I've got so many seeds there's no way I'll ever get round to sowing them all, so I sort through them, see which I want to grow this year and then I stack them in to sections in my seed box according to the month they need to be sown. This way, I don't forget to sow anything. Any seeds I want to sow more than one batch of, such as lettuce or spring onions, can be put back in to a different monthly section after sowing, so it helps with successional sowing too.
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I didn't realise quite how many packets of peas and beans I've got. Actually it's mainly beans, some dwarf French, some climbing, some runner, some green and some purple. Oh, broad beans too, though I'm not growing them this year. Some of the packets are already opened, some aren't, so I've decided that I'm going to grow a variety of beans this year, mainly just to use up all the opened packets. It will add a bit of variety too.
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I've sorted some flowers out too. I can sow my sweet peas any time now, but I'm in no rush so I'll probably leave it until the end of the month. Every year I say that I want to grow some biennials, such as Sweet Williams and Stocks, but I still haven't got round to it yet. I've popped them in my seed box, yet again, in the hope that this will be the year that I do.
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Once I've sorted out my seed box, there's always one or two other things that get popped in there later. I'd already made up my mind to grow parsnip Tender and True this year, but I received a free packet of White Gem with Kitchen Garden magazine, and as parsnip seed needs to be fresh when sown, they won't keep for next year. They've been popped in the box and I'll sow two varieties instead of one. At least I'll be able to compare the two.
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Most of the seeds need to be sown over the next three months, with the majority around the end of March/April time. It's going to be a busy few months.
It is going to be busy next month, I'm looking forward to it already. I am going to sow my chillies & sweet peas at the end of Feb though.
ReplyDeleteI love the start of the growing season when we start getting seeds sown. I'm sitting on my hands at the moment to avoid sowing anything too soon, but I think I'll start with my sweet peas at the end of February too.
DeleteWhat a lovely selection you have Jo like your seed storage box as well look forward to seeing the progress as the season comes along
ReplyDeleteMy seed box is just an old cardboard box which Mick has divided in to sections for me. I use this for the seeds I'm going to sow this year, it does help to keep me on track with my sowing times.
DeletePuts my alphabetical sorting order of seeds to shame. At least you should only ever have to sow the nasturtiums once and you'll have a few for ever.
ReplyDeleteI was in two minds about buying these nasturtiums this year. I grew some a few years ago and I'm still weeding the seedlings out of the border, I don't think I'll ever be without them again. I saw this variety on someone's bog and loved them, so I thought I'd try them myself, but I'll be much more careful about letting them go to seed.
DeleteI do something similar with a divided box and it's a great way to keep everything organised. It's about to get very busy, with greenhouse space at a premium. I hope you manage to get yours fixed soon!
ReplyDeleteDon't mention the greenhouse. Yesterday's weather has just about finished it off. It needs completely reglazing now. I use polycarbonate and it's worn over the years so was ready for new panels really anyway. I shall have to get my skates on and source some ready for the start of the growing season.
DeleteA very seedy post! I'm sure that like me everyone who reads this will be nodding and smiling, and saying to themselves...that's me! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteYes, we're all in the same position at this time of year. I'm just itching to get going now.
DeleteGosh you are going to be very busy sowing seeds Jo, I hope that they all come through and that you have lots of produce and flowers this year! xx
ReplyDeleteThe start of the growing season is very busy, but always exciting too. I hope we have a good summer this year so that everything grows well.
DeleteI love sweet Williams so we have some to sow every year.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you. I always buy some for the house but I've never got round to growing my own yet.
DeleteI always get excited looking at seeds, especially in dreary weather, I loved the idea of sections in a box. Funnily enough I went through mine too today but I seem to have mislaid a load....shouldn't keep moving things! I grew those wallflowers a few years ago, they are wonderful!xxx
ReplyDeleteSplitting a box in to sections really works for me, it's so hard to remember what you should be sowing when there's so many packets waiting in the wings, so this certainly helps. I love wallflowers too, I have a perennial one in my border.
DeleteI went through my seeds a few days ago, I needed cheering up after getting wet hauling the washing off the line, it was dry just me wet? I have bought a few packets to fill a few gaps, I may have bought too much last year.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of leftover seeds too but I can never resist buying a few more. I really need to be more organised and keep a list of what I've already got. My washing is hung up around the house, it's hardly worth hanging it out with all the rain we're getting.
DeleteRe Parsnip seeds: presumably, if you don't open the foil packets the seeds would keep for a couple of years though? I often use Parsnip seeds that are a couple of years old - I just sow more of them (maybe two where one would normally go).
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, the use by date is always a couple of years in advance on the seed packets. I've never had full packets left over to consider this before. I never use opened packets though as I find parsnip seed extremely hard to germinate even with fresh seed so I never chance it.
DeleteI still haven't sorted my seeds yet although I did manage to get my seed box home from the plot so there is a little progress...hopefully this weekend!!
ReplyDeleteYou're half way there if the seeds are at home. No panic yet though, it will be a little while before I start sowing anything.
DeleteI have a seed box that's theoretically organised the same way. It also has loads of extra seeds in it. Funny how they accumulate isn't it. I'm holding off sowing things as well. I'm not quite ready to give up my windowsills yet, I'm still enjoying the post-Christmas clutter-free time.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have room in the box for all my extra seeds, I've got so many. I really should have a clear out and get rid of any I'm never going to use. The sunniest windowsill in my house is Daniel's and now that he's away at university, I won't feel any guilt at taking over his room at seed sowing time. Mind you, he'll be home for Easter in four weeks so I shouldn't get too excited at the prospect of free windowsill space.
DeleteYou have so various veggies and flowers to be planted. Look so lovely to mix both of them in our garden
ReplyDeleteI tend to grow more flowers in my garden and more veggies at the allotment, but a few do get mixed in here and there. Some vegetables are just more convenient to grow at home in containers and it's good to have some flowers at the allotment to encourage pollinators.
DeleteYou are very organised and you have put me to shame. Will have to get on with sorting seeds this weekend and get myself ready for the season. I love broad beans and will grow them. I am not so keen on French beans as I do not like the 'squeak' when you eat them. However, I still grow them and pop them in everywhere there is a space, then I let them dry and harvest them at the end of the season for dried haricot beans for the winter :) xxx
ReplyDeleteThere's still plenty of time for seed sorting, I don't think anything would like to be sown just yet in this weather we're having. French beans are my favourites out of them all, but it's a good idea to use them as haricot beans if you're not keen on the squeak.
DeleteI have not sorted out my seed tin yet. I have had to give up my allotment this year due to a lot of Family thing that are going on and shortage of hours in the day, but I am going to sort out my garden so I can grow a few bits and pieces at home. I would feel lost if I didn't get to grow some of the food we eat.
ReplyDeleteHaving to give up your allotment is such a shame, but I know how much time and effort it takes to keep up to. You probably won't be able to grow as much in your garden as you did at the plot, but it will be convenient having everything growing outside the back door, and you'll still have that home grown taste. Good luck with it and let us know how you get on.
DeleteWe had hail and that snow flurry too Jo followed by yesterday's dreadful wind. I've been going through a similar exercise to you - it's most satisfying isn't it? I could do with a separate seed box just for my peas and beans :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about all my friends in Lancashire yesterday. We had it quite bad here, my internet and phone line was down all day from lunch time, trees have come down, there were some terrible accidents on the motorways and trains were cancelled, but I know that Lancashire was taking an even worse hammering. I'm hoping to whittle down my packets of peas and beans this year, even if it means growing two or even three varieties up a single wigwam. It may make for some pretty arrangements given that I've got red, white and red and white flowered runner beans and green and purple French beans.
DeleteI feel quite behind already and the year hasn't really started yet. If we ever get a dry spell it's going to be frantic. I'm going to try to sow some seeds this weekend. I think it might help me feel like I'm doing something. I'm normally raring to go at this time of year but the weather has put a damper on things, quite literally. We weirdly had thunder and lightning last night. Wondering what else is going to be thrown at us. Still seed sorting is the perfect job when venturing outside isn't possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm chomping at the bit to start sowing some seeds but I'm being cautious and holding back a while yet, everything usually catches up in the end. We didn't have thunder and lightening last night, but we got the high winds and plenty of rain.
DeleteYou are extremely organized, Jo, compared with me! My seeds are just thrown in a box in no order -- I need one with sections. I'm determined to get organized this year, thanks to your inspiration. I have a little more time than you with our shorter growing season. I'm glad you weathered the storm safely. We have a major snowstorm hitting us right now. P. x
ReplyDeleteIt's only once I've sorted my seeds out for the approaching season that they're organised in to sections, otherwise they're exactly the same as yours. We've had some strange weather thrown at us just lately, I'm wondering what's coming next. We've only had the one snow flurry so far this year, unlike you. Stay safe.
DeleteI am slowly getting myself into gear this year, I have sorted my seeds as I do Seedypenpal seed swap . Twice a year Carl Legge pairs people up so that you send seed to someone and receive seeds from someone else. That way you are receiving different things and sending on some of your surplus seeds.
ReplyDeleteSeed swaps are a great idea, I've participated in them before and have been thinking about them just recently after I realised how many seeds I've got that will never get sown. The ones I've joined in with previously have been organised differently to the Seedypenpal swap though. A box was sent containing masses of seed. I then took out what I wanted and replaced them with my own surplus seed before sending the box on its way to the next person on the list.
DeleteThat sounds just as good, just to let you know as I had as much cooking as gardening in my blog I have changed my address to flowerlady-flourlady.blogspot.com
DeleteAhhh, I wondered where you'd gone. Thanks for letting me know.
DeleteWhen seed packets are displayed in such manner, snow will soon go... :)
ReplyDeleteThe snow didn't hang around, but we've had storms, rain and high winds since I wrote this post, I don't know where it will end. At least I'm all ready to go as soon as the weather cooperates.
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