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I usually buy the majority of my seeds from The Garden Centre Group when they reduce all their seeds to 50p per pack at the end of the gardening season. There were a few things I didn't get last year, so I placed an order at the allotment association shop at the same time as I ordered my seed potatoes at the end of last year. I should have kept a copy of what I'd ordered as I couldn't remember, I'll definitely make a note next time, so it was a surprise when they were collected at the weekend. There's a pack of French beans - Blue Lake. I grow these every year, they're a great performer and taste delicious. I've gone for broccoli - Rudolph, which is an early variety, parsnip - Tender and True, and sweetcorn - Extra Early Sweet F1, they're supposed to have long cobs filled to the tip, so I'll see how these do this year seeing as I haven't had much luck with sweetcorn since having my allotment. I'm giving squash another go this year and have opted for two varieties - Queensland Blue and Crown Prince. These are both winter squash so they're suitable for storing, providing I can manage to grow some this year. I keep saying that I'll grow some stocks as I love them for the house, they have such a gorgeous fragrance, but I've never got round to it yet. I've bought the variety Ten Week Mixed, so I shall definitely get round to sowing some this year.
I mentioned in my last post that I was going to visit a garden centre where they sell onion sets loose. I don't need a whole bag as I don't grow that many, and I'm also having another go at growing some from seed. The garden centre I went to did sell the onion sets loose, but they were still charged for by the scoop rather than by weight. Luckily, they allowed me to mix what was in the scoop, so I got some red onion sets too. I still came home with far too many than I actually need though, so I shall plant any surplus sets in to containers and pull them when small to eat as spring onions, or I might even pickle some.
The weather was gorgeous at the weekend, but apart from visiting a couple of garden centres, I didn't do any sort of gardening. It's typical that I'm really busy and have lots of errands to run when the sun is shining, but at least I wasn't having to dodge any rain whilst going about my business. I think it will take more than a weekend of sunshine for my allotment to dry out though, and a few snow flurries are forecast for the next few days again so it doesn't look as though much will get done this coming weekend either.
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The pick & mix onion place sounds great! The bags of sets usually have too many don't they. I was out and about at the weekend too so the weekend coming up will be for gardening :)
ReplyDeleteThey don't advertise the fact that you're able to mix what's in the scoop, I was a bit cheeky and asked. A whole scoop would have been far too many onions for me, especially of one variety. I hope this weekend stays fine for you so that you can get some gardening done.
DeleteI am trying squash Crown prince this year,I have only grown butternut squah Avalon before and had a really good crop.I went to the garden centre today to buy some different potatoes encouraged by other bloggers and ended up also buying Patty Pan Mixed,we will be squashed out!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that Crown Prince does well for both of us this year. I've already got some patty pan squash seeds so I'm hoping they're all productive.
DeleteThat's a neat way to buy your onion sets :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're supposed to mix them, it's just that I was a bit cheeky and asked. It's good to be able to mix a few different varieties to try though.
DeleteA good selection of vegetables Jo. We're still searching for a replacement garden centre too. The Horticentre at Middlestown close to us is getting our trade at the minute. Mostly bird seed though. It's a garden centre that hasn't morphed into selling all and sundry.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a business opportunity for someone in the area. Proper gardeners prefer a back to basics nursery with knowledgeable staff rather than a garden centre, well, I do anyway.
DeleteIs your site in the NSALG to take advantage of much cheaper Kings seeds - it save is quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was quite surprised at the prices, as you say, you can save quite a bit. Some of these packs of seeds didn't cost much more than the reduced ones at The Garden Centre Group so I'll be putting another order in at the back end of this year.
DeleteIts nice to have a bit of a surprise with your seeds. I grew the rudolph broccoli last year and it was good and quick to crop. Have also grown crown prince before but lets hope we get a better squash year than last year!
ReplyDeleteI also frustratingly didn't get chance to make the most of the good weather last weekend. Though I did visit a garden full of snowdrops.
I didn't get any harvestable winter squash last year so I'm hoping these do much better. Snowdrops look fantastic en masse, so I'm sure you'll have had a wonderful time at whichever garden you visited.
DeleteHow about that I've just ordered some Kings Seeds for my horticultural society trading shed which included ten week stocks!
ReplyDeleteGood to see that you got a mix of onions like that.
Fingers crossed for the weekend, although it's not looking too good is it! Flighty xx
What a coincidence, we'll have to compare notes. It made much more sense being able to combine the two onion varieties in one scoop, I don't know where I'd have put a whole scoop of red onions. The weather forecast for the weekend isn't as bright as it was the weekend just gone, more's the pity.
DeleteWhen I was at college, one of our assignments was to create a six year vegetable plot rotation plan, stating plant varieties where possible. As my drawing skills are pitiful, I submitted a six page table that I had created as a word document. I still have that and copy and paste a new version each year.
ReplyDeleteIt serves as an ideal reference and shopping list.
It's good to have a list to hand. I usually buy from The Garden Centre Group in their sale, so buy what I fancy from the varieties on offer, though I always make sure that I buy my trusted favourites. It's fun to try new varieties each year aswell though.
DeleteI've loads of seed packs but I need to get seed potatoes asap. Cold this week but hoping we get some warmer weather soon.
ReplyDeleteThe garden centres and DIY shops are full of seed potatoes at the moment, so you should have a good choice. It's much colder here too at the moment, it's not long till spring though now.
DeleteI tend to buy most of my gardening stuff mail order now but it is so useful for smaller growers that garden centres sell onions and potatoes loose. It's a shame no mail order company has caught on to this and offers a mix and match option. And all those seeds look exciting. It's so cold here today. I have ventured out to put out the recycling and bring in some logs but other than that I holed up inside trying to keep warm. Still ever cloud and all that. This east wind will be good for drying out the ground. My allotment is already looking much better. Have a great weekend whatever you're doing. WW
ReplyDeleteI have to admit to hardly buying anything mail order, I think it stems from wanting to see before I buy. It's much colder here too today. Snow has been forecast, but I don't think it's going to materialise just yet.
DeleteYou do have a lots of seeds there, I always think this is such an exciting time....and those first seedlings that pop up are a joy to behold.
ReplyDeleteI have had good results with sweetcorn, I have very sandy soil as well so I find it surprising that they grow so well.
It's a pain when you can't get out in the garden when it's sunny, hopefully your good weather will continue, it's still freezing here.xxxxx
You should see my stash. It doesn't matter how many years I've been gardening, this time of year when seeds are beginning to germinate is so exciting. I grew brilliant sweetcorn in containers before I had my allotment, yet it's been such a trial getting them to grow since. I think I may have a go at growing some in containers again as well as at the allotment this year. The weather's cold again now, I'm just hoping that the forecast snow doesn't arrive.
DeleteI love crown prince it stores really well over winter I had 5 this year finished my last or off about 4 weeks ago hope you ae great success this year, I having a go at growing a giant pumpkin for my children ready for them for October :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know. You did well with your squash last year as many people didn't have much luck with them, me included. I'm hoping for a better year this year. Good luck with your pumpkin, your children will be eager for it to grow.
DeleteI have all of the seeds I ordered and those over form last year to go through...I'm pretty sure with my stocks that I could start a shop!!
ReplyDeleteThis weekend I will get something done...but right now I'm too busy catching up with everyone...not sure it is making me feel any better about my laziness in the garden of late though!"1
I'm exactly the same, I've got so many seeds, but I can never resist buying more. The weather is awful here today, wet and dull, I'm hoping it's going to brighten up for the weekend but it doesn't look likely.
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