How long can I leave veg in pots before planting out?

[kathyd]

Hi

We're moving to Britanny in the summer, and I want to plant some veg seeds in pots now ready to put in the garden when we arrive - probably end of July / early August. If I plant some things in pots here, would they still be OK to plant out that late on? Or will I traumatise them completely?? I'm thinking of broccoli, leeks, brussels sprouts and courgettes amongst other things.

Thx

[zazen999]

The others, yes - just give them big pots - but the courgettes, I'd grow a few in pots and put a few in the ground to harvest before you move. For the sake of a few seeds, better get half a harvest than none at all.

[kathyd]

Thanks, good idea . I suppose I'm just frustrated that I can't be in two places at once. Never mind, I can make up for it by growing veg in the polytunnel over the winter - never been able to try that before - 'spect I'll need loads of advice once I start!

[bazzaboy]

"I don't beleeeeve it!" lol.... where are you moving from Kathyd? If you're taking stuff to plant out (is there no restriction on cross border plants?) I assume there's a workable garden in which case I'd want to get that going... (and there might already be something usable in it even...). If local markets are not selling any plantlets by the time you get there it will probably mean you've missed the opportunity anyway, but even in August you can sow stuff and with a bit of protection get it to usable state as Autumn approaches... e.g. leeks, chard, some brassicas, salad stuff, turnips, spinach... Anything you start now aim to harvest early but if you're planning on moving the plants by July you'll need a fleet of pantechnicans, it'll be like the X-Factor heading for Brittany! Have fun, sounds a gas!
ps I think there are other Grapes on this List that live in Brittany, might they possibly pass on some surplus plantlets with a friendly Hello....?

[VirginVegGrower]

There is a problem sneaking plants into this country but it is possible Don't know about sneaking them out! You lucky thing - I am most envious! I would take lots of seed that you may not get out in France - some of the olde english varieties, but you are going to pick up lovely stuff in the markets so cheap I wouldn't bother.

[kathyd]

Hi Bazzaboy

Doh, well I know it seems a bit bonkers, but I don't have a very big garden in Leeds and it's quite shady, and I've not managed to grow anything much here really, I'm just so looking forward to trying properly in the new garden . A pantechnican eh? Now I hadn't thought of that! And Tony thought he was getting away with a van! Poor thing's already wondering how to fit 3 fruit trees in the Skoda at easter . Maybe I'll just have to take a token plant or two for the summer, *sulk*.

[kathyd]

Hi Virginveggrower

We've taken plants over before and no-one's batted an eyelid. We did check the prohibited list and avoided the naughty ones, but customs were so laid back we might as well not have bothered . I've got some seeds from the Real Seed company including things you don't find so often in the shops, cos I'm fully expecting I'll have to be selling things at the market in order to make some money to pay for the wood to burn on the fire to cook the food that's grown in the garden that we've bought (ooo, and I managed that without even a glass of wine to help!). But you're right, the markets will be a fab place to explore and buy things

[bazzaboy]

LOL... Leeds! Should've guessed... great city. No sulking, it'll be great... And you'll have more than enough to do getting it all organised.

There's a "Gardening in Brittany" site (in English) at
Brittany gardening, horticulture, plants, flowers, trees & vegetables
including a monthly guide (flowers, fruit, veg). One big difference will be in average temperatures and the length of the growing season (my brother on the south coast of England is always a month+ ahead of me and Brittany's another 50 miles south and you're another 50 miles north.... So you're going what, 300+ miles south, perhaps approaching 400 and the rough equation is 100 miles = 1 degree C so that's a 3 to 4 degree C difference in annual average temperatures... That's h--u--g--e (I think that's about 2 centuries of global warming, isn't it? ) After Christmas you'll be sowing and tending stuff while we're all still chipping at the ice wearing woolly socks and balaclavas!

Second thought, we're all coming with you....! Good luck, have fun, and stay on the list!

[TonyF]

Bringing plants from the UK to France shouldn't be a problem at all, those of us living here already do it quite often and you can get plants sent from the UK via the mail so there are very very few restrictions on importing plants here. To be honest, if you're coming that late in the growing season, I'd be a bit more cautious.

I think the only way you'll have successful transplanting is to sow the seeds late, which may well work, if you bring everything over very small and then plant them out, because you will get a longer growing season here. Last year I put some very late tomato seeds in (July) and we had good harvests on them right through until the first frosts hit in November.

I wouldn't rush to put anything in tho, unless you've worked out the watering - longer and hotter days here remember and then there's the canicule to think about too and you'll be transplanting just before the height of the summer - I'd take things a bit slower. But in the autumn, you could plant perpetual and seed leeks, blette and mache seeds etc and start thinking about getting some things organised for next year which will get you off to a good start.

Edie: The plant fairs are staring now and will run until the end of April/beginning of May but the brico sheds should be getting the autumn planting stuff in in late summer. But as prices here for kit do tend to be a bit higher (in some cases much higher) I'd still buy as much of your kit (non-growy things) as I could in the Uk before you come here.

[kathyd]

Hi Bazzaboy

Thanks, some really useful info. I was wondering if there was a forum for gardening in Brittany, or whether I'd have to set one up . I'm hoping the climate will be a bit better yes, although it won't be as warm as in Dordogne I don't think - but definitely better than Leeds (not hard!). When I have the garden looking immaculate and it's listed on the French equivalent of Homes & Gardens, I'll open it to the public and you can all pay me for the priviledge of coming to admire it. Lol . On the other hand, if you're ever over there you could just call in for coffee, dig me out of the nettles and advise me on what I'm doing wrong and how to stop the moles eating all me veg... I'm definitely staying with this forum, it's great

[kathyd]

Hi TonyF

Wow, gardening advice at 6:45 am... is that your time or mine?? Thanks for the tips, I'll sow my 'french' seeds later than I'd planned then, and limit the quantity just so I have a few things to keep me quiet until I can get the autumn sowings started. We've got 4 or 5 beds ready for planting already, so I'm putting in asparagus and seed potatoes at easter on the basis they shouldn't need much attention and they'll be OK if I neglect them until June when we'll be over again, and a few strawberry plants for the same reason. You're right about watering, and we've started placing butts everywhere - it does rain quite a bit in Brittany, bit like Leeds really so we'll set something up when we're over there using recycled rainwater hopefully.

Tell me more about these 'plant fairs' - I've discovered the trocs et puces (fleamarkets), which could become a serious passion I think! - but haven't seen any plant fairs advertised - wonder if this is a dordogne thing?

As we'll be 'retiring' early and I have no pension and Tony's taking a reduced pension to do it, we'll be living on a pittance, and french prices are higher for almost everything as far as I can see, so we're buying as much kit as poss before we go because it's cheaper here. After that I want to grow everything we can, and save our own seed, to reduce costs further. An adventure, but loads of fun I hope .

[Two_Sheds]

how to stop the moles eating all me veg...

Moles don't eat veg, not even French moles (and the French will eat anything)

[Patchninja]

Moles don't eat veg, not even French moles (and the French will eat anything)

Now, now, Twosheds!

Where in Brittany will you be? There's quite a difference in climate between one area and another. I live on the north coast - Côte d'Armor. Can be very cold. Not at all the same climate as Tony has down in the Dordogne. It's not often we have to worry about a canicule (heatwave) hahaha! And when we do, the rest of France is unbearably hot and they all want to be here at the seaside

There are a lot of plant festivals throughout the earlier summer but if you're coming in July / August, it'll be a bit late for them. It'll give you the rest of the year to get your garden all lovely for the following year!

[King Carrot]

Moles don't eat veg, not even French moles (and the French will eat anything)

Mole and two veg - could go down big in the markets of France

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi Virginveggrower

We've taken plants over before and no-one's batted an eyelid. We did check the prohibited list and avoided the naughty ones, but customs were so laid back we might as well not have bothered . I've got some seeds from the Real Seed company including things you don't find so often in the shops, cos I'm fully expecting I'll have to be selling things at the market in order to make some money to pay for the wood to burn on the fire to cook the food that's grown in the garden that we've bought (ooo, and I managed that without even a glass of wine to help!). But you're right, the markets will be a fab place to explore and buy things

Lots of french plants have made it to my garden - not sure how. I figured it wouldn't be a problem the other way - it's only here that we are bound by red tape and higher prices.
As for firewood you go fetching fallen wood from copses, etc. and chop it - that's what we do here whilst watching our few neighbours pay hundreds each year for logs. We also followed a truck that had chippings and a chipper recently, pulled up alongside at a roundabout and asked them if we could have them. They were saved a long drive back to the yard and we gave them a tenner beer money. It is providing chips for the hens to scratch in, which then gets put on the garden with their poop; also has barked our lottie paths.
I am sure you will love it en France and soon adapt to picking up bargains. They have a lot of the gate/honesty box purchasing out there. Hope you are going to have at least three french hens - we have Marans and love them!
If you are ever stuck for seeds you know where I am. I suggest you fill up your footwells and cover with duvets.
Still enviousHappy moving and Bon Voyage