Is my schedule going to be too late

[esmed]

After a reasonably successful first attempt at growing veggies last year i'm having another bash this year. However I have foolishly booked a holiday in just over a week's time and i'm now worried that my schedule for planting will be too late.

We go on hols on the 7th of April and return on 14th April and this year I intend to grow the following:

* Potatoes - wilja, charlotte and desiree
* Sweetcorn - Sparrow F1 variety
* Carrots - Autumn King 2 and Chantenay Red Cored 2
* Runner Beans - Scarlet Emperor
* Pea's - Feltham First and Oregon Sugar Pod
* Spinach - Samish F1
* Onions - From Sets
* Leek - Sultan F1

Most of the packets of seeds indicate that I should be ok to start my planting when I get back on the 14th but does anyone else have any thoughts on this. Am i going to be too late?

I was considering putting my potatoes in put am concerned that if for some bizarre reason the UK has no rain whilst im away then they'll be wasted.

I was also planning on starting some stuff off in the propagator and growhouse but again with no-one to water i'm not sure about doing this.

Advice and tips much appreciated!

[shirlthegirl43]

Bung your spuds in - they will be fine even if there is no rain while you are away. They only really need regular watering when the tubers are forming.

The other stuff should be fine either sown before or after the hols - carrots take ages to get going anyway. I would try to get the onion sets in before you go too to give them as long a growing time as you can.

Enjoy your hols

[esmed]

Bung your spuds in - they will be fine even if there is no rain while you are away. They only really need regular watering when the tubers are forming.

The other stuff should be fine either sown before or after the hols - carrots take ages to get going anyway. I would try to get the onion sets in before you go too to give them as long a growing time as you can.

Enjoy your hols

Thanks for the quick response!!

I think the likelihood of there being no rain at all for a week is pretty slim so I guess i should be ok.

Last year we went to Wales for a week in a may and had someone to come in and water it and was amazing how much everything had grown in a week! I've just noticed that you are from Pembrokeshire and that's where we went last year!

I saw on the news this morning that some area's of the country are forecast snow again this week . I thought we were over the frosts but maybe not.

[shirlthegirl43]

Where did you visit in Pembrokeshire? We have snow forecast for next week too but I will believe it when it happens mind you I have often said that this part of the world seems to get its worst weather around Easter time.

[Bigmallly]

How about getting hold of some material to act as capillary matting and stand your trays/modules on trays of water soaked material.

[esmed]

Where did you visit in Pembrokeshire? We have snow forecast for next week too but I will believe it when it happens mind you I have often said that this part of the world seems to get its worst weather around Easter time.

We stayed close to Ambleston kind of out in the middle of nowhere. I absolutely loved Pembrokeshire and really didn't wanted to come home. We spent most days out and about exploring and doing the lovely coastal walks.

How about getting hold of some material to act as capillary matting and stand your trays/modules on trays of water soaked material.

That's not a bad idea and one that i'd have never thought of! What would be the best type of material to use?

[shirlthegirl43]

Ambleston is about 15 or so miles from us.

You can buy capillary matting in Homebase or prolly your local garden centre - not sure if Wilkinsons sell it.

[Bigmallly]

That's not a bad idea and one that i'd have never thought of! What would be the best type of material to use?

Microfibre cloths spring to mind, I went to the £1 shop & picked up 10 fibre dishcloths, They hold the water for ages once soaked.