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sowing seeds

• Message 1. 

  Posted by smilingrosie2 (U10973578) on Sunday, 2nd January 2011

  got the propergators out of shed today, will give them a good wash tomorro, got plenty of seeds, got my compost, and just cant wait to start, will wait a few more weeks then its all go,
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Monday, 3rd January 2011

  Wait, if you can, till March and the equinox as there isn't enough light for most seedlings before then and they get drawn as they streak for the light.
  
  Sweet peas and broad beans are hardier and sturdier and can be started safely in Feb as long as you can keep them frost free with plenty of light.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Monday, 3rd January 2011

  Smilingrosie,
  Have you a green house?
  If you have many things can be sown this month. Biennials (sweet pea), Perennials, (Hollyhock, Poppy anemone) and anything you grow as a half hardy annual, (Salvia, Verbena, Petunia, Dianthus and Calcialaria) to name but a few.
  Early Tomato's can go in this month and if you stagger them just a few in a tray you can extend the growing season quite a lot.
  Without a greenhouse then wait, My greenhouse is a south facing lean-to against solid brick wall so gets any low light going, the wall holds the daytime heat and gives it back at night.
  There is a sand-bed warming box with thermostat though small electric propagators are quite cheap and will usually start four small boxes of seed.
  I put up shelves near the top and set my new plants on it to get the light, fit a cover at night and remove during the day turning the box each day as you do it.
  Never over-water during the colder weather, young plants cannot cope with it they need to be just damp, stick your finger in the box if it comes up muddy then let them dry out a bit. more young plants die from ever watering than anything else.
  The main thing if you are keen is to experiment, you may surprise yourself with what you can grow early and put out in your garden to also surprise your neighbours who will be just starting to think about visiting the garden centre for new plants, a good bit cheaper too as long as you do not try to keep the whole greenhouse at a set temperature.
  This is impossible for people who are not in the business of producing a mass of plants. My sand box provides the heat for germination then I lift them up onto shelves above the sand box and cover the area of the box with bubble wrap, this traps the heat and rising heat in one small area then they take their chance on the staging with a fan heater on frost guard.
  If your fingers are itching to get in amongst the compost then go for it after all the big seed sowers will be ahead of you already.
  Frank.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by smilingrosie2 (U10973578) on Monday, 3rd January 2011

  hi thank you 4 your reply, yes i have 2 greenhouses 1 at home and 1 down the allotment lucky me, going 2 sort my seeds out at the weekend, i will start them off in electric propergator first, then on 2 kitchen window seal, then into conservatry, then into greenhouse, washed lot pots today well pleased

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 4th January 2011

  I would still advise patience. Winter has hardly begun and with all the bubble wrap insuation, greenhouses won't have enough light for seedlings, let alone warmth.
  
  Perhaps you couls sow in batches so half your seeds get an early start and half are kept in reserve in case of disasters.
  
  My greenhouse is in a sheltered spot near the house but is thoroughly frozen despite a night heater and insulation which keep it just below freezing rather than the -10s and -15s we've already had and the -20s still to come. I manage to save plants in there over winter but wouldn't dream of putting babies in before the end of March.
  
  My window sills are full of herbs such as bay, tarragon, thyme, basil and parsley bring indoors to keep them going through the winter.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Wednesday, 5th January 2011

  I'm with Obelixx on this one.............Patience !!
  
  This link gives tried and tested sowing dates that might help you;
  
  
  
  As I general rule I use my spring bulbs as a 'barometer' as to when to sow.
  
  I do this based on the fact that mother nature knows best!
  
  I sow my early stuff e.g biennial I didn't sow last autumn when the snowdrops appear in my garden.
  
  I start my veg off when the crocus appear.
  
  Bedding plants when the daffs come into flower.
  
  And I plant out when the daffs are over and ready for cutting back.
  
  I find this caters for long/short winters.
  
  For the record my snowdrops have not appeared yet.
  
  I hope this helps!

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