You may remember that I sowed some carrot seed in containers to overwinter in the greenhouse. This is the stage they're at at the moment, very small. To be honest, I forgot all about them, they've been residing outside until I suddently remembered to move them in to the greenhouse when the frost struck at the weekend. I'm hoping that when the warmer weather comes in spring, they'll begin to grow again and I'll end up with an early carrot crop.
I'm going to have a go at growing some early potatoes too. My seed potatoes are set out and chitting at the moment, but in the next couple of weeks I'm going to start a couple of tubers off in a container wrapped in fleece in the greenhouse to see if I can get an extra early harvest of potatoes. It's worth a try.
After a very mild start to winter, we had four frosts on the go from Saturday onwards. It's warmed up again today, no frost in sight, and rain is forecast for the rest of the week. One of the weather reports yesterday suggested snow in my part of the world at the weekend, though I think they've revised that prediction now, I hope so anyway.
I usually put 3 potatoes in a shrub tub in the greenhouse in February - with the bubble wrap handy! I get my first potatoes in May - well worth the bother.
ReplyDeleteWellywoman tried to leave a comment, but like some others, is having problems on some blogs at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure as soon as the temperatures rise your carrots will shoot away. We've had a couple of hard frosts but it's mild and damp here today. I noticed they were predicting snow for this part of Wales for tomorrow and Friday when I saw the forecast on Countryfile on Sunday. I don't know whether they have changed their minds now, hopefully. I like snow around Christmas because it feels seasonal but I just want Spring to come now. Please no snow!!
Good luck with the potatoes!
ReplyDeleteIt's milder here but dull and wet. I think that I prefer it cold and sunny!
I couldn't comment using my Wordpress identity! Flighty xx
We've not started at all in the growing department this year. We're very remiss in harvesting the beetroot, parsnips and leeks that are still in the ground. Roll on the warmer weather.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
We did exactly the same thing and ours look exactly the same too!
ReplyDeleteHad a look in my garden centre on sunday and the seed potatoes have not arrived yet. Have my husband keeping an eye out for them in the garden shop in town. Like yourself I want to see if I can get an early crop in a large pot.
ReplyDeleteLovely to have some carrots growing just now. I love their feathery tops.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that your carrots will take off again when the thermometer rises Jo. Good luck with the spuds - may do similar in the greenhouse at home :)
ReplyDeletethe carrots are doing really well for being so thoroughly forgotten about Jo. I hope you get an early crop and the same with your potatoes...if it works I might try it next year...i do hate the fact that greenhouse sits dormant all over winter.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed that us Brits get no snow!!
I want to grow early Spring carrots, too! I'm not sure when I can start, as we have below freezing temperatures at night.
ReplyDeleteI planted carrots in August/September in containers and have been very pleased with them. I cover them in layers of plastic at night and uncover during the day if the temps warm up. As extra insulation I filled plastic bags with straw and placed them tightly around the containers to collect the warm sunshine during the day and hold the warmth to the containers at night. It sure does look funny, but it works! I have been able to pull a few carrots each week since mid-November, but I am almost to the end of the crop.
Best of luck with your carrots and potatoes, too!
Thanks for your visit and comment on my blog. The laid-back cat is a boy. My lady cat would never be so undignified as to sleep all sprawled out like that!
Lea
Mississippi/USA
Jo, you are so good thinking about planting and seeding and starting... I've been lazy lately and spend more time with our new puppy than with garden magazines and catalogs. We have some nasty wet snow now, after a very beautiful yesterday.
ReplyDeleteStay warm!
It's good to know that potting up some potato tubers early works, Vegetable Heaven, I'm definitely going to give it a go. I love the taste of the first new potatoes of the year.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the carrots will begin to grow again once the warmer weather arrives, Wellywoman. I love to see snow at Christmas, we were lucky last year, but I agree with you, once Christmas is over I'm ready for spring to come.
I think Blogger is having some issues with Wordpress id's at the moment, Flighty. It was lovely and sunny when the frosts were here, but it's really dull now. It's been drizzly today too.
Get those veggies harvested, Mum. Just think of the work you put in to getting them in the ground, it would be a shame to let them go to waste.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the carrots romp away with a little warmer weather and sunshine, Sue. We'll both be harvesting early if they do.
I thought that most garden centres would have seed potatoes in by now, The Cookie Jar. It sounds like there'll be a few of us with an early harvest this year.
I don't usually try to overwinter things, Lorna, so it's unusual for me to have something growing in the greenhouse at this time of year. I'm hoping that it'll pay off.
It's worth experimenting with the potatoes, Anna, especially if we get an early crop. I might even have a few carrots ready to eat with them.
My greenhouse is used to overwinter my more tender plants, Tanya, but that's not using it to it's full potential. The forecast has changed to gales for tomorrow, I think i'd prefer snow.
I should have known that the cat is a boy, Lea, as you say, lady cats just wouldn't let it all hang out like that. It's interesting to hear about your straw filled bags, I've never thought to do anything like that. I still have a few carrots left in the freezer, but what a bonus to be able to pull fresh carrots through the winter.
It doesn't take long for gorgeous white snow to turn to black mush, Tatyana. I don't blame you at all for putting the seed catalogues to one side when you've got such an adorable puppy to take your attention, he's such a cutie.
I bought some veg plants from my local DIY store in autumn last year as they were only 29p for about 15 plants and I put them into one of my raised beds. I was going to cover them with cloches when the weather turned cold but as I live in Cornwall the weather hasn't been cold at all so I didn't bother. They don't seem to have grown very much but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that now the weather is warming up they will have a bit of a growth spurt and I will have some lovely veg :-) Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and leaving a comment, Kay. It's always worth a gamble buying in some veg plants when they're that cheap. I'm sure that they'll put on some growth when a little warmer weather arrives.
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