seeds

[raine]

Hi all, I'm sitting down with seed catalogues and spending far too much (well in my head any way! ) but i am a little wary of growing from seed as i've had some disasters, so I thought... do you always have to start seeds off in propagaters or if they go straight in do they ever catch up with their luckier (and much more well looked after) cousins? Also can anybody tell me which seed catalogues they recommend. People seem to get really good bargains from places like lidl but we haven't got one round here so i'm stuck with catalogues.
thanks:

[andrewo]

Some seeds can be planted outsides, it depends if you want successive crops. Starting indoors, under glass (propagator), means you can get a few months in advance and then plant seeds when you plant out your young plants. You can certainly plant beans, peas, carrots, lettuce and most veg straight into the ground as a seed.

[nick the grief]

Hi all, I'm sitting down with seed catalogues and spending far too much (well in my head any way! ) but i am a little wary of growing from seed as i've had some disasters, so I thought... do you always have to start seeds off in propagaters or if they go straight in do they ever catch up with their luckier (and much more well looked after) cousins? Also can anybody tell me which seed catalogues they recommend. People seem to get really good bargains from places like lidl but we haven't got one round here so i'm stuck with catalogues.
thanks:

Try Wilkinsons they are good for seeds as well.

[mazel-bee]

For me franchi seeds win every time. They are fairly priced and you get loads of good quality seeds. They will happily send a catalogue too.

[Alice]

You could try the internet Raine. Lots of seed companies on there.

[Geordie]

As a rule of thumb, anything that needs warmth to grow in will need heat to help the seed germinate. This also applies to anything you are sowing early, such as exhibition or large onions etc. Everything else, depending upon the time of year is either sown indoors just in pots or directly outdoors.
Seed packet will tell you temperature needed for germination...anything 60F+ is probably needing a propagater. I always took sowing 'under glass' to mean sowing seeds in trays, indoors, and covering with piece of glass or polythene for that bit of extra warmth.

Generally things sown indoors a few weeks ahead of those sown outdoors should see a slightly earlier harvest. For example I sow some early peas in lengths of drainpipe (see another thread) in February in the unheated greenhouse, I also sow peas outdoors by about April. I expect the peas sown inside and then transplanted outside to produce a crop 3-4 weeks earlier than the outdoor sown ones.

A lot depends upon the seed you sow - F1 seed is designed to be ready at the same time so giving you a possible glut. Why not try a heritage variety, despite what the catalogues tell you I find it easier to grow a heritage variety to provide a succession rather than a few different F1 varieties to get the same staggered harvest. Getting off the point me thinks!

That is half the fun of choosing your seeds, not just what to grow but when to harvest and how you can achieve it.

If you'd rather not sow seed try buying mini plants, eg Marshalls - Bit more expensive but at least you are guaranteed a start.

As for your seed disasters, you dont say what, but do you know why they were a disaster?

Last year I used Edwin Tucker, Thomas Etty, Real Seed Co, and Seeds of Italy - can recommend them all.

Good luck

[raine]

Hi all thanks for advice- as for my seed disasters- last year i planted tomatoes, peppers and chillies ina heated propagator, they were ok until i put them in pots but they never got past the weak spindly stage ( other seeds would point and laugh ) then suddenly they would just collapse. Also i havent got any windowsills and this year my son says that his not sharing his desk with 'all that mud' (bit unreasonable really ) so any advice that would stop me murdering a whole new generation of seeds would me most appreciative P.S hope this reply doesn,t come up twice- seem to have lost the first one !)

[yoanbob]

hi raine, why not get yourself a cheap un heated plastic green house?
they are very compact and as long as you remember to water work really well.

[raine]

I have put greenhouse, shed,cloches etc on christmas list but have to say chances are marginal-bit of a tight budget so i'm looking at cheap and cheerful really!

[Getoffmylande]

Raine if santa was not good to you on the greenhouse front try the for sale boards at the local supermarket. Ours cost us £15 and a couple of hours dimantling found on Tesco's notice board.Kings seeds are good and if you are in an allotment society you get cheaper seeds from them or try Wallis Seeds on 01245 360413. They will send a catalogue and are very reasonable for stuff. Only problem is the catalogue is without pictures but if you know what you want is a picture that important. Happy hunting

[PAULW]

Robert Dyas had a 3 tier greenhouse in the sale for about 12 quid

[Mrs Dobby]

I have put greenhouse, shed,cloches etc on christmas list but have to say chances are marginal-bit of a tight budget so i'm looking at cheap and cheerful really!

Hi raine, keep an eye on Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) as we managed to get a 10x8' greenhouse for free, we had to go and dismantle it and bring it back to the plot, but at zero cost its certainly an option if funds are tight!

[SueA]

Hi Raine, it might be that your seeds aren't getting enough light as you have no windowsills to put them on or possibly they are 'damping off' where they suddenly collapse all at once, this can be due to overwatering, problems with the compost or the seedlings being too cold or crowded. Try using a good fresh compost & not letting them get too cold & wet. You can also get Cheshunt compound which you can water onto the compost to protect the seedlings. I start all my plants off in the kitchen on the windowsills & table & some in a small electric propagator, it only cost about £12 & is self-contained with a ventilated lid so maybe you could squeeze one in somewhere?

[raine]

Many thanks for all your advice- the ones about greenhouse bargains are a bit of an eyeopener-a-round here i've never seen one under 100 quid so I'll certainly be looking around now!
also thanks for seed advice I going to give it all a go- you never know !

Raine

[Mrs Dobby]

Good Luck Raine!!

Let us know how you get on!