[Newdigger]

  Just thought that I would nip down the lotty to get some seeds in ( packets said sow from feb onwards) before it rained and just as I got my first row in is has started to snow.  Have covered them up with a cloche and hope for the best.  I have only had lotty for a couple of months and have only managed to get up their for two weekends so far.  It's so frustrating

[Christine]

Be of good cheer, us older plot holders are no better off than you. Keep the faith.

[Yana]

I feel your frustration new digger. I have only been allotmenteering for three years and it is getting to me that I can't sow anything. 
I've put broad beans in the lottie as plants that I germinated from seed and they are surviving and I have the seed packets already lined up for carrots, parsnips and beetroot. Every windowsill is full of trays of seedlings and the greenhouse is full of brassicas, leeks, lettuce and peas. And yet, I am looking out of the window as the rain pours down with temperatures due to drop to freezing next week.
When will it be spring??

[DD.]

Even during a "normal" year I would not dream of sowing any seeds in open ground until the middle of April. The ground's way too cold for good germination.

It's far better to sow the seeds of patience. The timings on the packet are a coverall for the whole of the UK, from the Scillies to the Shetlands and you have to adjust for you own region/prevailing weather conditions, otherwise you may just as well throw the packet in the dustbin. The dates on the packet are not "must sow by" dates.

[JayG]

The weather last March was more like summer (in fact, it was summer!) 

Hopefully, the fact that this year winter is reluctant to give way to spring means we might actually get "proper" seasons this year..........

There aren't many seeds which will germinate in good numbers or in reasonable time with the soil temperature at current levels, and that includes those which usually are sown early in the year.

[Kleftiwallah]

"Ya wanna gerr oop North" !

Cheers,    Tony.

[shokkyy]

Even down in balmy Wiltshire we had a decent bit of snow this morning. Luckily it was the wet sort, so nothing settling, but a bit surprising to see that in March in this part of the country.

[GrannieAnnie]

Wasn't it 2 years ago when we had snow in April.  I remember a white Easter!

[DD.]

My mother always goes on about how it snowed on her birthday - June 2nd!

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/i/1/Snow_in_June_-_2_June_1975.pdf

[LilacSandy]

"March winds do blow and we shall have snow"

[DD.]

I thought it was the north wind! 

Anyway, back to the snow in June of 1975 - anyone remember how the rest of the year turned out?

[JayG]

No, too young past it to remember DD! 

[Ema]

My ground has been quite warm before last weeks cold spell. The weathers so un predictable. I might aswell convert my spare room in to an allotment

[Yana]

I must learn not to take notice of the dates on the seed packet. It's kinda weird that I look at the first date and think, yep here we go, rather than look at the spread of dates and think, there's still plenty of time.
I don't want to sow too late and end up with nothing I guess. I've looked at last years diary and forgot the weather was so different in March 2012. I'll get the hang of it eventually. I'm still a newbie.
Patience is a virtue that I have yet to master.

[Salmo]

I thought it was the north wind! 

Anyway, back to the snow in June of 1975 - anyone remember how the rest of the year turned out?

Dullish Summer, wet Autumn and the drought of 1976.