[AmandaLouise]

Hi everyone

Me again, I know this will sound really thick, I have 50 free sample seeds from DT Brown - Parsnip Duchess F1.  The instructions say sow outdoors Jan to May, it says protect early sowings with cloches if soil cold and wet.  I am in sunny Manchester, its often cold and wet! should I leave it till May, as I dont have any cloches yet.  Or should I use the window sill to get them going?  But then reluctant to do that as 50 of them with take up a lot of room.  I have a greenhouse at the allotment, should I harden them off in there to begin with.  How often would they need watering?

Another wonder I have is I thorougly read packet instructions, when it comes to sowing, they never state how often to water all the seeds.

I also have some free carrot (St Valery), which are to be sown in March.

I know on here it says not to be too eager to sow too early.  But then I hear of lots of people prefer to start there seeds off to give a better chance.

Onion sets and shallots too - they are everywhere at the moment, not bought yet as the instructions are to plant in March, I notice people buy them and then store them till ready to go out.  should I do the same?  Or just get when i need at the time

Sometimes I feel I dont have a clue!!

Thanks
Amanda

[DD.]

Have a look at this thread, it may help:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=87454.0

Be very, very careful if you're thinking of transplanting parsnips, they don't like root disturbance and they also will not like the warmth of a house.

[sunshineband]

Amanda you might be interested to know that seeds planted a little later into warmer, less sodden soil often catch up those sown into cold soil (many of which rot of course, or germinate very slowly)

It would be good to buy your onion sets now so you have plenty of choice, but do keep them all separated out somewhere bright and light to stop them shooting madly all bent. Some folk grow them on in individual pots and plant them out after the last frosts.

Me, I don't want to use the compost and won't have enough indoor growing space, especially when I think ahead to tomato and chilli, pepper plants and squahes etc 

[AmandaLouise]

many thanks for this, so it will be acceptable to buy onion sets now and just leave them in the greenhouse.

I dont have anywhere except garage at home to store them, so not light there.  What about on top of kitchen units would that be okay>
cheers
Amanda

[sunshineband]

Leaving them in the greenhouse will be fine, as long as they are not all squashed up in the net bags.

Egg boxes are useful to stand them in (also useful for standing seed potatoes in before they are planted, while they chit - grow small short shoots - in the light)

[Cake Lady]

Sorry to crash your thread, but i was wondering about the onion and shallot sets too.  I noticed a lot in the garden centre I visit have already started to sprout - so would storing these in the light also be ok or would you wait and find some that haven't started growing yet?

[Christine]

I never take sets that  have started to sprout. I want my to be ready to plant when I want to  plant them not have to rush out and do them urgently. We never do onion sets up here in the grim north till start of March  you see. 

[DD.]

I'm with Christine, if they've started, you won't stop them. They've been stored in less than ideal conditions.

[Yorkie]

Re the parsnip seeds, I never sow until late March or into April; no point in them sulking or rotting off in cold soil for several months.  They always catch up.

[Cake Lady]

I never take sets that  have started to sprout. I want my to be ready to plant when I want to  plant them not have to rush out and do them urgently. We never do onion sets up here in the grim north till start of March  you see. 

Thanks for that - i didn't think it looked good so left them.  Glad i did!