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You can see my four tier mini greenhouse inside, I usually set this up inside the greenhouse to give a little extra protection to seedlings at this time of year. As the weather gets warmer, the plastic cover can be removed, but the shelves themselves give me more space on which to place all the seed trays.
I started some more seeds off on Saturday, kale - Cavolo de Nero, broccoli - Raab, swiss chard - Bright Lights, kohl rabi - Purple Delicacy, beetroot - Boltardy, leek - Musselburgh, salad onion - White Lisbon, red salad onion - Furio, radish - Rainbow Mixed and I also sowed a few trays with the living rabbit food which I posted about previously, I'm sure the bunnies will enjoy munching on that.
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I also decided to get my tomatoes going. It's a little earlier than I usually sow them so I just hope I can keep them going without them growing too leggy. If they do, I've still got time to sow more. The varieties I finally decided on are Gardener's Delight, Totem, Costoluto Fiorentino, Ildi and Ailsa Craig. The latter is one which my dad would often grow, so I think of it as an old fashioned variety, but he used to swear by it and he got great yields so I thought I would give it a go this year.
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I've started the tomatoes off in the heated propagator to get them going and I've noticed that three of the varieties have germinated already. Time to take them out of there now and get them to toughen up, they'll have to fend for themselves out in the greenhouse before too long. There's no room for weaklings here.
Don't forget, if you haven't yet entered my giveaway, you've got until twelve noon on Sunday the 23rd of March 2014 to do so. Just leave a comment on The Cut Flower Patch post.
Wow you have sown a lot, I started lettuce, spring onions, spinach, chard & beetroot off at the weekend. I potted my tomatoes up from the propagator on Monday. I was horrified by the huge frost we had Tuesday morning, however the tomatoes were nice & perky so all was well.
ReplyDeleteI think the nice weather got me going, I may live to regret starting some things off too early.
DeleteWhat a great idea to put mini greenhouse in the larger one - saves on all that bubble wrap fiasco. I love the smell of greenhouses - I miss that almost as much as all the promise that a clean, empty greenhouse holds. Here's to a long and sunny growing season!
ReplyDeleteI've used the mini greenhouse inside the larger one for a few years now, it seems to work well. Let's hope we get another summer like last year, I had my best crop of tomatoes yet.
DeleteI will be away from home this weekend, so I plan to sow my tomatoes on the following weekend - under the lights, in my case.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you have chosen a tomato variety that your Dad used to have success with. I think this sort of "family recommendation" is really valuable. My Dad used to swear by "Moneymaker" - but then he had a glass greenhouse, which I don't have. I grew "Ildi" a couple of times. I found them to be very prolific, but quite late-ripening.
Your grow lights will allow your tomatoes to grow well, I'm at the mercy of natural light so I'm just hoping that they don't grow too leggy. My grandpa used to grow Moneymaker, I think it must have been the tomato of choice back in the day. I've heard quite a few people mention Ildi on their blogs. I got my packet of seed free with a magazine so thought I might as well give them a go.
DeleteI never thought about putting my mini green house in the green house, it makes perfect sense too. (obviously I was having a moment)
ReplyDeleteYes I have started my seeds, I do hope they take.
X x
The mini greenhouse just gives a bit of added protection to vulnerable seedlings, I don't tend to use it for long, just until the weather warms up a bit. I'm sure your seeds will germinate well, I've got all sorts of things popping up already.
DeleteStill waiting for our polycarbonate - now we are promised it for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like very good service, I hope you get it tomorrow.
DeleteWe didn't and so now I am on the warpath!
DeleteI don't blame you, that isn't good service at all. I hope it comes soon.
DeleteMonday now - we'll see!
DeleteI hope it turns up for you. It's so annoying when companies don't deliver when they say they will.
Deletewell what a lovely post I have sown to day in my first bed carrots early and a main crop with marigold in-between the rows and some lettuce and cleric more will be in my blog later
ReplyDeleteI used to grow my carrots in an old bath and had great success growing them this way. We had to leave the bath behind when we moved sites so I don't know what we'll do this year, time will tell.
DeleteIt's a busy time of the year... :o) My old plastic greenhouse die a death, but I still use the shelves of it inside the greenhouse when needed and then outside for putting plants on waiting to be planted.
ReplyDeleteI've just bought a new cover for my plastic greenhouse, they've got them at Aldi at the moment. The whole thing is old though now, I may need a whole brand new contraption next year.
DeleteI do enjoy seeing what seeds everyone is sowing, it makes me want to sow even more. Those Italian kitchen toms look fab...y'see....now I want some of those.xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm just the same. I think we like to know what other people are up to because we're nosey, well, I am anyway. I grew the Costoluto Fiorentino tomatoes last year, they're absolutely delicious.
DeleteTomato seeds germinated really quickly for me this year, 100% up in about three days. I've now whipped them out of the propagator and put them in the greenhouse where there is more light. I just hope this mild weather continues!
ReplyDeleteI think we'll all be in for some great harvests if this weather continues. My tomatoes have been moved out of the propagator now, too much of a good thing isn't good for them.
DeleteI'm just getting going with sowing seeds too. I'm going to do the biodynamic planting again this year. I love this time of year, seeds and sowing and so much hope :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested in gardening by the moon. I really should set my stall out at the start of the year and give it a go. Do let us know how you get on with it again this year.
DeleteYou've reminded me I need to plant some chard and some kale. My tomatoes germinated really well too, even the older seeds. I'll be interested to see how you get on with Costoluto Fiorentino. I tried it one year, but it wasn't a great weather year for tomatoes. If yours do well I might try again. I know it's one that Sarah Raven swears by.
ReplyDeleteI always use old tomato seed until I run out, they usually do well germination wise. I grew Costoluto Fiorentino last year and they did really well. They're delicious. I was trying to cut down on the varieties I'm growing this year, but I reckon they've earned their place. Definitely give them a go, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
DeleteYou have so various seed that I have never found here. They look so interesting. I hope someday I can find them and plant them on my home garden
ReplyDeleteI suppose seeds which do well in your country are the ones which will be on sale there. Different seeds need such different conditions so perhaps these wouldn't do so well in your climate.
DeleteI must admit to a touch of greenhouse envy reading this post.
ReplyDeleteI'll be sowing some of my tomato seeds later this month to put on the windowsill.
Flighty xx
I wanted a greenhouse for so long, I was thrilled when I got one, even though it's tiny. I'm looking forward to hearing which tomatoes you've decided to grow this year, I know you were looking for a new variety so it will be interesting to hear which you're going with.
DeleteOkay, I now feel dreadfully lazy and behind the times! But I did sow some flower seeds in pots thanks to your prompting! xxx
ReplyDeleteThere's no rush yet. I may end up having to resow if things grow leggy, which they could very well do. Some of the seed is germinating now so that's exciting, I just hope this lovely weather lasts to give them a head start.
DeleteWow you have been a busy seed planter!! Now, just make sure that you don't get the bunny food mixed up, you don't want to be feeding your tomato seedlings to the bunny!! xx
ReplyDeleteThat would be a disaster. The bunny food has germinated, I'm looking forward to seeing how it grows, there looks to be lots of different types of seed all mixed together.
DeleteMy tomatoes seedlings germinated within days! I have more sowing to do this weekend.
ReplyDeleteAll my tomatoes are up now, even the old seed has germinated well. It's a busy time of year with all the sowing going on.
DeleteMust be good to have your greenhouse back in action. It's a seed sowing frenzy here. ;) No toms though. I might just buy in some plants if I'm going to have space for them. I've sown salad leaves, peas and broad beans so far but no other veg. Lots of flowers though. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is good to have the greenhouse back in action, it's being put to good use already. I meant to sow some peas but it hasn't happened yet, perhaps this weekend.
DeleteI love the idea of the little greenhouse inside the big one...I might have to get one for that purpose!!
ReplyDeleteIt works really well. I've already ousted my tomato plants so they're residing in there at the moment and look to be doing well.
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