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Posted by Calendula (U2331338) on Wednesday, 21st April 2010
Dropped in at my allotment earlier to check on my broad beans. Someone has planted climbing beans on the plot next to mine (can't tell if they are runner or French) and they are all frost damaged.
Don't let the sun fool you - it's still far too early to plant them out without protection - and I'm in the south east
Calendula, i call this gardening symptom sunshine fever, too many people get carried away when they see the sun and blue skys in the daytime, not understanding how cold it still gets at night for this time of year.
I agree. Spring in the British Isles is a succession of false starts; a few days of beguiling warmth cut short by yet another icy breath of winter. In the pagan equinox rites this is sometimes acted out by characters representing winter and summer vying for the favour of the spring maiden.
The earlier you start tender crops, the higher the risk of losing them. Here in the Midlands it's not uncommon to see frosts in May. Later sowings have a faster, smoother path to maturity with longer days and warmer soil. I find they usually catch up with the survivors of earlier sowings.
, in reply to message 3.
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Thursday, 22nd April 2010
I wonder if it isn't some garden centres selling them too early because they can, I saw them in B&Q the other day. They did at least have sign on all the tender things 'protect from frost' but it was little unclear as to who the sign was for staff or customer.
It would be a good way to make a profit- people would have to buy things twice! On the other hand people with heated greenhousesmight want the plants this early but to be honest if I had a heated greenhouse I'd sow my own plants!
I've got a bit ahead of myself and have probably sown a few things a bit early. Nothing that'll get frost damaged though and I have plenty of seed for things like parsnips, chard and spinach so if they don't work out it's not a big deal and if they do, bonus- earlier crops! I may have sown my pumpkins, courgettes, squashes and cucumbers a bit early too, they are all up now although no true leaves yet.
, in reply to message 5.
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Thursday, 22nd April 2010
I do the same, take a chance and make a second sowing two-ish weeks later....a bob each way. There's always plenty of seed in the average packet and I can usually find someone to give the plants away to if I end up with too many.
Martin, you're right, the problem is too many so called veg gardeners buy their seedling plants from garden centers etc.. instead of learning to grow them from seed in the first place. They just do not have a true feel for veg growing. This all adds up to your own personal knowledge of how to grow your veg, and understanding the gardening seasons of when the right time is to plant and grow certain types of veg.
I think a lot of people get March and May mixed up.
When the sun shines in March they think -
"Great! Summer at last!"
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Thursday, 22nd April 2010
I know Rob it's all part of learning 'how to' if some one is put off by their first failure and never understood what went wrong then they might well go on thinking it was all too difficult.
If on the other hand they are determined and do get a 'feel' they will have learnt the best way.....by making mistakes.
Hi
I agree with martingodliman, GC's are selling them too early.
About a month ago, Homebase had loads of beans, tomatos, cucumbers outside, under cover for sale.
After a few day's, most were frost damaged & dying, but still for sale.
I never saw any warnings/advice open to buyers. Most people buying plants are probably begginers caught up in the grow your own craze.
well mr dirtyrob some of us are of coarse not expert like you.! and some of us just dont have the facilatys to grow evrything from seed so depend on garden centres...so as long as we enjoy it..no need to belittle us...so im off to b+q to buy some peas....................!
The thing is you don't need any special facilities to grow plants from seed. Just a bag of compost and pots which you can make yourself from rubbish if necessary. You only need a windowsill which doesn't even need to be South facing as long as it gets some sun. Then you need a bit of outside space. If you don't have those then you're probably not going to be able to grow any plants at all! It is also just so much cheaper to grow stuff from seed. I hope you were joking about those peas!
Went to a local GC today and it was heaving with people coming out with trays of plants both veg and flower. Couldnt work it out a man in front of me at the checkout had about 15 trays of assorted veg cabages, sprouts, runner beans,broad beans and tomatoes and I thought that if he had the space to grow that lot surely he had the facility to grow some of the plants from seed.
No belittling, fulman, just a gentle nudge in the right direction...
Customers demand plants too early in the year.
If one garden centre told them that it was too early and didn`t supply them, the customers would just go to another garden centre.
So if buying plants too early results in lost plants and therefore double the expense, the customers have only themselves to blame.
They should have excercised a little more restraint.
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