What have you got outside?

[BumbleB]

Hi, I know we should wait til our ground is warmed and the risk of frost is passed. And that this varies depending on what part of the country we are in.

But, what have other grapes already planted on their plot or lotties?

I have lettuces, radish, spring onion that have germinated in the ground and carrot and parsnip sowed. I have garlic growing well and some spuds just getting going.

I am eager to get started putting out runner beans, courgettes and squash. these are quite large in unheated greenhouse. Can I start hardening them off?

Thanks
BB

[JimmerG]

It seems I'm ALREADY falling behind - I've stuck a few permanent bits and peices in - raspberries, asparagus and rhubarb. I've got Broad beans romping away, and my over wintered Japanese onions and spring cabbages are just coming to life.... I had a huge area of green manure but I've just turned it all in.

If I'd had the time my first early pots and and onion sets would be in the ground too.

But to answer the nub of your question - I haven't really got any non frost hardy plants in at all - they're all still protected at home in a poly growhouse, or on windowsills.

I'd say it was a little early for planting out beans, courgettes and squashes... I've only just sowed mine. A little careful hardening off would be fine though.. just keep an eye out for late frosts! In fact I reckon you'd do best keeping them cool - ie avoid hot green houses, so the plants don't go mad in their little pots before the weather is suitable outside... I've often ended up with runner beans trying to 'run' and courgettes that have been stunted in their pots because I grew them too quickly before the threat of frosts had disappeared.

J

[BumbleB]

Thanks JimmerG, I suppose I was just checking that I should hold fire but also interested in any crops that others might have got going that I have missed. I have run out of seeds to sow (methinks far too many toms) so a visit to seed shop/gc for further inspiration.

BB

[womble]

It really depends how warm it is where you are. Where I am is generally quite warm, but that's in the towns, right in the middle of the country where I am it stays alot colder. Last night it was a warm night and 4 degrees in my unheated greenhouse.

Outside I have parsnips, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, mizuna, salad leaves, turnip, onion sets, spuds, all germinated, some more successfully than others, various brassicas hanging around in modules, spring onions the same.
That's it and apart from chillies and tomatoes I haven't started anything else inside yet.
It will stay under 5 degrees in my greenhouse till a week before June, at the best. I have decided not to heat it because it just costs too much, I can just squeeze everything I need on my windowsills, it's not ideal, but the alternative is spending a load of money to get crops 3 weeks to a month earlier.

[Two_Sheds]

Hi, I know we should wait til our ground is warmed and the risk of frost is passed.

Yes, for tender plants. You can however, start tender plants (squash, sweetcorn, French beans) under cover a month or so early, so they are ready to go out when the frosts have gone.

Hardy plants (broad beans, onions, winter veg) are tough enough to be outside - indeed too much warmth from an indoor position will do them no good at all.

[Two_Sheds]

I am eager to get started putting out runner beans, courgettes and squash. these are quite large in unheated greenhouse. Can I start hardening them off?

Hardening off takes 7-10 days.
Therefore, you start it 7-10 days before you can plant out (last frost? Mid May?)

[lottie dolly]

last year i was the same,i put them under 1 of those green poly cold frames,kept it on until the last of the frost has gone,of the 2 i put out in the open,1 was frosed away,the other frosted but was severly retarded,so only under cover for results,a bit of advice is,look at to see which way the leader shoot is going,and plant it in the direction you wish the plant to trail in,so you get no bother when the cover is removed.
this year am going to knock together some 1 plant clotches,and see how things go,a bit like a piramid/umbrella,should be better,then sow some more seed later on,this will give a longer growing time,but butternut need a long growing season in the hotter weather.

[selfraising]

I've got two varieties of broad beans in, 4 types of carrot, spuds, onion, garlic, parsnip, borlotti beans (not yet germinated), peas, radish, spring onions, beetroot, turnip, mizuna, rocket, cos and lollo rosso lettuce and two types of leaf salad and Hamburg Parsley (not yet germinated).

[Two_Sheds]

I've got ... borlotti beans (not yet germinated),

You might want to watch them - they're French beans, and tender. They won't germinate in cold temps, and a frost will kill them.

[jackie j]

I have
Potatoes
greyhound cabbages ( went in yesterday )
Drawf peas ( went in yesterday )
Peas
Broad beans
Onions
Red onion
Shallots
Blackberry
Raspberry
Strawberry
Rhubarb
Blackcurrant
Gooseberry
Loganberry
Sweetpeas
I think thats it, for now anyway not got much room left lol.
Forgot
Raddish
Beetroot
Spring Onion
Spinach

[selfraising]

You might want to watch them - they're French beans, and tender. They won't germinate in cold temps, and a frost will kill them.

Yes, I did suspect that, so I have only sown 4 as an experiment and kept the majority in the gh.
Assuming our last frost is beginning up to second week of May am I alright to sow French beans now in gh to have them ready to plant out?

[BumbleB]

Thanks, I will hold fire with my runners and courgettes etc, but take a look at winter veg and fruits as suggested.

BB

[Flummery]

I have quite a bit of hardy stuff out including summer cabbage, chard, onions, shallots, broadies and climbing peas. I haven't yet sown any squash, courgettes or cukes. I have sown one type of climbing french bean - True Red Cranberry pole bean - because this one had a longer season than most last year and I'm going to get it a little more advanced before I plant it out. The rest will be sown at the end of this month. BUT it will be nearly June (if not actually June - depends on the weather at the time) before I plant them outside.

[coreopsis]

Jackie,looks like you've got all your veg under control

Outside in the ground I have:
Carrots,beetroots,onions,parsley(all sown in the last 2 days)and garlic(planted earlier on)

Outside in the seed trays:
Spinach,cabbage,brussels,peas,celeriacs,lettuce,various herbs and flowers

Inside:
Tomatoes,chillies
Cabbage and brussels-just to help out with the germination,they will go out soon.

I was going to start this week cukes,butternut and pumpkin

I read that SR has started french climbeans this week,I was thinking if it's not too early.I'm going to wait with mine week at least.

[Eyren]

In the ground: garlic, shallots, onions, spring onions, carrots, celeriac, broad beans, sweet peas, spinach, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, coriander (plus of couse perennials such as rhubarb and redcurrant)

Germinating/growing on outdoors: peas, parsnips, calabrese, mini cauli; potatoes in containers

Indoors, growing nicely: toms, peppers, chillies, aubergine, okra, basil

Indoors, recently sown: courgettes, squash, sweetcorn, cucumber, summer savory, nasturtiums, French marigold, pot marigold, catnip

Indoors, about to sow (will go outside as soon as it starts germinating): beetroot, kohl rabi

Climbing beans will have to wait a couple of weeks - I'm sowing by the moon, and I reckoned this month's "fruit" phase was a bit too early for them...