Seed bed

[rary]

Where do you sow your seeds, do you use a seed bed in the garden or do you sow in module's, seed trays or pots inside, and if using a seed bed what would be the advantage in sowing outside?

[Snadger]

Where do you sow your seeds, do you use a seed bed in the garden or do you sow in module's, seed trays or pots inside, and if using a seed bed what would be the advantage in sowing outside?

Did we not recently have a thread on this?

[rary]

There is a thread about starting garlic in module's, but I wondered what is the best way for other veg like beetroot, carrots, parsnips or cabbage, I sow beetroot in a seed bed but would there be any advantage starting them off in module's, or cabbage which I grow in module's would they be better to sown direct?

[veggiechicken]

Did we not recently have a thread on this?

10/10 Snadger!
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...eds_99680.html

[rary]

That was months ago, you shourly don't expect me to remember that far back

[veggiechicken]

Snadger did and I did. Therefore, the conclusion must be that you are much older and your memory is shot.
You posted on it too.

[lolie]

All of the above.

[Mark_Riga]

In the last 40 odd years I haven't ever used a seed bed but have sown direct quite a few seeds - carrots and parsnips mainly but also radish and spinach.
When I started, everything was sown direct but, as I discovered mice and slugs and snails, less and less has been.
Having read the previous thread, particularly the first comment by Snadger, I'll definitely try designating an area for sowing brassicas and any other seeds that mice won't go after and don't need too much warmth.

[SarrissUK]

The learning I've had this year is basically that I put so much time into the modules I've sown, at the expense of direct sown seeds, to the point I barely did any direct sowing and missed out on lots of veg this year.

I will make it my mission to direct sow more carrots, beetroot, lettuce, beans, kohl rabi, radishes etc. Only once all the direct sowing is done, will I pay attention to the modules :P

[rary]

See no matter that a question was asked before, there is always something to be picked up by others who may have missed, overlooked or even forgot about the previous thread relating to it, the second, third even fourth time the question comes back could well be the time that it is reinforced into someone's memory to try something different
That's the good thing about the Vine questions get answered
Life's a learning curve

[rary]

Sarris my wife actually cooked kohl rabi this evening and when she picked it up she asked what it was as she thought she had never seen nor eaten one before, (she actually had some last year when I had grown them for the first time) this year they were grown in modules and transplanted and I had less bother with snails compared to last years direct sowing

[veggiechicken]

I wondered what is the best way for other veg like beetroot, carrots, parsnips or cabbage, I sow beetroot in a seed bed but would there be any advantage starting them off in module's, or cabbage which I grow in module's would they be better to sown direct?

I start beetroot in modules and plant them out when they have a few leaves. I don't split the multiseeded ones but plant them as a clump.
Parsnips are sown direct as they resent being transplanted.
Carrots are sown direct but in buckets, not open ground.
Lettuce and salad leaves are sown direct in the GH - I don't grow it outdoors.
Peas, beans, cucurbits all started in modules.
Brassicas also in modules but I grow very few of those - not enough to justify a seed bed.

See, I can be sensible sometimes.

[lolie]

Peas, beans, cucurbits all started in modules.

Interesting. I direct sow all of those because I find they're easily damaged during transplantation.

I always start tomatoes in modules or 2 inch pots, though. They don't seem to care how many times you transplant them or at what size.

[rary]

I start beetroot in modules and plant them out when they have a few leaves. I don't split the multiseeded ones but plant them as a clump.
Parsnips are sown direct as they resent being transplanted.
Carrots are sown direct but in buckets, not open ground.
Lettuce and salad leaves are sown direct in the GH - I don't grow it outdoors.
Peas, beans, cucurbits all started in modules.
Brassicas also in modules but I grow very few of those - not enough to justify a seed bed.

See, I CAN be sensible sometimes.

I will need to go and see if there is a blue moon in the sky

[Penellype]

It depends a bit on the time of year and what space I have, and a lot on the variety of veg, but I've never had any success at all with the conventional outdoor seedbed where you grow seedlings to transplant elsewhere. This is what I usually do:
Early spinach, lettuce, carrots and beetroot sown direct into hotbed - I want these to grow as fast as possible so I don't want a check to growth from transplanting.
Carrots and parsnips are always sown direct into their final positions as they don't transplant well. Florence fennel and spinach also seems happier sown direct. Potatoes and onion sets are planted where they are to grow.
Increasingly I am experimenting with sowing salad greens (spinach, lettuce, mizuna etc) in mushroom trays and thinning them for baby leaves as they grow. However I also grow lettuces under lights at home where I sow a few seeds in a pot then transplant the seedlings into individual pots.
I used to sow leeks direct but I've got better results from starting them in a deep pot and transplanting later.
Peas, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes and melons are sown indoors in their own pot (2 beans or 5 peas to a 3.5 inch pot) and the whole thing is planted out later.
Beetroot, swedes and turnips are sown in modules, 2-3 seeds in each, and planted out later.
Other brassicas are sown several to a pot (I usually count out how many of each I want), potted up into individual pots and grown on until a decent size before planting out.