Really slow progress

[The Goatreich]

Hi all,
it was over a month ago, middle of April I think that I planted out some seeds in my winter bed. However, I'm hardly seeing any growth at all, did I do this too early, and if so, it it too late to try again?

Radish - I've only had one plant germinate and grow on to any decent size.
Parsnips - took an age, but do now have a few very small plants germinated, no true leaves yet.
Leeks - thin grass like seedlings emerged, but don't appear to be getting any bigger.
Beetroot - same as parsnips, still very small, not growing up very quickly
Salad Onions - similar to leeks, thin, grassy seedlings which aren't doing much.

Now it's warmed up a bit I could start all these again directly in the beds or maybe in pots inside, if anyone thinks it worth it.

[Nicos]

It depends on your soil type and temperature, and your micro climate...plus the age of your seeds.
If you have space, I suggest you sow more seeds but this time cover both lots with fleece.
Also do a few indoors if you have space , just for filling in gaps.

Leeks and salad onions do take a while to take off.

f you have managed to germinate parsnips..then well done! I have terrible problems with them.

nope- not too late to sow again

[The Goatreich]

Great, thanks. I'll resow in the gaps where nothing has appeared and prepare some indoors in case the others ones don't go anywhere so I can swap them out.

I'll need to buy some fleece, but that's fine. I guess this is only needed in the nights at the moment? It's down to around 10C at night in South Wales, with the odd night dropping a bit further to about 7 or 8.

The seeds are all brand new this year, from Simply Seeds, so I don't think age is an issue. I do think that is the problem with my Spinach not germinating mind, but that's another story

I don't really know my soil type, it's a raised bed filled with lots of top soil from the garden renovation a year or so back, and then with compost on top for the year. This year I added some more compost, plus some spent hops and coffee grounds in periods. I think it should be good enough. It's not exactly fine, or stone free however, which may affect the parsnips, but that's a risk I'm prepared to take this year as it's a bit of an experiment anyway.

[Fleurisa]

It should be warm enough for all of those now without covering with fleece. You need to make sure your seedlings don't get eaten by slugs before you have even noticed they have germinated.

[The Goatreich]

Yep, I think I did suffer in that regard too. I'm not sure how best to avoid that really.

[Bill HH]

Some times you have to use slug pellets, if you are against those there are organic ones now. Its been very cold at night (8c last night and thats in sunny Devon) despite the daytime heat, seeds don't like that one bit.

[The Goatreich]

I don't like the idea of slug pellets at all, however I'm starting to think I might have to get used to the idea.

Hopefully a combination of resowing, and also having some indoor backups will help sort this out. Can I plant things like parnsips, beetroot, salad onions, leeks, radish indoors and then transfer them on?

[Scarlet]

Root crops like parsnips or carrots don't like being transplanted, they will fork. As said before if your leeks have germinated, alls good, they take ages to thicken up and now the weather has started to warm up you will start to see a difference. Though I alwYs start leeks off in a pot. Radish and spring onions, I wouldn't bother with transplanting as now the weather has warmed up you will find they will be quick to grow. You could try growing them in large pots?
Beetroot I always start of in modules so that I have some ready to plant out when there's a space.
Have you tried popping out in the evening to collect your slugs, it's surprising how many you can remove in the evening.

[The Goatreich]

I do that yes, I try to do a little scout out each evening and throw any I find into the nearby park.

Thanks for the advice