Spring Cropping Plants

[matthew2riches]

What should be planted from seed now?

I am really keen to make my allotment work next year so need to keep on top of sowing!

So... What seeds should I be planting now for cropping early next year? I have a greenhouse if it helps!

[TEB]

Spring Greens can be sown now, some varieties of onions, a bit later on there is garlic, broad beans some peas varieties.

[cazsudz]

Swiss chard - yum

[Two_Sheds]

If you wanted PSB, sprouts etc you should've sown them in April/May, and planted out in July.
You might still be able to pick up a few plants in garden centres ?

[WeeGarden]

Sorry if this is a bit stooopid...

Spring greens are just immature cabbages, right? Not a type of cabbage?

If it's just immature cabbage, could I use my Greyhound seeds?

[TEB]

Sorry if this is a bit stooopid...

Spring greens are just immature cabbages, right? Not a type of cabbage?

If it's just immature cabbage, could I use my Greyhound seeds?

In theory spring greens are the leaves of any of the brassicas like cabbage brussels etc, these would grow on the cut off stems that were left in the ground, nowadays you can buy seed that are specifically intended for early year cropping. Greyhound may do but I dont know how it will cope with overwintering conditions, you may get away with it if you were in the east of the M4 and protected them.

[Snadger]

Sorry if this sounds patronising but to make gardening more enjoyable a small amount of planning is advisable. If you think ahead to when a crop is going to be harvested it's best if you have an idea in your mind what's going to follow on. It's no good harvesting the crop then thinking "Now what can I put in here?"

I usually make lots od sowings of winter brassicas and leeks a wee bit earlier in the year as a mainstay so the plants are ready to pop in the ground as a space becomes available.

I've just sown two lots of spring cabbage this week.....pointy headed and ball headed. No Idea where they will go, but I know space will become available. I've also sown Japanese onion seed this week and later in the autumn I will plant jap sets also.
I'll probably sow some broad beans and peas a bit later on also.
I have small plantlets of various kales, PSB and caulies in seed beds ready to plant out when required.

Planning doesn't come naturally to me, but it's evolved as I have got older and learned from previous years shortfalls.

[WeeGarden]

Thanks TEB - I'm in Swindon, and my garden has a brick wall on two sides, house on one and wooden fence on the other, so I'm going to try!

*edit* As insurace policy, I took advantage of the Wyevale sale and bought a packet of Cabbage April.

[RobintheBobin]

I agree with Snadger...from my experience most things that crop in spring can be transplanted so there is no harm in getting them under way during the summer ready to bung in a free space.

Saying that I've ODed on the leeks and PSB this year so free space is rather hard to come by but I've got nothing against mixing veggies and flowers so the horrid gaps in the flower beds are probably going to be filled with rainbow brights swiss and also white swiss chard, spring cabbages and anything I fancy on the way

[zazen999]

I agree with Snadger...from my experience most things that crop in spring can be transplanted so there is no harm in getting them under way during the summer ready to bung in a free space.

Saying that I've ODed on the leeks and PSB this year so free space is rather hard to come by but I've got nothing against mixing veggies and flowers so the horrid gaps in the flower beds are probably going to be filled with rainbow brights swiss and also white swiss chard, spring cabbages and anything I fancy on the way

We've got rainbow chard in pots on the decking next to the canal for decoration.