right time for pumpkins yet? oh and sunflowers?

chickchick · « **on:** March 13, 2008, 12:40 »

kids are keen to grow the biggest pumpkins, is it time to grow the seeds now? we were too late last year and they were disappointed! also sunflowers can we grow them now too? thanks for your advice!

purplebean · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2008, 13:13 »

I would have thought it was a bit too cold for pumpkin yet. If you have somewhere warm were you can grow them until all risk of frost has passed you might want to try but I'd wait a bit longer.

fletch · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2008, 13:17 »

I did my pumkins in late April last year and they were fine, in fact, they got slightly checked when I planted them out in early June.
Definitely too early yet.

GreenOwl · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2008, 13:25 »

Ditto sunflowers. Too cold really to plant any seeds outside. If you've got cloches you could put them out to warm up the soil a bit. Need a couple of weeks.

puravida · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2008, 13:31 »

could you put sunflowers in paper pots on the windowsill for now?

chickchick · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2008, 13:41 »

guess im a bit too early and excited, come on summer!

purplebean · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2008, 13:44 »

Quote from: "chickchick"

guess im a bit too early and excited, come on summer!

I'm like that as well

Thankfully my trial of basil and parsley sown in early January are growing really well

Stripey_cat · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2008, 14:30 »

Start things like chillis that are a bit slower growing to tide you over, or hardy stuff like peas and radishes.

Pumpkins are blooming thugs, and you'll end up potting them on once a fortnight until June if you plant them now. I did that one year, and ended up with rather leggy plants in 12" planters before the soil was warm enough for them to go out! Now, I sow squashes in April!

Nikkithefoot · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2008, 16:38 »

I've put my sunflowers in, in pots in an unheated greenhouse, but will protect with fleece if frost forcast. I won't plant out until mid-late April, but the selected planting area is quite sheltered from air frosts.

Pumpkins and squashes for me will be sown again in pots in an unheated greenhouse, but not until the beginning of April at the earliest.

It is soooooooooo tempting to start sowing early, with the lengthening days and a drop of sunshine, but speaking from bitter experience it's just not worth the disappointment. As someone (Grannie Annie I think) said on another thread we can all quote one season where we planted and beat the weather, but more often than not the weather beats us! :shock:

I s'pose the only consellation is, those of us in the southern part of the country will be able to get started in earnest at least a good week or three before those living in the north of the country and Scotland.

Patience is apparantly a virtue...................that I'm lacking

Nikki

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