What veg seeds can I NOT sow in seed trays/plugs (then transplant)?

[Bren In Pots]

I use those shallow wide pots Trip , just find them easier to transport to the lottie than guttering as some people use..

I started of my peas in guttering for the first time last year and found its a two person job to slide them out into the trench so this time I'm using pots like Binley.

[Alison]

I started of my peas in guttering for the first time last year and found its a two person job to slide them out into the trench so this time I'm using pots like Binley.

Depends on what length you use, I've got mine cut into lengths that fit to the length of a standard seed tray, two lengths per tray, they slide out a treat and 3 lengths happily fit across my 4' rows and they don't need much compost but obviously do what suits you.

[Two_Sheds]

carrots and parsnips grow by sending down a taproot ... If you sow in modules the root will touch the bottom of the container ... you get bent and twisted carrots about 2 inches long.

exactly that.

We've sown carrots in root trainers at school club, which we will transplant, just to observe (and photo) what happens to the roots

[Bren In Pots]

Depends on what length you use, I've got mine cut into lengths that fit to the length of a standard seed tray, two lengths per tray, they slide out a treat and 3 lengths happily fit across my 4' rows and they don't need much compost but obviously do what suits you.

Alison I think thats where I went wrong mine were cut to fit a grow bag tray so they're a Metre long. I'll cut them shorter before I use them again thanks for the tip

[Alison]

Alison I think thats where I went wrong mine were cut to fit a grow bag tray so they're a Metre long. I'll cut them shorter before I use them again thanks for the tip

I did that the first time too, then ended up knocking the whole thing on the floor of the greenhouse. Hope it works well for you this time

[KirstieSparkle]

Oooh this was very useful!
I've had seeds for a week and I was thinking I might plant some carrot and lettuce seeds tonight! Guess ill wait till someone can take me garden centre to get some soil for the big pots
Thanks

[spanish_gardener]

Can turnips, beetroot and swede be transplanted successfully?

[darcyvuqua]

Can turnips, beetroot and swede be transplanted successfully?

I did beet roots last year there's a video on YouTube by allotmentdiary aka dan that he transplanted a lot of stuff due to last years snow got a good crop of it too


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[Ja9]

I use toilet roll tubes to sow and grow my legumes inside before planting out as a problem with mice too. I put up supports where needed and pop the toilet roll tube in at the base of the support. I find sowing lettuce in modular trays useful as I work in raised beds and space is tight. I then throughout the summer use another 'module' as required and this keeps a supply for a few months .
My carrots and parsnips germinate poorly but I only just got away with the toilet roll method for those. Better roots on the ones that did germinate directly sown. Big pots only for the carrots this year.apart fom carrots , radish ,onions and potatoes all the rest I pre sow inside .

[Bill HH]

Now I have always thought and been told that carrots and parsnips dont transplant well. Then last year they had trays of carrots for transplanting at my garden centre!! I questioned this with the staff in the shop and they looked at me like i was a nutter (which of course I am). Carrots transplant well said the guy. I didnt beleive him.

[IndigoElectron]

This is all so helpful. A lot of my seeds say to plant directly out, but now I realise I can start them off indoors.

My question is, do I start them off so that they are ready to plant out when the packet says to sow them direct? E.g. my runner beans say to plant out from May, and they take 10-20 days to germinate. So I sow them inside in April, so they are ready to plant out in May - is that how it works? Or should I sow them even earlier than that? I'm not sure how long after germination I would plant them out.

Thanks!

[Hazel at the Hill]

You have to take into account a period of hardening off when you're sown indoors too, IE.

So if it is warm enough outside for runner beans from - say - mid May, you could sow towards the end of April indoors. They'll have germinated within a week or so, then you can start to take them out in the day and back in at night from the start of May, then plant out mid May.

The trick is not to let them be shocked by too much of a change all at once.

[IndigoElectron]

Thanks Hazel, I'd better get sowing then :-) Is there a process to hardening them off (e.g. start off with 2 hour a day, then 2 hours etc), or can I just leave them out during the day and bring them in at night for a couple of weeks? And is this the same process for all fruit and veg that needs hardening off?

[Ja9]

I usually sow things a month before the sowing date for outside. As for hardening off: over a couple of weeks I leave them outside during the day, ( all day) bringing back inside at night. It's very useful if you have a cold frames as this can be done gradually by opening the lid and partially propping it up at the start.