[markp76]

Stupid newbie question here! I've read that you can start leeks off in a cat litter tray/ poly box but can you do the same with the likes of beet root, carrots and parsnips or is the newspaper pot the best way to go to avoid root disturbance on transplanting? Or is it sow direct as it says on the packet? The only reason i ask is my beds aren't quite ready yet for sowing and theres also the cold snap that has been forcast for next week. Any advice would be greatfully recieved.

[Jamie Butterworth]

Best to sow them straight into the ground, youve got a while yet before you have to plant them, dont worry about time, like I was told, weve got going late this year 

[pink aubergine]

We have a local garden centre that has a container for discarded pots and trays for us to help ourselves to. I've picked up a couple of professional planting modules with small holes (half sand three quarter inch). These are ideal for starting off single seeds in. Its true that carrots and parsnips especially dont like root disturbance, but I've done it carefully with parsnips and beetroot. Carrots work well if you get a bit of guttering a fill with compost and sow in that, like  you might have done with peas, you just slide out whole!