[flopsy]

Hi All
I like most are itching to get started with the new season ahead of us but am reluctant to start anything growing yet as the weather is still so cold.

I would like to ask as any body started their toms, chillies or aubs off yet, the reason I ask is that once they germinate I only have a polytunnel to put them in and i'm fearful the cold will get them

[m1ckz]

just started a few peppers an a few cherry tomatoes  on window sill

[DD.]

I can't be too far away from you, flopsy and whilst I've started a few tomatoes and peppers, they are destined for a heated greenhouse.

The ones that are going into an unheated one won't be sown for at least another four weeks and even then they will spend the first few weeks of their lives in the heated one before being moved into bigger pots in the unheated one.

[Eblana]

I have started some of mine but I have a 8 ft by 3 ft heated bench in my greenhouse at home so i have plenty of room for them until I put them out in the PT in May.

[Kristen]

About to sow mine, but I have both heat and artificial supplemental growing lamps ... I would expect my plant to be anything up to 4' tall by the time the greenhouse is warm enough for them to be planted there - I wait until May for that so there is no chance of it falling below 10C

[anchorman]

I wouldn't sow toms or aubergine's yet. Toms especially can suffer a servere check when they are little if the temperature falls or fluctuates too much, frost will kill them and there is still not really enough light or day length to give them a good start.

I will wait, probably until mid-march at the earliest. I start mine in a heated propagator in a cool conservatory and as soon as they're up, remove the cover. I keep them on the proagator base to keep their feet warm but also out of the strengthening sunshine, but in enough light to stop them from becoming spindly and drawn. When strong enough to handle, I prick out into 3in pots and slowly reduce the heat and move into full light as the true leaves develop. Any sign of a cold snap and they're back on the propagator base. They dont like wet feet either so dont soak them, give them just enough water to keep the compost moist. I dont put mine out until may, and only then if there is no likelyhood of frost.

Well this has worked for me about 45yrs so good luck and dont be impatient haha.

[oldgrunge]

I will be sowing chillies and peppers this weekend as they need a long growing season. Tomatoes I won't be sowing until early March, as if sown earlier, they will be ready for the greenhouse before it has warmed up sufficiently.

[adri123]

I'll admit to my mistakes...sowed a few toms a week or so ago and now regret it.  they're in a heated GH but are destined for the PT and there's no way my timing is right...Mid March is more realistic.

[AnneB]

I am with old grunge.  I only have an unheated polytunnel.   Tomatoes and aubergines will be waiting a few weeks yet.  I will be sowing peppers, both sweet and chilli in a heated propogator this weekend.  Will be cosseted in the dining room table in the window with plenty of reflective card until I can safely plant them out.   Due to space problems they went out a bit earlier than I would have liked last year and looked rather poorly for a while, but recovered and I got a good crop.