[fletcherbaker]

Hi im a newbie to growing my own veg this will be my first year but im getting very excited about the prospect is anyone else itching to get going or is this just me  just another thing is there anything i can sow indoors to get a head start at the moment its that bad 

[plum crumble]

It's not just you!!! We're all desparate to get going. You can start chitting your potatoes!

[spottymint]

HI Plum crumble,

Just had to comment about the (Not Slough!), I'm not too far from you & looked at living in Slough, NOBODY wants to be associated with that place. 

I'm itching to get going, have sowed my chilli's, aubergines, radish, spring onion, lettuce and amsterdam forcing carrots (the last 4 in my unheated conservatory) More an experiment, than hopefull for good veg.

   

[plum crumble]

the trouble with getting your seeds going too early is, you will either have poor germination rates as the average day and night temperature is too low, but even if you germinate, you are likely to have high incidence of damping off seedlings, or very leggy weak ones. BUT if you have enough seeds to experiment with, then give it a go!

Re Slough - I know some people are very happy to be associated with it, so I won't say anything detrimental about it., cos I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Where are you then?

[Y.E.A.H]

i can't wait to get growing its like this every year. you simple go crazy if you can't do anything   well i do anyway  

you can start chitting your sweetcorn and you can sow tomatos, peas, and a wide range of flowers

[spottymint]

Hi

South of yourself, not far From Blackwater/Camberley. 

I must admit, I don't have much experience of Slough, just what others have said.

[mumofstig]

you can start chitting your sweetcorn and you can sow tomatos,

well I wouldn't yet!
IMO It is way too early for sweetcorn, and sow toms now only if you have a heated greenhouse.
Have a look here for some general guidance...but most of all read all of the seed pkt instructions.
sowing & harvest chart

[DD.]

Sweetcorn NO WAY.

It's going to be 4 months before you can get it outside!

Don't get carried away, it can end in tears.

[MoreWhisky]

Lol sweetcorn in Jan whats does it say on the packet?

[spottymint]

Hi

I agree with the experienced members, wait a bit to get sowing.

My carrots say sow feb onwards, so I have experimented, some books say raddish, lettuce & spring onions under protection, hence practice in unheated conservatory.

My chilli's I'm prepared to keep inside a few months (but they are the only one's)

My tom's and others won't be started till March/April as i don't have room & don't want to risk spindly plants.

Thanks mumofstig for linking that area of the website, most handy as books vary so much. 

[prakash_mib]

Yes it is killing when you want to do something and cant do anything. I have sown cauliflowers already in seed tray/window sill and they are about an inch and half germination, and two trays of salad leaves (thats what it said on packet).
weekly visit to allotment to keep my winter onions and garlic weed free (they are blooming growing every week! why cant we eat them?)
Do we need to chit the potatoes this early? funny thing is I went to B&Q yesterday and saw the potato seeds and most of them had about 10cms of shoots. I am just holding my horses to buy seeds (probaly will go to local harden centre and pick the lot) but is mid feb is the good time to buy them and chit them?

[JayG]

Now is about the earliest you need to be chitting spuds (allowing around 6 weeks before hopefully being able to plant out)

Don't buy any with long white shoots; they have been stored badly (probably too warm and in the dark)

[mumofstig]

Buy them now if you see the ones you want in good condition!The most popular varieties can sell out quite quickly...... but keep them somewhere cold but not freezing.

Move somewhere just a little warmer to chit when you hit that 6 week to planting deadline