Help in getting started

[sindy]

Hello there, and please bare with me on this question. Ive had no joy at getting an allotment but have asked the farmer who I rent a barn from so waiting to here, in the meantime could someone help me get some seeds started, I am very enthusiastic but I know nothing, I want lots of vveg in the winter, what can I start growing from seeds now and how step by step do I do it, eg what compost to use and why, sorry to be a pain.

[heebiejeebie]

You could get some seed compost from the garden centre and start off some spring cabbages, cauliflower and kale. If you want veg sooner than spring, you can grow lettuce and leaf beet and probably some peas if you're quick, but peas are better sown direct I think. I don't use any special kind of compost, I think the seed stuff is a bit finer than the normal stuff, which can be a bit lumpy.

Good luck!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd sow a couple of seeds in individual modules/little pots rather than sowing seed in seed trays, Sindy, as it's easier to plant the contents of the pot into the ground than tease apart seedlings from a seed tray.

For super simple sowing, buy some jiffies from the garden centre (they are dried compressed peat pellets surrounded by a little net bag. You add water and they re hydrate and grow!). You can sow a couple of seeds into each jiffy and plant the whole thing into the ground, which saves disturbing the roots. Look for the Suttons seed stand at the garden centre, they'll be on there.

Remember to hoik out the weediest of the two seedling when it comes to planting out time!

TIP - Unless you really really really like cabbage, don't go mad and sow - like - 50 pots with seed! They will ALL be ready at the same time......

[sindy]

thanks for that everyone, ive got two large half cider barrels in the garden and one ive just planted with betroot and the other lettuces. As for the rest will have to wait until i get to the garden centre at weekend. Im so excited,

[Nicos]

Carrots should be fine too.