Sowing Swedes in modules?

[Mr Gummidge]

Hi all,
Has anyone tried this method and had any success with it? Thinking of doing this and then transplanting into the garden later.

[lynda66]

not swedes yet, but my turnips and parsnips are working in them going to transplant them tomorrow, and see what happens

[sewer rat]

It can be done but you need to make certain that you are very careful when you transplant them, and also the planting out needs to done before the tap root gets bent or twisted against the bottom of the module.
If I were you I woud sow direct and thin out where required. In fact I would sow all my root type crops direct - the possible exception being celeriac, which given the length of time it takes to germinate and the size of the seed is best sown in modules and transplanted at a later date.
Hope this helps

[Alice]

I've sown my swedes straight into the ground Mr Gummidge and they're doing great. I don't know what there is to be gained by sowing them in modules.

[Snadger]

I've sown mine both ways to give me a bit of a succession. I've just had a thinning session today with the module sown swedes which are about golf ball size. The others which were sown direct, are about 3 inches high and should come a bit later on!

[lynda66]

lots of the seeds i've planted straight in the ground haven't germinated yet, whereas the ones in modules i can keep inside, and though planted later are roaring away, i know which one i prefer ... mind you i did sow most things a bit late lol

[lottie dolly]

i did swede in modules last year,they were not very big but were just as tasty,have done the same this year,up to now they looking good,have done 2 lots a few weeks apart,and a 3rd from seed into the ground,and these look awfull compared to the others,maybe it's because being in a module is a plant you can see,and so keep the weeds down,and in turn the pests,i notice a distinct difference between mine,the module grown ones look healthier by a long way,might even pull up the pathetic seed sown.

[SarzWix]

Andrew Tokely (T&M) writes a piece in one of the magazines about growing veg to show, and did a piece about swedes a couple of years ago. He recommends starting swedes in modules, and reckons his best roots have been grown this way. That's good enough for me I need to module sow them as I don't have the space to sow them direct - they'll be planted out where my onions are now.

[goldwolf]

Yes I have tried it this year for the first time they look rearly well far in front of the ones sown stright into the garden. good luck with them

[Demeter]

Mine are in pots - can't plant them out till we dig up the spuds...

[Cloud]

After reading this I am going to give it a try in modules

[heebiejeebie]

I used modules because I used last year's seed and wasn't sure how good it was.
40% germinated and they're doing well now they are planted out.

[zazen999]

I chuck all my swede seeds into compost in either modules, seed trays or pots and transplant - first into a seed bed and then straight into the ground. I can then hold some back and plant at different times so that i get a longer harvest.

[phil the shed]

i planted mine in half loo rolls and soon as they germinated
they were planted out, no need for thining successional crop already germinating and i would guess a 90% germination rate.
praise the lord for loo rolls.

[lynda66]

i have an easy solution regarding modules and carrots

i stuck everything in them as theres a lot not germinating out in the garden, everythings sprouting like mad, but i found i'd over watered them and some of the seeds rotted, so i was in woolies yesterday (yes i do go other places) and they do 120 small square fibre seed trays for £1.27, so i dug up the soggy modules, and separated the square things, and stuck each of these into a module. and transplanted the seeds and seedings into these

then when they sprout, they can be picked straight out and put in the garden. with the square thing and regarding carrots and parsnips, i snipped the end off

the modules keep them square, and i can have multiple trays in my boiler cupboard, which so far seems the fastest way for getting things to germinate, all new seeds are going in like this, it actually saves loads of work, saves damaging the plants when transplanting, and is great if you haven't got any room for loo rolls, or havent any loo rolls.