Plastic greenhouse advice

[BB48]

Hello Everyone

I got my lottie last year and LOVE it. I am trying to be bit more organised this year as all a bit hectic last year. Anyway, I have two heated propagators and a small plastic greenhouse. I was thinking to move seedlings into greenhouse as soon as they sprouted. Will they need heat and will they then need to
be hardened off or can they go straight in the ground when ready?

Had a top tip about planting spuds - plant them out on Good Friday. Anyone else heard this to be a good tip?

BB

[Hazel at the Hill]

Depends on what you are growing, BB, as to how you treat them. I've not got a propagator, just an unheated mini greenhouse, but this is what I'd do -

If you have onions and broad beans, I'd sow them in pots and then into your mini greenhouse as they are hardy souls

Brassicas I would put in the propagator till they sprout then straight into the greenhouse. And peas too. And maybe lettuce.

Tomatoes and peppers will need more protection than an unheated g/h at this time of year, so they will have to stay indoors for a month or two yet, then hardened off with the seed tray hokey cokey.

More experienced grapes will be along soon, I'm sure.

Oh, welcome to the VIne.

[crichmond]

Whenstarting plants in a heated propagator I find it best to first take the lid off the propagator for a couple of days so the part of the seedling above the soil gets used to not being heated and then take them out of the propagator for a couple of days so the roots get used to not being heated and get used to room temp, then you could get them acclimatised to outdoor temperatures during the day and finally put them in the greenhouse.

But as has been said it depends what you are growing, and it also depends on the weather, dont forget we are still having frosts which will kill most seedlings even in a greenhouse.

[Two_Sheds]

Had a top tip about planting spuds - plant them out on Good Friday. Anyone else heard this to be a good tip?

lol

It was traditional for the working man to plant his spuds at Easter because that was his first holiday of the year - and Sunday was a day of rest, so he couldn't garden on a church day

These days, we have the leisure to plant our spuds as soon as the ground is warm & dry enough: round about the end of March

[BB48]

Thanks guys. I got seriously sidetrakced with your blog Hazel - love those raised beds! Must get started on mine - well orgainise hubby anyway! I am being very adventurous for a newbie and have some Asparagus ordered so any tips gratefully received.

I have load of seeds, just sorted out the tin and removed all the out of date packets. Anyway was thinking of cucumber, tomatoes, onion, chilli and parsnip in some loo roll holders. I also have some french marigold and sweet peas that I think can be started off in the propagators.

Also got two packets of garlic chives - one says sow outdoors the other indoors. Will do as the packet says and see which does best.

Thanks Two Sheds for the history lesson, another of Mums pearls of wisdom!!!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I have load of seeds, just sorted out the tin and removed all the out of date packets. Anyway was thinking of cucumber, tomatoes, onion, chilli and parsnip in some loo roll holders. I also have some french marigold and sweet peas that I think can be started off in the propagators.

Don't chuck 'em out just because they are out of date! Most seeds will do very nicely, thank you, even some years after the use by date. Check if they are good by putting a pinch of seed onto a damp kitchen roll & cover with clingfilm for a few days - if they sprout, all well and good.

Also, loo roll inners are best for things with roots that don't like to be disturbed, or have a long taproots, so I'd start your parsnips (now that does need to be fresh seed) and sweetpeas off in the loo rolls, and everthing else in pots.

Thanks for the kind words about the blog - I can't wait to get the raised beds finished and the paths down!