganBettyWhite Posts: 2
    Thank you that's very helpful. Such a shame they were growing so well :( 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Leave them in doors, turn the tomato plants regularly, several times a Day if possible to prevent legginess
  • hatty123hatty123 Posts: 125
    @VeganBettyWhite this is the problem I've found with seed packets, they often show you can sow seeds earlier than you should for our climate when you need to wait for warmer weather. This year I'm googling everything or looking it up on here just to check! .... Except with the sweetcorn, first year I've tried growing, so I sowed out of impatience. Now they're 8 inches tall already, can't go out until end of may, and I've not even built the raised bed they're meant to go in yet 🤦
  • granmagranma Posts: 1,933
    Keep potting on the sweet corn or they could end up pot bound . It won't matter what height they are as long as you harden them off before putting in their final place.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    " this is the problem I've found with seed packets, they often show you can sow seeds earlier than you should for our climate when you need to wait for warmer weather."

    Most seed packets instructions seem next to useless - applying to those with heated greenhouses or some such.
  • TheScottishGardenerTheScottishGardener Posts: 62
    Fire said:
    " this is the problem I've found with seed packets, they often show you can sow seeds earlier than you should for our climate when you need to wait for warmer weather."

    Most seed packets instructions seem next to useless - applying to those with heated greenhouses or some such.
    Totally agree @Fire, can't tell you how many times I read the back of a seed packet and think "well that's unrealistic" it really boils down to your own location but even then it can vary year on year... last year at this time was so much milder than it is here this year and I'm just lucky I was a bit lazy/slower to start this year than I was last year that it's worked out in my favour so far. I had stuff already outside last year that I haven't this year just because the weather and the outlook was much more settled and mild.
  • jerseytanjjerseytanj Posts: 1
    I'm the same!  Got totally overexcited and ended up with entire dining table and good part of kitchen worktop covered in seedlings, put some in my little growhouse too early and lost the lot - upside of having done so many meant I could start again a few weeks ago and everything OK at the moment, but took a chance and planted some french beans out two days ago as they were massive and they are looking a bit sorry for themselves, flipping weather can never trust it! 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The thing is it takes a bit of experience in order to interpret the sowing timings shown on the packets ... unless you know that the earlier you sow the more frost-free or even warm space you'll need once the seedlings have been pricked out and then potted on, the instructions are meaningless.  New gardeners are only going to know that if they've grown up helping their parents or grandparents in their own gardens ... not everyone has done that.

    Packets are too small to have all the information that's needed, but in the age of the internet they really should have a link to an informative website that gives a more detailed explanation of the timings, conditions and space needed. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Or you need your very own Dove,haha,I must be the exception then, because I'm a bit freekish about sowing when the packet says,and rarely have problems
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