When to sow , When to plant out ?

[Mondyman]

This is my first year with an allotment ( i have chickens at the mo ) and i want to get all green fingered ( ooo-eerr ! )

Anyway the chickens have cleared it completely and ive set their run at the top of the allotment which gives me a lot of planting ground....its rotovated now and covered at mo...

What im after is a sowing / planting guide...
My dad has his own allotment about 8 down but i dont want to be hassling him every 5 mins on what to do next...

So im aiming to grow potatoes ( maris piper ) , beetroor , onions and carrots.

Ive bought a small polytunnel for my lettuce and cucumber plants .

Can someone post up a guide to these veggies of when to sow them ( got a greenhouse outside in garden to bring them on ....When do i transplant them in ?
Soory to sound newbie-ish but want to make sure i get a decent ( ish ) crop of veg this summer ( so i can smile at the old man wink wink )

Cheers Gavin

[Nicos]

Hello- and welcome to the Vine.....
here is a good link to follow

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_..._veg_index.asp

hope that gives you some idea!!

It's a great feeling having your own bit of land isn't it???

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Gavin, and a warm welcome to the madhouse oft known as the 'vine!

Dont worry about sounding 'newbyish', we've all been there (in fact, I'm still there!), but there is a great guide I've a lionk to, courtesy of Nick the Grief!

http://warkcom.net/live/images/cme_r...%20planner.pdf

Hope tis of some use!

[rustylady]

Buy your seed potatoes now, put them somewhere cool and light to chit (sprout) - I use egg trays - the end with the most "eyes" up. They can be planted end of March.

If you're growing onions from sets you can buy and plant them now. If growing from seed they need to be sown now. Full instructions on seed packets. If you order a seed catalogue from Dobies they include good growing instructions and a seed sowing chart. Grow your Own also contained a seed sowing chart a couple of months ago, could you get a back copy?

Carrots - start sowing in March, Beetroot about the same. Depends where you live, if you live north of england or scotland you may have to leave sowing till end of March or beginning of April.

Cucumbers are tender and will need to be started indoors in pots. Plant out when no more risk of frost. Good luck, and enjoy

[Mondyman]

Cracking links there thanks , cheers for the nice reception..

Ill post up pics as i go..my lotty blog lol

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

I would recommend Dr Hessayon's 'The Vegetable and Herb Expert' - it is very useful for just those sort of questions and has loads of interesting tips to boot.

Enjoy your green fingers

[Mrs Dobby]

Seconded Shirley, its a great book, and one I believe Tescos has had on offer recently!

[berksmike]

I agree with everyone... Great book for beginners and for more experienced veg growers.... Saw it in Tescos for just £3.97!!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hello Gavin - welcome to the Vine - there are lots of clever old grapes here who know almost everything - so ask away - and the rest of us are friendly too!

Happy growing!

[vicki lorraine]

Thanks for the book tip im at tescos tomoz so will have to have a look at that one.