[Benandbill]

...

[zazen999]

I sowed a pot of basil seeds last night....and am sowing a tray of salad leaves later today.

Also, you can get garlic into the ground [or modules if the ground is frozen] before the 21st.

And - you could do worse than sow a pinch of your favourite tomato seeds and pepper seeds into a small pot; no more than 3 or 4 - and lovingly nurture one of each into an early cropper.

Then on the 21st - next year's onions, shallots and leeks can be sown. As soon as they are germinated, get them into a cold frame or greenhouse.

[1st time veg grower]

Can I ask a dim question...why specifically the 21st? Is there something special about that day (apart from being my Dad's birthday) that I'm missing?

Thanks.

[gillie]

It is the Winter Solstice!  After the 21st the days start to get longer,  imperceptibly at first  then speeding up.

[1st time veg grower]

Ah ok. Thanks.

[Trillium]

The longer days are better specifically for all the allium crops like onions, garlic, leeks which need as many long days as possible to mature. So, starting them early makes a huge difference. this is why garlic is usually planted in fall so the roots can set and be ready to sprout once the late winter weather starts to warm up even though the ground might still be frozen. By this point, started onions are large enough to soon be planted out.

[Benandbill]

Cor!!  I didn't realise there was so much for me to get on with??  I won't try stirring compost when it's like this again anyway.  It nearly broke my arm!   Thanks for your replies!!

[Sophie_Chilli]

Cor!!  I didn't realise there was so much for me to get on with??  I won't try stirring compost when it's like this again anyway.  It nearly broke my arm!   Thanks for your replies!!

I feel the same!  I had no idea there was so much to be doing.  And here was me feeling sorry for myself with so many snow days and not enough get up and go days!  As for my compost - its full to the brim and wish I had two now 

[JayG]

[As for my compost - its full to the brim and wish I had two now 

The slippery slope starts right there Sophie (and I'm not referring to the icy weather conditions!)
Once you have 2 compost bins/heaps you will realise that ideally you need three..............

[suze]

It is indeed slippery i started last year with 2 now i have 6......

[Sophie_Chilli]

I better get another four to be on the safe side then!   

[Comfortably Numb]

The more the better really 

I have two compost bays and a dalek bin on my original half plot, and having recently taken on an additional full plot as well, I built two large bays on there. Having almost filled them up with horse manure, I have decided to build another two bays next to them.
There's just something very satisfying about compost bins and horse manure 

[Coach]

Can't get to my plot as I live on a hill and the roads are icy and our road doesn't get gritted

Luckily we have done our shopping, presents and food

Now all my wife has to do is walk to work to keep me in luxury (I'm retired)