River Cottage

At the moment just carrots in the GH, but I may start some peppers and chillis this week. The thing is part of my brain is telling me that we potentially have another 8 weeks of snow, while the other part of my (quite small) brain thinks it's Spring.   

I sowed a tray of onion seeds that I harvested from one of my onions that had gone to seed last summer.

I sowed them in November, but only about a dozen have come through.

'Twas just an experiment.

I'm itching to get stuff in!

I haven't sown anything yet and was only wondering today, what will I grow this year.  I have broccoli still growing from last year.  I have just left it,  I have no idea what will become of it.  The weather here is all over the place at the moment so its virtually impossible to plan anything.  We should be at about 3 or 4 degrees at present, but I think its 11 outside at the moment.  I will keep an eye on this forum for what could be some inspiration!!!

I put onion sets and garlic in during the autumn and am overwintering leeks, curly kale and winter cabbage. The first thing I sow will be leeks within the next month, and to try to get it right this year I might try another sowing later too.

The weather is very spring like at the moment, but I would err on the side of caution. Don't sow anything you can't keep under protection for a month or so if the weather finally turns cold. It may not, but just in case.

Otherwise, as I posted last year, waiting is better. You may be lucky, but if not you will lose your first lot and be back to sowing in April with the rest of us.

I've sown Tomatoes, Bell peppers, Long sweet peppers, cayenne peppers, basil, parsley, salad leaves, did that little lot yesterday, now sitting on window sills. I had a bad year last year due to leaving things too late, wanted to get of to a good start this year.. we shall see.

Very good advice there Alchemist! I only have windowsill space, and a tiny area in the GH that I can use for seeds that  aren't frost proof. Our tunnels are purposely left as open as possible to stop plants from bolting in a warm Spring, last year I lost all my tomato seedlings in what I thought was the most protected of them. The main problem with windowsills is that the cat seems to think it's her duty to knock as much off them as possible, so I'll have to give her a good talking too!!

I haven't sown anything yet, but desperate to get started! I also only have windowsill space as I don't have a greenhouse and I have herbs on the kitchen sill at the moment and one of the dogs smashed up my seed tray... and most of my plastic pots... I'm thinking about getting a small temporary greenhouse this year for hardening off, planning on growing a lot more this year so will need somewhere to put the seedlings. Not sure when to start, just hoping this mild weather isn't going to trick me into starting early and the snow and frost comes along late and kills everything off...

Actually, I've just had a brainwave. Any thoughts on if this would work? We have a reasonable size porch on the side of the kitchen, it gets lots of light but its quite cool, do you think it would work to put the temp greenhouse inside the porch to germinate the seeds?

It sounds fine, does it have a clear roof? If not your seedlings may bend a bit towards the light, but they'll straighten themselves up once they get outside. Cool is best for most seedlings, it means they wont bolt. There are a few, such as cucumbers that need a constant warm atmosphere, but for the vast majority cool is best!

I love the pic btw, is it a clematis?

Yes it does have a clear roof, that's good then if they prefer cool too - thanks pippa

The porch is currently used for the recycling bins and sacks of dog and cat food but with some rearranging I think I should be able to fit one in. Then later on I can move it outside. I think a trip to the garden centre is in order! Really want to get started

Thanks, yes it is a clematis!

There is an old adage-nevercast a clout till May is out- now I don't know if they mean the flower May or the month of May; either way where I am it is true because it can snow and freeze up here when the rest of the world is sown and growing. I buy runners in May and plant them in June ,but even they can get caught sometimes. I will be getting my lettuce and toms planted in April as a friend is lending some gh space to me. my earlies will go in, but in late May.