Wednesday 27 February 2013

Seedling Success - To Sow or not To Sow


The sun has got his hat on - hip hip hip hooray.  Well, for today anyway.  It probably won't last - but I'm hoping that a little warmth will help the broad beans and peas that I have sown in the greenhouse to start thinking about  growing.  There's no sign if it yet, but since I sowed them it has been pretty darn cold in there.  Still, there's no rush - the bed where I am going to plant them is in no fit state to plant anything - all will come to those who wait.

  I haven't sown anything else yet as there doesn't seem much point.  I always get in a bit of a dither at this time of year - shall I, shan't I - but I think seeds will germinate a lot better a little later on.  So I shall wait a bit longer.

On the other hand the tomatoes have now been transplanted into their own pots and kept on the windowsills in the house till they get a bit stronger.
The sweet peppers have finally decided to push through the soil as well
So we have made a start at least.

The potatoes have chitted nicely

Now I think I will have to move them into the cool greenhouse for fear of them growing too fast in the warmth of the house, but they won't be planted out till the soil warms up a bit.

So that's my gardening news - there is still plenty to be getting on with at the veg plot but as I don't find it much fun working outdoors when it is freezing cold, everything is still on hold.

Have you been braver than me and ventured out to do a bit?

Oh and one more thing Chel at Sweetbriar Dreams has been kind enough to forward
 the Liebster Blog Award to me.  Thank you Chel - not sure when I'll have time to do all the necessary requirements - hopefully sometime in the near future.

 

40 comments:

  1. No, I have hardly sown or planted anything yet. I'm trying very hard not to sow too soon - which I normally do, and then live to regret it.
    My potatoes are chitting nicely, and I'm hoping to plant some either this coming weekend or the one after.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is hard holding back when all you really want to do is get cracking.

      Delete
  2. We will be holding fire on sowing too - late sowings seem to catch up as they don't suffer the same shocks and setbacks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tend to agree I have been caught out before.

      Delete
  3. I'm biding my time, Elaine - and enjoying having the time to prepare the raised beds and borders for when I can start plants off outdoors. I'm not evening thinking of sowing any seeds until March (well, perhaps some garlic and broad beans), and I was told by a trader that end of March would be soon enough to put spuds out. That's good enough for me! I'm enjoying the calm before the storm!
    PS Happy Birthday for Friday! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes Caro - how did you know? I still have loads of preparation to do as well if only it would get a bit warmer.

      Delete
  4. I've got my potatoes in the greenhouse but am getting very impatient on the sowing side of things. Packets of seeds are looking at me longingly...not long now! Happy sowing! Chel

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Elaine, I havent sown anything yet either.Not that I'm doing too much this year.To be honest I'm thinking of buying little seedlings for some things this year. Carrots and lettuce are about the only things I am planning on growing from seed this year following last years disastrous summer and poor results.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do the same if things aren't going very well - hope this year is better weather wise.

      Delete
  6. Your tomatoes are looking well. Mine haven't appeared yet - beginning to wonder if they will... It is tempting to get sowing, especially on a day like today. But you're probably right - patience is best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The tomatoes germinated within a few days - the peppers took a few days longer - if yours don't appear there is still plenty of time to sow more.

      Delete
  7. Congratulations on the award, well deserved!
    Yes I'm trying very hard not to sow too soon as well and have managed so far but this weekend I may sow a few things. My spuds are chitting now too. I've not been to my allotment for a few weeks but am hoping to get up there this weekend as the forecast is dry though still cold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Annie - my plot still needs a lot of attention - hope the weather keeps fine for the weekend then I can have a good go at it.

      Delete
  8. Waiting on this unpredictable weather is not really dithering, more of a nuisance. I finally got my potatoes into trays today chitting. Nothing is sown yet, just several seeds trays filled with compost and they are "lagged" with pieces of cardboard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hate this time of year it is neither one thing or the other I mean what's the use of the nights becoming lighter if you can't do something useful with it.

      Delete
  9. Your tomato seedlings are doing well. I've sown tomatoes and cucumbers, but nothing else yet. And it's still too cold to find the motivation to get outside. But I really should, especially now that the soil has dried out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think cucumbers will be my next job, in the propagator they should be safe enough.

      Delete
  10. Bitter experience has taught me to wait till about mid May before planting-up. After then, everything grows so quickly anyway, that nothing is 'late'. I still have a lot of rotovating and composting to do; and I might even put up a shed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree - warm soil can work wonders. A shed eh! Is there no limit to your talents.

      Delete
  11. It's all looking good. I agree about waiting to start sowing as many people do start far too early.
    Congratulations on the award.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Flighty. It is a temptation though.

      Delete
  12. Your tomatoes look good, I am waiting a little wile this year mine got a bit leggy last year, lets hope this weather warms up a bit soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I usually sow some in February then a few more later just to make sure.

      Delete
  13. Haha! I've just sat down to work on my 'seeds and sowing' blog post and drifted into reading instead, only to come across your post.
    We have done nowt yet :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha - beat you to it. I feel as though I should be doing more but am resisting - for now anyway.

      Delete
  14. Last year I thought I was very organised by sowing a little earlier than normal and I lost most of the seedlings in a frost so this year I'm trying to ignore the few days of sunshine and be patient.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last year was a bummer a lot of my outdoor sowings perished too.

      Delete
  15. Congratulations on the award, very well deserved. I've only sown peppers and onions so far, but we're in to March tomorrow so I may start some other things off soon. It's lovely and sunny here today, but still very cold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The weather has been gradually improving which has helped things enormously.

      Delete
  16. Its so tempting to start everything off early, I've never sown things this early before, and given that I have just heard that my main seed order won't be arriving for another couple of weeks I think I can stop panicking and slow down. As you say, later sowings usually catch up just fine and don't suffer from legginess like earlier seedlings can. I'm turfing the hardy seedlings out in to the greenhouse as soon as they are potted on, I figure it is better to grow them hard and let them sit and do very little for a while than to produce soft unresilient little plants that resent their future in the great outdoors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. End of March/early April is fine with me it's hard though as I just feel I ought to be doing something.

      Delete
  17. I started everything too early last year, far more chillaxed this year, things can wait :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chillaxed! Is this a new word I'm missing out on.

      Delete
  18. Like you I'm at the "do I don't I" stage lol. The weather is so mild and dry right now so I know I could start some things off but I also know we could have snow next week so unless they fit in the heated propagator then I'm holding out for a while.
    Well done for getting the blog award :)

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Linda - I'm still sorting our the beds at the moment so I'm nowhere near ready for planting anyway.

      Delete
  19. I've started sowing the things that be kept on my windowsill that take a long to grow. Things that are sown later usually catch up with those that are planted earlier, so it really doesn't matter.

    By the way, love your blog Elaine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks - my windowsills were full but everything has been relegated to the greenhouse now it is warming up a bit.

      Delete
  20. My progress is about the same as yours Elaine. I've got indoor tomatoes and peppers going as well as seed-sown onions, leeks, and shallots. Peas, Mangetout, sweet peas, and cabbage will be sown soon though and will be transforming the conservatory into a greenhouse yet again :)

    Hope you've been able to get some good time in with your garden these past few days. The weather's been great and looks like it will be sunny again by Monday? Spring is in the air!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been working like a demon trying to get as much done whilst the weather lasted - sadly come to a full stop now waiting for the next batch of good weather.

      Delete

If you have enjoyed reading this post why not leave a comment - I would love to hear from you.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...