Buying Seedlings?

[teabelly]

Hi everyone

I am a complete newbie when it comes to gardening of any sort (we only have a yard at home) but me and my friend acquired an allotment a short while ago and are 'trying' to grow our own food.

Unfortunately we seem to have missed the sowing times for a lot of plants so I was wondering what palnts are suitable to buy as seedlings (from the garden centre etc.) and plant out now?

Our local garden centre (and Homebase too) seem to have loads of different plants, but I don't know if they're all suitable to plant out now. For example, there seems to be a lot of strawberry plants available at the moment but isnt' it the wrong time to plant out?

Thanks in advance

Jenny

[vicky]

Hi Jenny, welcome to the vine!
A lot depends on how much care you can take of the seedlings - you can plant strawberries or other seedlings but if you don't have time to water they won't survive!
Tomatoes, courgettes, lettuce, beans and brassicas are often found as seedlings and can be planted now.
You still have time to sow direct with lots of things - I often make a second sowing around june/july for a later harvest, such as carrots (autumn variety), turnips, radish, spinach, lettuce, peas
You are not too late!
Where are you in the world? That can make quite a difference to what can be sown and at what time!

[teabelly]

Thanks for your reply vicky

I'm in South Yorkshire, and our allotment is only around the corner so could easily pop down and water most evenings.

I'm glad to hear that there's still a lot we can plant. I've roped my sister and her boyfriend into helping out tomorrow evening, so we're hoping to make quite an impact on the allotment.

At the moment all that's on the allotment is an elderberry tree, a small gooseberry bush and lots of rhubarb!!

Jenny

[Two_Sheds]

There is a lot to sow this month and with many crops you can sow one set and then a few weeks later re-sow to give you a succession of fresh vegetables at the peak of perfection.
In dry weather, it is a good idea to soak your seed drill before sowing and then just water with a fine rose after.

French and Runner Beans
Maincrop peas
Beetroot
Carrots
Turnips
Swedes
Cauliflowers
Chicory
Endive
Kohlrabi
Sweetcorn
Squash
Courgette and Marrows
Cucumber

Beetroot, French beans, carrots, kohlrabi, peas, lettuce, endive, radish should be sown at intervals throughout the summer months to provide a constant supply. Successional sowing ensures you always have fresh crops at the peak for your table
Cribbed from: The National Vegetable Society, What to do in June in your Garden

[Flummery]

Welcome to the Grapevine. You aren't too late to sow your own - but it fdoes make it look like a real allotment if you've got a few things to bang in now as seedlings. Many people are putting in follow-on sowings of earlier crops now. Read the packets - lots of things say sow March to July - so you can still do it.

Good luck with it. The first taste of your own crops is fantastic!