Success with early planting?

[Mozart321]

Hello
Has anybody had any success in planting seeds early?
I planted some Lettuce Little Gem in my coldframe today even though it says March on the packet.
I thought even if they don't germinate/succeed I have so many of the seeds anyway...

[terrier]

I sowed some mixed greens a couple of weeks ago and despite giving them loads of light I've still got very leggy seedlings, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, may as well have a go.

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, have a go. It's the triumph of hope over experience

[bobleponge]

I early planted:
Cherry Toms: Looking good, second leaves coming
Plum Toms: As above
Beef Toms: Slightly leggy
Peppers: Long time to germinate but now steady growth
Cucumbers: Playing hard to get
Chillie: Took ages but finally appeared yesterday
Onions: Now repotted
Garlic: Planted out
Melons: They went in just recently and nothing seen as yet

[gardenplot]

I planted early
Tomatoes: nothing yet
Cucumbers: nothing yet
Peas: nothing yet
Cauliflower: nicely sprouting
Cabbage: nicely sprouting
Onions: doing well, will be planting out today
Garlic: good show so far

[moggssue]

I planted early -
Garlic in pots doing really well
Garlic on lottie last weekend
Leeks in root trainers - just starting to show
Chilli and broadies at same time as leeks, nothing showing yet

Considering trying some lettuce/toms/peppers but not sure there'll be much advantage?

[Flummery]

All I've sown so far are chillies which need a long growing season - and broad beans and sweet peas in the cold greenhouse. I really don't like to get the bulk of my stuff in till March - it's often not the temperature that's the important thing but the day length and amount of light. Even with a warming climate we can't have longer daylight till March/April and I end up bringing plants in and out of the grenhouse at the day's end. I'd rather wait and have strong and stocky plants than take a chance and get whippy ones. You might get lucky but I hate to see a plant struggle. Old softie, me!

[Madasafish]

I keep a detailed sowing diary and last year I tried sowing in Jan/Feb.

I decided it was a disaster as the cold/lack of light held everything back.
This year so far I've sown (on Saturday) Busy Lizzie and chillies and a FEW tomatoes.
Full stop.

[LimeandGuinness]

Im going to try planting some early too now
Like most of you have said nothing ventured nothing gained

[milliebecks]

As above really - although I think it's probably much too early for runner beans.
I've sown some perennial flower seeds too - delphiniums, lupins, echinacea, as they seem to take ages to get going - and some sea holly, which apparently likes it chilly.
Oh - and jerusalem artichokes, which I've never even tasted let alone grown - but couldn't walk past them in B&Q the other day

[shirlthegirl43]

I have started some Jan planting peppers, toms and chillies. I also have some summer sprouting calabrese which popped up after a week.

[cottage garden]

I sowed a mass of seeds on Saturday and now have germinated lettuce, tomatoes, aubergines and cucumbers. No sign of activity with broad beans, sweet peas, chillies, herbs and cosmos but it is but early.

[Cutecumber]

runner beans.. february... it could be terminal

[piskieinboots]

runner beans.. february... it could be terminal

yep - it was sunny, I went to the pub, I came back from the pub, it wasn't sunny, frost came, fleece left off, cold frame left open ......hold the defib, this one is a gonna

[Cutecumber]

pubs have a lot to answer for