chard and lettuce sowing

[spennysaint]

HI

I'm going to sow some chard and salad bits in pots. Can i sow them directly into the pots outside now or should i put them in the mini greenhouse first?

Claire

[Flummery]

Mine are in the cold greenhouse - but that's because I've got one! I should think down there in London you could sow them outside ok.

[spennysaint]

thanks flummery, i've just done some in the greenhouse and some outside so i'll see what happens

[selfraising]

Yes, thanks flummery, because I just sowed my Chard straight outside today not quite knowing what to do with it, so I'm relieved!!

[gojiberry]

Lettuce prefers a cool environment to germinate in. Chard will probably germinate a little quicker in the greenhouse. Don't sow all your chard, as early chard and spinach usually goes to seed fairly quickly and you may want to sow another lot in May/June to see you through the winter.

Ian

[spennysaint]

i've only sown a litte bit of chard, planning to sow the rest in my allotment once it's in a state where i can plant things! might get some spinach tomorrow now that you mention it

[snakeshack]

why not try spinach beet its more bolt resistant?

[Flummery]

why not try spinach beet its more bolt resistant?

Doesn't taste as nice though - in my opinion!

[pigletwillie]

Doesn't taste as nice though - in my opinion!

I agree, its like eating dock leaves.

[Eyren]

I'm following Charles Dowding's advice and trying different spinach varieties at different times of the year. I've just sown some "Bloomsdale" (from Wiggly Wigglers), which he says is a good early variety but prone to bolting in summer; in a month or two I'll sow some "Matador", which did very well for me in last year's damp weather; and in late summer I'll sow "Medania", which apparently overwinters well.

The other thing about spinach is that you need to grow lots because it cooks down so much - and you can always use the thinnings in salad. I'm sowing it in modules for use on my lottie, and praying I can keep the slugs off it!

[Pootle]

I've inadvertantly managed to over-winter last seasons Swiss Chard (Bright Lights)!

I'd like to say it was good gardening practices on my part, but the truth is we didn't harvest it all and it got abandoned on the allotment. Went down last week to get things into shape and there were lovely new shoots poking their heads out - delicious and it felt like a real bonus eating something so colourful at this time of year!

[matthew2riches]

My lettuce I forgot about is up:

The Eco Life Morland Road Allotments Plot 79 LETTUCE!