[Benandbill]

Is it too early to put broad beans in?  What about onions, shallots, carrots??  Is it too early?  I'm itching to get planting     

[daisy1990]

I would be patient, old gardeners often advise nothing before Good Friday (makes no sense as its a different date every year!)  There is little advantage in getting anything in too soon, even if it makes a head start the risks of frost damage are still high.  I would spend time preparing soil, pruning, checking for winter damage, preparing compost bins, building a shed...............

[JaK]

I think shallots can go in now and onions in a few weeks time. I have sown early nantes carrots under fleece and may start some broad beans too. I don't have an allotment  so I'm planting in a very small garden that is quite well protected from the elements. Allotments may well be very different to my gardens micro climate.

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Is it too early to put broad beans in?  What about onions, shallots, carrots??  Is it too early?  I'm itching to get planting     

As J & K has  said, it is really down to local conditions.
In some areas some will have put broad beans in, and some will no doubt have to take protective measures against  late frosts.

We to have sown some carrots, not that many, but they are in troughs which are easily movable and are covered.

Onions can be sown as seed under glass. Sets can still wait a week or two.

We put our onions and shallots for overwinter, but recently decided on another shallot bed for later cropping.

Trouble I found  on Monday was getting decent packets of shallots, we visited four reputable local garden centres and rejected every packet as they were either going soft  or had mould growth on.
Finally got some at a D I Y chain.

I'll keep them dry and cool until the soil is a little drier.

Daisy's advice to be patient  is good sound advice unless you are in a very sheltered area


 

[digalotty]

if you want why dont you put some seeds indoors to grow and then when the weather is milder and safe to plant out put some seeds in as you put the plants out and see if you get any good results.
in my opinion you will learn more from doing and then next year you will know what is best .
some brassica's are better to get a firm root before planting out so why not try some and garlic can go straight in the ground around now as a frost will do it good

[compostqueen]

Parsnips can be sown outdoors from Feb as can spring onions.  That's just looking at the packets of seeds on my desk.  If you check the back of your seed packets it will tell you

Spring garlic can be put in but not in waterlogged soil obviously.

I don't think there's any rush as you  don't want seeds sitting in cold soils - they only rot

[Comfortably Numb]

Parsnips can be sown outdoors from Feb as can spring onions.  That's just looking at the packets of seeds on my desk.  If you check the back of your seed packets it will tell you

Spring garlic can be put in but not in waterlogged soil obviously.

I don't think there's any rush as you  don't want seeds sitting in cold soils - they only rot

Parsnips rarely germinate well in cold and wet soil. Far better to leave them until March or April. Personally, I sow parsnips in the last week of April 

[DD.]

April for me also. If the packets give a date range, it's usually better to aim for the centre or even later part of that range.

Unless you want to buy more seed!

[Benandbill]

Cheers folks!!

[Jome]

I agree with all of the above, also if you are able to prepare a seed bed, the soil must be dry enough to break up (mine is clay so have no chance really yet!) to a fine tilth, otherwise the seeds will have a tough time trying to germinate. Clay also takes quite a while to warm up in wet conditions. If you have sandy/light/loamy soil in a sheltered spot you could cover with fleece or a polytunnel, leaving for a couple of weeks to warm the soil and sow some carrots/parsnips in there. Although you may do this and find when you come to plant the seeds the weather has turned colder again, so just play it by ear and make preparations! According to percy thrower, broad beans can go in the first week of March if the conditions are favourable.

[Benandbill]

I don't know old Thrower but what I do know is a wise ol' sage down our allotment told us that it's a good idea to get your broad beans in quite early as if they pick up a bit they'll deal with the frost and the black fly can't lay their eggs on them when it's frosty so that's the best time.  I had on row last year that were covered in black fly and anothere 3 all next to each other that weren't touched.  Can't remember which I planted first though or when!   

[Jome]

I tried planting my broad beans direct on the plot in mid feb last year and they didn't get off to such a good start. They didn't get black fly, but I planted some indoor reared seed in my back garden veg bed about a month later and they caught up with the first lot on the plot by April. So it's really down to local conditions!

[Benandbill]

If you soak them in parafin for an hour before planting them it stops the mice geting them 

[viettaclark]

It's a good idea to dry out and warm up soil where you want to plant early.
I've got a few cloches which I put out in January and I'll be sowing early carrots, parsnips and beetroot soon.