[mickwood]

OK, now this may be a stupid question but...

I got the lotty about a month ago and went backpacking around Peru 3 weeks ago. What that meant is a MAD week digging and clearing but I managed to get 3 beds ready and planted potatoes, broad beans, garlic, onions and even some strawberry plants someone on the lotty gave me! This was all done in a rush and with no real thinking, now I'm back I wanna plant more!!

I have seeds but am not sure how to sow them? i.e. do I start them indoors, in munty's famous pots? or straight into the ground? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!! So...what have I got and what is my thinking...

Peas (peawee 65) - straight into ground
Dwarf french bean (borlotto firetongue) - ground
Parsnip (tender and true) - ground?
sweet basil - pots?
Carrots (F1 maestro) outdoors?
Brussel sprouts (bedford winter harvest) - pots?
beetroot (Boltardy) pots?
Sweetcorn (F1 sundance) pots?
Squash (F1 cobnut)pots?
Wild rocket - outdoors?
Cos lettuce (little gem) pots?
Cos lettues (Rusty) pots?
Spinash (bordeaux) ground?

have I got it right? pots will all be put in my conservatory until I can afford a greenhouse! Any help much appreciated!!

Cheers

Mick

[peapod]

everything sounds good except beetroot will be fine in ground, and lettuces can be direct sown too (but are fine in pots if you need the plot space)
Carrots and rocket will also be fine outdoors

[LivvyW]

Peru! Lucky you!

If it were me i;d do this

Peas (peawee 65) - straight into ground YES
Dwarf french bean (borlotto firetongue) - ground 3" POTS
Parsnip (tender and true) - ground?  PRE GERMINATE ON DAMP PAPER AND ONLY SOW THE GOOD ONES
sweet basil - pots? YES
Carrots (F1 maestro) outdoors?  YES, BUT IN A BIG BARREL OR DUSTBIN
Brussel sprouts (bedford winter harvest) - pots? OR MODULES
beetroot (Boltardy) pots? IN THE GROUND
Sweetcorn (F1 sundance) pots? MAKE SURE THEY ARE DEEP, MAYBE PAPER POTS
Squash (F1 cobnut)pots? 3" POTS
Wild rocket - outdoors? YES
Cos lettuce (little gem) pots?  SEED TRAY - THEN PRICK OUT INTO MODULES, THEN WHEN THEY ARE A NICE SIZE YOU CAN FIT THEM IN ANYWHERE
Cos lettues (Rusty) pots? AS ABOVE
Spinash (bordeaux) ground? I DO THESE IN POTS TOO

Hope that helps

[Bombers]

Hello Mick, this is what I would do.
Peas (peawee 65) -  ground
Dwarf french bean (borlotto firetongue) - Pot
Parsnip (tender and true) - ground
sweet basil - pots
Carrots (F1 maestro) ground
Brussel sprouts (bedford winter harvest) - ground
beetroot (Boltardy) ground
Sweetcorn (F1 sundance) pot
Squash (F1 cobnut)pot
Wild rocket - ground
Cos lettuce (little gem) Edited  sow in pots and transplant to ground.
Cos lettues (Rusty) ?
Spinach (bordeaux) ground

Good luck.

[mickwood]

Thanks guys, but...it leads me to one more question....what are modules!?
 

Oh...and WHOOPS! I meant RICHY'S paper pots not muntys!? sorry richy....

[LivvyW]

You know the seed trays that have lots of little compartments in them.  They are modules.
I think they are handy, because when the roots fill the little 'compartment' it becomes a nice little plug plant to plant out.

Hope that explains it.

[lisajpickering]

Parsnip (tender and true) - ground?  PRE GERMINATE ON DAMP PAPER AND ONLY SOW THE GOOD ONES

Hello... jumping in to ask a quick question...

This suggestion for parsnips... do you mean like we used to grow cress as kids, on damp kitchen roll?  How big do they need to get  before I put them in the ground?  Sounds ever so fiddly!

Thanks

[Yorkie]

That is what Livvy meant, yes.

I must say that I've grown parsnips successfully for years without all the faff, as you say, of pre-germinating them.  They do not like root disturbance so you do run the risk of damaging them as you transplant them.  I just sow mine straight into the ground.

You get loads of seeds in the packet, and the seed doesn't keep from year to year, so there's always enough to re-sow if necessary, and to thin out if you've too many.  I just delay the sowing until April rather than February to aid germination prospects.

[LivvyW]

I suppose it all depends what kind of faffing about you enjoy. The damp paper method works for me, very little works for me sowing direct into the soil.

I can't stand the faffing of thinning and re-sowing. I forget to re-sow, and i hate thinning. I find it really difficult to pull healthy plants.

I love having something to nurture early march when we are all desperate for the season to start.

[mickwood]

Ah...modules....tahnks Livvy

[Yorkie]

I wasn't putting a downer on your method, Livvy, each to his / her own, really glad it suits you 

[Goosegirl]

I've sown some parsnips in pure vermiculite then carefully transplanted when showing into Richy's paper pots. They are growing but we'll see if they are successful root wise. The rest I sowed 3 weeks later directly into the ground. Nothing yet but it will be interesting to see if there's any difference re- sowing method.

[LivvyW]

No Yorkie, i didn't take it like that.

I was just pointing out that there is either the extra work at the begining stage or at a later stage.

The other reason i like the paper way, is that it can all be done in my kitchen, in the evening if needed (with a toddler in the house that is a BIG advantage)

Then when i have a half hour when the parsnips are ready, i dib holes, fill with compost and pop 'em in.

Next time i see them, they are heading for the roasting dish 8 months later. (besides a quick going over with a hoe)