[Stratts]

Ok so the forecast is good for the weekend and I've set out my first 5 year crop rotation plan.  The plot is dug, raked, marked ready for action and just the right looking moisture content.

I have pots all over the house, garden and garage with stuff starting off and countless packets of seeds ready for the off.

I plan to sow these over the weekend direct onto the plot:-

Brassicas

Turnips
Kohl Rabi

Roots

Amsterdam carrots
Parsnips
Beetroot
Spring onions
Radish

Bits and bobs plot

Lettuce Little gem
Endive

Any concerns or summit I've missed that I could sow direct into the plot please?

Cheers

[New shoot]

Are you using cloches Stratts as it seems a bit early for direct sowing to me    Mind you my plot is heavy clay loam so tend to play it safe as early sowings rot rather than sprout for me 

[DD.]

I won't be direct sowing anything until April, apart from me spuds & peas.

[Salmo]

You would be better to wait until the soil warms a little. Having said that you may get away with it. Certainly I would delay sowing beetroot until April or it will bolt to seed.

[JayG]

Stratts: I can almost feel your enthusiasm coming down the phone wire along with my broadband signal, but don't spoil all your hard work by taking undue risks just for the sake of few weeks.

(My variation on "buy cheap, buy twice" is "sow too early, sow twice!")

[Sprinter60]

Why not sow them into 9cm pots, and cell trays undercover,and then when it starts to get warmer, or there is less chance of frost attack, then away you go in the knowledge you have not wasted valuable gardening time, good luck 

[DD.]

What you will waste is your time, energy and compost.

A lot of these will be happy waiting for a couple of weeks until it's a bit warmer and then they'll romp away and catch up those plants you sowed early and have got accustomed to extra warmth.

You'll also give yourself the nightmare of having to transplant everything, particularly the ones that don't like transplanting.

[mattwragg94]

well im going to be putting some beetroot and pring onions in this weekend in modules in the greenhouse! - however im known for starting things off early and taking the risk.

[Stratts]

Ok guys you've convinced me to sit on my hands, thanks.   

I thought parsnips defo needed to go in the ground now though? 

Couple of old timers on the plots are putting early spuds in tmoro maybe it's the fen soil that is so good?

Cheers

[DD.]

I wouldn't personally risk spuds yet, I get nervous planting at the end of the month.

I sow parsnips in April when the ground is warmer and get better germination and growth.

See here:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=90552.msg1007266#msg1007266

[Stratts]

Ok cool thanks again

[Mr Rotavator]

I've started on my successive sowing regime: 2 x greyhound cabbage, 2 x all year round caui’s and 4 x iceberg lettuce. I have a few seeds in each pot and will thin out to one plant. They are in a cold greenhouse and that is the only risk I’m taking with early sowing. But I have got involved in the early tomato sowing experiment and they are now getting a bit big for their boots.