The once a week sowing experiment!

[veggiechicken]

Is this practical? Sow a couple of seeds of the same veggies every week throughout the year? For example, a pinch of lettuce seeds, a handful of peas, some beetroot, even a tomato or two.
I'd like to keep a succession of veg growing without the major chores of pricking out lots of seedlings all at once, or of gluts (I wish). I'd also like it to become such a routine that I don't have to think about it - you know the sort of thing - every Saturday morning, fill a few pots, grab the same packets of seeds, sprinkle a few in each pot, then pot on those that have grown or preferably leave them to grow to maturity without interference.
What veg can you think of that I could experiment with?
Don't be afraid to tell me that this is totally impractical

[Feral007]

I'm with you VC, we want to get the succession thing happening. I was thinking last night 'What a pity I didn't plant some seeds last week, because it was so quick to just plant 4 lots of seeds into containers this week.'
I'm planning (if the wind ever takes a breath) to sprinkle small corners of the bed that is already going, with seeds. Then when the next two beds get done, I can do some in each of those as they are finished. That will mean that I have 3-5 weeks worth of succession planting.

Need to get son into doing the pots bit as I hate fiddling with pots. I just bung them in the ground and give them lots of encouragement!

[Vince G]

Like your thinking VC. In my first full year at the lottie this year, I've wasted more than I thought I would. Lettuces and radishes gone to seed, runners big and stringy, courgettes getting too large. Particualry things that won't freeze or that I prefer not to freeze.

There are some things which I reckon will always come all at once such as the bean families, and obviously things that set a lot of fruits on the one plant like squash, melons etc. Also, I wonder if plants planted later in warmer weather will catch up those that were planted earlier anyway, meaning they all mature at the same time again.

I suppose the way to harvest over a longer period is to buy a number of varieties that are designed to crop late or early for their species - for instance I have 3 brussels varieties in, with the hope that we'll have sprouts from about November to March. The only problem then is that you end up with an awful lot of spare seeds and as Dr Vince has discovered previously, there are a lot of people on this site with SAP (seed addiction purchase) and I would not want to be responsible for any new seed junkies!

Interesting question though, should prompt a bit of debate !!

[darcyvuqua]

I've sown radish spring onions and carrots today and plan on sowing a few seeds of each every weekend only a couple at a time as they are in troughs on the inside of our window sills got to be honest it will be nice eating something home grown over winter


That is if they do infact grow!

[veggiechicken]

Thanks BM - I recognise a couple of names on there -
So Lettuce, rocket, chard, spring onions, cress, cabbage, spinach. maybe leeks and cauliflower seem to be the front runners, and, usefully, they're also the ones that you don't want a glut of as many of them are not freezeable .
Maybe radish and mixed salad leaves too. Any more..........?

[Two_Sheds]

the major chores of pricking out lots of seedlings

If you sow into modules, you don't have any pricking out to do at all

Lettuces and radishes gone to seed, runners big and stringy, courgettes getting too large.

- don't sow more than you think you'll use, so don't sow all the pack of lettuces, just a dozen perhaps. Also, don't pick F1s that are all going to mature at once, choose an heirloom variety that will mature over a period.
I sow lettuce every few weeks anyway, into modules. As space becomes available, they get planted out. They seem pretty happy to sit in modules for a while.

- Radishes: I can't grow them at all. Ask someone else

- Beans: either pick them more frequently, or allow them to develop into seeds and use them as butter beans in soups & stews (I prefer the white flowered varieties for their seed, they look more appetising than the purple ones.)


However, because beans have a relatively short growing season in the UK, you can't really stagger them very much. Choose different varieties though, which mature at different times.
I've found Bridgewater come first, then Cosse Violette, then the other borlottis, etc.
Butter beans come late, with soya beans last of all

[alldigging]

\You could probably divide up the seeds into one of those containers for pills so you are reminded to sow little and often.

[Two_Sheds]

^ or use a month-by-month concertina file. As you remove seeds, move the pack forward a month

[veggiechicken]

If you sow into modules, you don't have any pricking out to do at all

I sow lettuce every few weeks anyway, into modules. As space becomes available, they get planted out. They seem pretty happy to sit in modules for a while.

I use modules for the larger seeds or to avoid root disturbance but don't really want to single sow for this experiment -so it would be several seeds sown in one module each week.
I'm not really looking for ways to organise my seed stash either, more ways to organise ME! To keep a small but steady supply of edibles going around the year - preferably using the same packets of seeds until they are completely used up.
Since I don't have an allotment or much suitable garden for veggies (too many trees and rocks) most of the growing will be in the greenhouse or in pots.
Keep your thoughts coming everyone, I intend to start this weekend

[PyreneesPlot]

What about turnips and beetroot?
Saw a thing on TV a few years back of a guy who grew them commercially under fleece and harvested right through the winter. I'd like to try it, but we are too sluggy.

[Potstubsdustbins]

My seed packets are in a box at the side of the potting bench along with my note book.

Lettuce are sown two seeds to a plastic module 6 modules at a time, every 3 to 4 weeks.

Radish are sown in cut down Morrisons buckets 30 odd seed per container again every 3 to 4 weeks.

Spring onions are sown sprinkled into a 3 inch pot 2 pots every 2 weeks. These are then sown as a clump into their finale place.

Carrots into a container 5 sowings 5 weeks apart.

Mesclun mixed leaves go in a trough type container every 6 weeks.

Peas are sown all at once, you can never have enough fresh garden peas and if I am lucky enough to get a glut they freeze well. Same with calabrese, cauli's etc, they all freeze well.

I can only foresee one problem for you. You will use a lot less seed for the same amount of produce therefore you will get 'seed purchase withdrawal' symptoms.

Colin

[mrbadexample]

This is something I'm very bad at - successional sowing. I always get all of one thing ready at the same time.

[veggiechicken]

My seed packets are in a box at the side of the potting bench along with my note book.
Lettuce are sown two seeds to a plastic module 6 modules at a time, every 3 to 4 weeks.
Radish are sown in cut down Morrisons buckets 30 odd seed per container again every 3 to 4 weeks.
Spring onions are sown sprinkled into a 3 inch pot 2 pots every 2 weeks. These are then sown as a clump into their finale place.
Carrots into a container 5 sowings 5 weeks apart.
Mesclun mixed leaves go in a trough type container every 6 weeks.
Peas are sown all at once, you can never have enough fresh garden peas and if I am lucky enough to get a glut they freeze well. Same with calabrese, cauli's etc, they all freeze well.

I can only foresee one problem for you. You will use a lot less seed for the same amount of produce therefore you will get 'seed purchase withdrawal' symptoms.

Colin

Thanks you Potty, that's very helpful!! I'm going to break your schedule down into weekly sowings and see how it goes. I just want to have a routine and try to stick to it
Don't worry about seed withdrawal - I'll still find a way to indulge my obsession

[Two_Sheds]

I'd like to try it, but we are too sluggy.

When I first started, I sowed everything direct. The slugs ate the lot.

Now, I just accept that I have to sow into modules first, then plant out when the seedlings are bigger & tougher

[Two_Sheds]

use a month-by-month concertina file. As you remove seeds, move the pack forward a month

Lettuce are sown ... 6 modules at a time, every 3 to 4 weeks.

Radish are sown ...every 3 to 4 weeks.

Spring onions are sown sprinkled into a 3 inch pot 2 pots every 2 weeks...

That's pretty much what I do ... maybe I didn't explain it very well