Sowing now for next year - a Nutty Plan!

[veggiechicken]

My next nutty idea.

My thoughts are to sow seeds before the end of the year and let them sit in the soil until spring or whenever the time is right.
Bear with me.

Pros............
1. Seeds are programmed to germinate at the right time of year.

2. Mother Nature will start them off whenever the conditions are right - soil temperature, moisture and so on.

3. Could be done in autumn/winter once bed is cleared to save time in spring.

Cons.........
4. Seeds sown early might rot if its too wet or perish if they germinate early and its too cold or be eaten by pests.

5. Seeds sown indoors in modules can be protected from the elements and given prime conditions for germination and aftercare(but this uses time and resources and fills up windowsills.).

Experience so far:-
The veggies I've left to self-seed in the garden and the GH have done surprisingly well. We've all had tomatoes appear in spring in odd places, so I'm thinking of using this to my advantage and putting the seeds in position before the end of the year - and seeing what comes up. It won't just be tomatoes though.

I know you think I'm Nuts - and you're probably right

[burnie]

Some farmers round here are autumn sowing more and more veg, I thought about maybe starting some stuff inside early, but outside can get a bit brutal up here.

[veggiechicken]

What do they sow, burnie?

[george1]

What to sow

Some farmers round here are autumn sowing more and more veg, I thought about maybe starting some stuff inside early, but outside can get a bit brutal up here.

What you thinking of sowing burnie , will sow my onions Dec done themlast year first time from seed and was very pleased, am up in Dundee.

[Snadger]

Depends whether stuff is frost hardy or not. Plants could also be prone to bolting with temperature changes.


Unlike a well known President I believe in global warming so God knows, you plan could possibly work VC.

Cal me boring if you like, but I won't be sowing my seeds too far away from the recommended dates though

[Chestnut]

I’m reading a library book at the moment all about growing veg for winter. The author describes growing salads and various other things under fleece , in polytunnel, or both combined. Even put polytunnel on rails to be able to move it elsewhere once the weather warms up in spring so the stuff in the ground can carry on growing without getting too hot!

[veggiechicken]

Here are some examples of what made me dream this up today.
I cleared a GH and found a chunky tomato plant, alongside an oriental mustard, physalis and lettuce. None of which have been sown by me, this year - but were, last year.



In the other GH, chard, sown last year when I "sowed" random roots, shoots, fruits and leaves on the empty beds.





Something triggered these seeds to germinate outside their usual dates so I want to see whether these "triggers" will start deliberately sown tomatoes and cucumbers when Nature decides its the right time, and not when I do.
I'm going to plant some tomato, courgette, bean and cucumber seeds in the GH beds in November/December and see when they germinate - and whether its the same time as I would start them indoors in a propagator.
I always have itchy fingers in winter so it may help!!

[veggiechicken]

I have a Plan!!

Every week from next week until Spring I'm going to sow the same 5 seeds in a pot in the GH - that's 12 weeks to the end of 2018 and 12 weeks to 1/4/19.
The seeds will be
Tomato - Gardener's delight
Courgette - Zucchini or Green Bush
Cucumber - Beth Alpha
CFB
Mangetout - Bijou

I'll also sow a pinch of
Lettuce
Carrot
Beetroot.
Radish
- in the GH bed each week.

I need to make up 24 packets of seed this week and I'll start next Monday. Each pot will be dated and I'll watch to see which germinate fastest.

That's the Plan anyway.

Feel free to join in.

[Logunner]

I have a Plan!!

Every week from next week until Spring I'm going to sow the same 5 seeds in a pot in the GH - that's 12 weeks to the end of 2018 and 12 weeks to 1/4/19.
The seeds will be
Tomato - Gardener's delight
Courgette - Zucchini or Green Bush
Cucumber - Beth Alpha
CFB
Mangetout - Bijou

I'll also sow a pinch of
Lettuce
Carrot
Beetroot.
Radish
- in the GH bed each week.

I need to make up 24 packets of seed this week and I'll start next Monday. Each pot will be dated and I'll watch to see which germinate fastest.

That's the Plan anyway.

Feel free to join in.

Following this

[Jay-ell]

Go for it girl

[Nannysally99]

Looking forward to seeing how you get on VC, I think this will be interesting
Good luck

[Miss Mousetrousers]

I quite like the rationale of your plan. If you sow more seeds than you need then that should take care of any that either wouldn't have germinated anyway, or those that don't survive for what ever reason.

[veggiechicken]

I have a Plan!!

Every week from next week until Spring I'm going to sow the same 5 seeds in a pot in the GH - that's 12 weeks to the end of 2018 and 12 weeks to 1/4/19.
The seeds will be
Tomato - Gardener's delight
Courgette - Zucchini or Green Bush
Cucumber - Beth Alpha
CFB - Pantheon
Mangetout - Bijou

I'll also sow a pinch of
Lettuce
Carrot
Beetroot.
Radish
- in the GH bed each week.

I need to make up 24 packets of seed this week and I'll start next Monday. Each pot will be dated and I'll watch to see which germinate fastest.

That's the Plan anyway.

Feel free to join in.

Today was perfect weather for making up 24 seed packets containing 5 seeds - Tomato, Cucumber, Courgette, CFB and Mangetout.
Next, I need 24 identical pots or modules, numbered 1-24, and filled with compost, ready for Monday and the first sowing.

[Bill Door]

Interested but I don't have a GH, or the time just now. I will think about it and maybe try something outdoors.

Good luck VC, keep us informed.

Bill

[rary]

Even though you agree with me that you are nuts, I like your thinking on this, as trees and weeds which self sow appear every spring, though I am inclined to think this is with natural selective breeding, and as I don't have the space for trying this nor I think the time to establish a selection of localised plants I will not be trying your experiment but I do wish you the best of luck with it.