Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: gardener247 on February 16, 2010, 17:57

Title: February sow and growing plan
Post by: gardener247 on February 16, 2010, 17:57
i've sowed shallots onions and garlic under fleeces planted a few fruit trees and have some chili and sweet peppers and aubergnes on the windowsill what are you planning
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Cazzy on February 16, 2010, 18:16
I have the same window ledge stuff on the go along with some celery and early cabbage which its probably too early for.

I'm not sure about the onions but your garlic doesn't need fleece, they benefit from the cold.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Rangerkris on February 16, 2010, 19:28
I got some bits started, Cucumbers,Toms, Aubergines, Thyme, Sweet Peppers, Carrots and Parsnips.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: mumofstig on February 16, 2010, 19:39
Well the couple of chilies I sowed are doing ok so far, but the aubergines with the same treatment have turned up their toes and died on me :(
I've no double glazing and I think it's just been a tad too cold on the window ledge, despite moving them into the room at night :unsure:

Hey ho. I'm in no hurry to resow, specially as the long range forecast (BBC) is for below average temps to remain into March :(

Of course if it does warm up before then :lol: ...................
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: andy135 on February 16, 2010, 19:46
I'm holding off for a bit. We had more snow today. I can't even get on the ground to test the soil yet.

Seed spuds arrived today. They're now laid out in a box in spare bedroom.
I'm planning on sowing a few seeds in pots at the end of this month.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Kimberley04 on February 16, 2010, 20:02
I have sown sweet and chilli peppers, seven varieties of tomoatoes and 6 varieties of aubergines into a heated propagator (although I don't know how they'll all fit in the greenhouse if they grow!!)

Some garlic potted up and in the back garden.

I am itching to pot up some leeks DD style (and even bought a spare litter tray today) but I'm possibly a little early for them....
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: DD. on February 16, 2010, 20:04
You'd probably be OK starting off some leeks. My problem at the moment is that we're going away next Saturday for a week.

My daughter will have to look after any seedlings, so the less there is to leave her, the less will be dead when we get back.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: janet12000 on February 16, 2010, 20:10
My chillies have failed dismally. Only 1 out of 6 germinated and then one of the cats ate the seedling.  :mad:
The poundland cucumbers are romping away in their poundland compost  :D
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: mumofstig on February 16, 2010, 20:14
But that's the trouble isn't it Janet? .......where are they romping to...until you can put them outside?..unless you can heat a greenhouse or frame :unsure:
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Snoop on February 16, 2010, 20:35
All my planning is currently in my head! Mind you, I spend a lot of time thinking about it all. I reckon to be under way by the end of next week. I won't bore you all with the details, but it's known as the "Grand Plan" in this household. Which is an improvement on the "I hope you won't be growing any turnips this year" plan, which is pretty well all I heard about this time of year last year.

Good luck everyone.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: 1st time veg grower on February 16, 2010, 20:38
I have just sown some leeks today. I have also potted up half my onion sets as an experiment (though not sure that classes as 'sowing') as I've seen some people on here recommend it. I too have chillis on the go that are looking good and interestingly I sowed some aubergines at the same time - out of the 8 I sowed only 3 have germinated (so far) and out of those 3, 2 look decidedly ropey! So looks like I will be doing another resowing later too but I don't mind - am enjoying experimenting, for me its part of the fun! I have some brassicas on the go too as the seed packets say I can sow them now. In the flower department I also have some sweet peas growing.

Right at the end of the month or possibly even the start of next month I will sow my peppers and tomatoes. I also have some bedding plants to grow for the garden which is all new territory for me!
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: janet12000 on February 16, 2010, 20:38
Hi MOS.
These were the cucumbers that I bought in a kit for Jake to do just to keep him occupied for a few hours. (the kit was ...ahem....all of a pound, lol)
Out of all the seeds we have sown, these ones have done the best!
They were never even meant to germinate  :ohmy:
I don't have a greenhouse so for now they are still resident on Jacob's window ledge.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Elcie on February 16, 2010, 21:13
I haven't planted anything yet, but will be getting some compost in the next week or so to start some seeds off soon.  Can't wait  :)
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Aidy on February 16, 2010, 21:13
Chicken run and coop, start sowing veg in March when we get more daylight hours.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Loubs on February 16, 2010, 21:23
I have chillis, aubergine & sweet pepper seedlings on the go on window ledges, and potatoes chitting.

Outdoors in 4-tier greenhouse, I have a few first sowings of early caulis & an early summer purple sprouting broccoli which are all doing fine - they'll be a decent size to take up to the plot by late March. Will sow more of these end of this month in case I lose the first ones in another bout of harsh weather (or if I'm feeling more optimistic, for a sucessional crop). And have a few seed-sown onions. Also got a few broad beans on the go, which I've been growing on as replacements to fill in the gaps around the Oct-sown plot ones that survived the snow but got pulled up by pheasants or mice.

Also sown some sweet peas, lupins & pansies - these are just starting to pop up too.

Had good germination rates all round, apart from the alpine strawberry seeds which did nothing at all.  :(  
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: mumofstig on February 16, 2010, 21:27
Hi MOS.
These were the cucumbers that I bought in a kit for Jake to do just to keep him occupied for a few hours. (the kit was ...ahem....all of a pound, lol)
Out of all the seeds we have sown, these ones have done the best!
They were never even meant to germinate  :ohmy:
I don't have a greenhouse so for now they are still resident on Jacob's window ledge.

That's right thats the idea I was going to try out on my grandchildren ::)...thanks for reminding me.
Mind you it would be shame for your little'un if they don't make it to the great outside.
Pop back to £land and buy a cloche, so they get outside at the earliest :lol: :lol:
I'm not on commision honest ;)
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: janet12000 on February 16, 2010, 21:43
It's quite a dinky little kit. Mini propagator, compost, seeds. Just ideal for little people to have a go with. I got the cucumbers and a sunflower one. I think they do stuff like tomatoes as well.
There is a noticeable lack of instructions and they don't name the seed variety, but for a quid mustn't grumble.
I bought some garden fleece from there the other day for my good old pound.

Where the old Woolworths was, a new shop to rival Poundland has appeared......the 99p store!!! Have yet to have a look!
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: mumofstig on February 16, 2010, 22:38
oooh we got one of those before Christmas...great stuff!! Lots of cheap tins, pkts n sauces as well as all the other stuff that £land do. But beware of queues..they don't seem to employ many staff on the tills....that's why they stay cheap I suppose :(
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: diggerjoe on February 17, 2010, 09:59
Loubs what variety of alpine did you sow? I have just sown some red and white ones and having never tried these before wondered if they take a while to get going.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Christine on February 17, 2010, 14:36
The soil is cold and wet up here, the forecast is awful and so I've just pulled up some compost from the allotment courtesy of car driven by the daughter and son-in-law and a few seed trays.

I'm going to warm up the compost and start off the awkward items like parsley, rosemary and lavender in trays. May well give aubergines a go too. Tomatoes I could try later as next month is quite early enough. I also usually start of courgettes and marrows on the windowsill at home at end of March.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Loubs on February 17, 2010, 15:43
Loubs what variety of alpine did you sow? I have just sown some red and white ones and having never tried these before wondered if they take a while to get going.

They were mignonette. But entirely own fault... I've been very good since this autumn about putting all my new seed purchases straight into an air-tight box in the fridge. The alpine straws were just one of about 40 or so packs of assorted fruit veg & flower seeds I found in the kitchen drawer next to the oven, a collection of stuff chucked in there over a number of years. Tried a few things from that pile but nothing grew so chucked it all out last night  -  I'm sure I've killed them all (well, that drawer does get a bit hot when the oven is on) . Live & learn!
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Sideways on February 17, 2010, 15:44
I have two trays of leeks (about x40 a tray) on the go, I started the one tray three weeks ago in the greenhouse and they are nearly all through.

At the weekend I sowed broad beans and peas (Feltham first) in 4” pots, these will go in the ground towards the end of March with a few rows of seeds straight in the soil. The plan is to stagger the harvest.

Have also sowed some summer cabbage in pots.  Everything else will be sowed in the ground on the plot when the time is right.

I have bought my red onion sets, my white onions I plan to grow from seed on plot.

My potatoes are now chitting in the cold greenhouse.

Also in the greenhouse for home use, from seed-
Lots of lettuce, various types including lambs lettuce and a patio mix.
New season herbs- Parsley, coriander, red and green basil, tarragon, lemon thyme, chives. I have three pots with baby seedlings by the kitchen window. All of last years parsley survived and is now growing on after a good feed.
Lots and lots of chilis!! I plan to grow enough to keep Asia happy for a month.
Tomatoes, two different types.

Err, I think that’s it.  :happy:

My plot is dug, fed and ready to go.

I can’t wait.   ;)
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Kristen on February 19, 2010, 13:25
I grew some Summer Cabbage last year ... but there were abundant other crops when the Cabbage was read, and we aren't that keen on it (I suppose we see it more of a Winter veg) so it never got eaten. Not growing any this year!

Have also been holding off on sowing Leeks - bit worried that if I sow TOO early they will bolt.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: DD. on February 19, 2010, 13:40
I tried some leeks early last year.

Guess what? They bolted.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Kristen on February 19, 2010, 15:00
What's your recommended date to sow leeks DD?
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: DD. on February 19, 2010, 15:03
Around mid-March.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: Aunt Sally on February 19, 2010, 15:32
I'm just going to sleep for another couple of weeks  ;)
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: diggerjoe on February 19, 2010, 16:50
This weekend it is felt tip in hand and write on each seed spud what they are - Not for you DD with your 300 - but after two years running when OH stumbled into the greenhouse ( either looking for the loppers ::) ::) or trying to find string  :nowink:) and tipped over the trays of chitting spuds I feel the effort of penning a code on each one which lets me know variety and type will save the day in case he goes looking for something else this year. It will be time well spent with a pot of tea and a bit of cake and the radio on.
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: DD. on February 19, 2010, 16:55
That's just an excuse to get out of the way of him!

How's the raspberries doing?
Title: Re: February sow and growing plan
Post by: andtiggertoo on February 19, 2010, 18:14
diggerjoe why didn't I think of that I have 10 spuds each of 6 varieties. My cat keeps trying to get them out of the egg boxes they are chitting in. That's a simple solution, brilliant.