[Jonajo]

Out of interest: do people tend to use one of these on their allotments?

This being my first year, for things that couldn't be sown stright as seeds into the ground, I put in pots at home- thereby taking up every available window sill, and then the mass transportation to the allotment! But everything has worked this year.

Now, I am considering a seed bed next year on the allotment instead - is it just a matter of sooing the seeds accordingly and then simply  lifting when they are ready to be transplanted. Or is there anything more mysterious to it..!! Of course, weather is a factor and I have loads of fleece and cloches etc...

Thanks

[DD.]

I sow everything at home apart from stuff that's going to grow where sown, carrots, parnsips, beetroot etc.

I have a good reason for raising brassicas at home & that's called "club root". By starting them in decent compost & raising them in individual pots, they get a good root system going before meeting my soil. If I started them in a seed bed in the plot they wouldn't stand a chance!

[Cazzy]

I done a small seed bed this year to try sowing direct as i'm kinda new to this too.

I sowed caulies, broccoli and sprouts.  Didn't have the ground ready in time to move them to so just thinned them out and left them there.

Picked the broccoli this week, the caulies havent any heads and the sprouts didn't germinate, it was last years sprout seed I used and don't know if thats maybe the reason.

I will do this again next year but be more prepared this time, i'll also keep some seed back just in case 

[Greengirl]

I find too many seedlings get picked of by slugs, snails & pests so find it easier to raise them in modules & then plant out.

[Cazzy]

I find too many seedlings get picked of by slugs, snails & pests so find it easier to raise them in modules & then plant out.

I agree that its definately more productive to start them off that way, the main problem I have with that is making sure the cells don't dry out, I sometimes can't get down to the plot for a few days and the small cells dry out so quickly in the greenhouse.  I'd keep them on the window ledge at home but they are usually packed already with the toms, chilis, peppers etc

I found it hard to thin stuff out at first, felt it was such a waste but given there are so many seeds in the packets and i've had problems in the past using old seed so don't keep them anymore.  So maybe if enough seed is sown there will still be plenty after Mr Slug has had a go at them.

[Salmo]

Any of the brassicas are OK to sow in a nursery bed and then transplant when they have 6 leaves.

Cover to keep pigeons off, maybe add a few slug pellets. If it is hot and dry flea beetle can chew them to death but keeping them damp usually avoids this.

Sow thinly, thin out to 2 inches apart. A yard of nursery bed will produce 18 plants. Rows only need to be 6 inches apart so a small area is all that is needed. The nursery bed can be on the same ground that you will eventually be growing the transplants so no extra land is needed.