Seedlings

I thought a quick update on how the seeds were progressing might help or inspire some more planting.

Most of the seeds planted just two weeks ago have germinated in their modules in the spare bedroom. However, they are getting a
bit ‘leggy’ and you’ll also notice that they are bending toward the window so will need some attention.

Those above are mainly tomatoes with a tray of onions (front right).
In the first instance I’ve put the seed trays in a cold porch, just during the day initially, for one or two days, to ‘harden them off’ (get used to the cold!); then I left them there all day and night whilst they continue to grow and get acclimatised.

Below are the broad beans which have been in the porch for about 5 days and whose leaves are just about to open, and then some climbing French beans which have become quite ‘leggy’. The latter are surrounded by sweet peas and behind are potatoes ‘ chitting’ in egg boxes.

A close up of the potatoes show how the ‘earlies’ (Swift and Rocket) are developing good sprouts whilst the maincrop (Desiree – reds) have yet to start.

The beans can continue to ‘grow on’ in their modules for a while but I’ll soon need to put the tomatoes into flower pots, and keep them in the porch (or greenhouse / polytunnel if you have one) so that they establish strong roots. I’ll say more about that next time.
Now that there is more room in my propagating box I’ll sow some mixed lettuce (salad leaves), rocket and peas. Outside keep the weeds down and prepare soil. Refer back to the blogs from February 2010 for more information.

Happy gardening!

Happy New Growing Year!

Here we go again!  Really sorry I haven’t posted anything since October, so a brief update.

Last time I wrote I set up a new winter plan. Lots has changed.

I did visit the Square Foot Garden over the winter. I picked rocket until the snows came, scraped the snow away in December to harvest the remaining carrots from the corner square, watched the lettuce slowly wither away...

However the plot looks good.

The leeks need harvesting as they are a good size. The garlic, onions and broad beans are all growing well and the chard has survived the cold.

You will notice that I have surrounded the whole plot with wood chippings, to help suppress weeks and to see if they deter the slugs when they come out of hibernation.

A kind neighbour gave me a few roots of perennial rocket.

The tap roots were about 25cm long, and nothing much to show on the surface. As an experiment I’ve planted one root in the square vacated by the lettuce.

As for future plans: I thought I might plant a tomato in the northern square or the eastern corner square, with some climbing French beans in the other. Any other suggestions?

Now is the time to plan what you are going to grow and buy your seeds. I’ve started ‘chitting’ my first early potatoes and planted a few seeds. I do this in modules, in an organic compost and set them in an enclosed plastic propagation box.

This is then put in a sunny spare bedroom! When the seeds germinate, they need to be moved to a cooler porch or greenhouse, but still protected from any frosts by fleece or similar, otherwise they’ll get ‘leggy’. When established, and frosts are over, they can be planted out, again covered until the weather is warmer.

Happy planning!