Yesterday's weather wasn't as nice as Saturday's, in fact, it was dull and drizzly for most of the day, but the sun did come out late afternoon and it brightened up. It was around midday that I decided I'd sow some seeds, so I set my stall out on the kitchen floor out of the rain.
I started off with tomatoes. I'm growing four varieties this year, Maskotka, Totem, Gardener's Delight and Ailsa Craig. As you can see, I'm a fan of the cherry types.
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I sowed some mangetout - Oregon Sugar Pod. I didn't grow mangetout last year but they're a vegetable which everyone likes so they're back for this year. A packet of mixed lettuce seeds was given free with a magazine so I thought I'd sow some of those. I don't usually grow many salad crops as we're not huge salad eaters but I ate more than usual last year and I intend to again this year so it would be madness not to grow my own. The seeds are a blend of butterhead, cos, crisp and leaf lettuce so I should get a good mix. I also sowed my sweet peas. This packet contains five named varieties: Beaujolais, Noel Sutton, White Ensign, Air Warden and Mrs R.Bolton and is a medium scent mix. The collection should have cost £4.99 but I bought it in the Wyevale 50p sale, it does save me a small fortune buying seed at the end of the season ready for the following year.
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I sorted out my seed stash at the back end of last year and was going to dispose of half empty packs, those out of date or seed I just don't want any longer, but yesterday, I mixed some of them together to sow for mixed leaves.
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There was also half a packet of chive seeds so I added those to the mix along with Red and Green Salad Bowl and Leaf Salad. These will be able to be cut as small leaves with which to make a nice salad. I might as well get some use out of the seeds rather than discarding them.
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So that's where I'm up to at the moment. I'm sure I'll be sowing different seeds each weekend now as the season progresses.
Lovely selection, my fingers are itching as well, soon be April and warmer weather and we will all be busy.
ReplyDeleteI think that's it now that I've started, I'll be busy sowing something every weekend from now on.
DeleteWell you can'y blame us as the only thing I've sown is larkspur,
ReplyDeleteI'll let you off then. At least I've got plenty of time to resow if they don't work out.
DeleteLarkspur Sue, should I have my larkspur in? Panic. I do have tomatoes in and a couple of chillies, nothing else yet though, although now that I've seen you've got your sugar snaps in... I'm off to add larkspur and sugar snaps to my To Do list. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteHa ha, that's the problem with reading gardening blogs, isn't it? We always feel left behind when we read of others who are further on with things.
DeleteI'm not a larkspur expert CJ my seeds were in the freezer for a fortnight before sowing. Last year they were a failure.
DeleteAnd I've never grown them so I'm afraid I can't help either.
DeleteI confess that it all got too much for me too this weekend and I fired up the propagator and got sowing. Already the cucumber and Cosmos have germinated. That is the last thing I needed. Expect my desk to disappear under seedlings very soon.
ReplyDeleteI've put my seedlings on Daniel's windowsill, he's away at uni so they won't bother him, but it's the warmest windowsill in the house and gets the best light. I decided against using the propagator as I don't mind waiting for them to germinate. I'm sure it won't be long until I'm fighting for space though, seedlings end up on all the windowsills by about mid April.
DeleteI have successfully resisted the temptation to sow tomatoes. When my chillis are big enough to come out from under the lights, then I will sow tomatoes. I have some plants that will tolerate cold conditions already sown - leeks, broad beans, carrots, lettuce, but none of the frost-tender ones.
ReplyDeleteI've held off things like cucumber and squash, they can be sown at a later date, and I might regret sowing tomatoes so early but I've got plenty of time to resow if I need to.
DeleteYay! I've got lettuce and sweetpeas on the utility room window sill, but am taking it steady as whatever I plant will be in pots and will need transferring to our new garden (hopefully sometime this Summer).
ReplyDeleteYou'll need to consider what you sow carefully this year as I doubt that transporting a garden is the easiest of things. It will be good to have some things on the go though, and you may be in your new house in time to sow some late crops.
DeleteWell done. I've sown nothing yet at home, or on the plot, and won't for at least another couple of weeks. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably doing the right thing. Everything catches up at this time of year and later sowings usually make stronger plants. I knew I'd regret it.
DeleteMy tomato seeds are in and so are some squash and pumpkin. I plan on getting some sweetcorn sown at the weekend and soon my seed potatoes will have to go into their pots. It is so much milder here than on the East coast. My over wintered garlic and onions are looking good and the miniature apple trees have fat buds on them.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're way ahead of the game. I've held off squash and other cucurbits yet, they grow at such a pace that they'll outgrow their space before it's time to plant them out and it isn't warm enough for them in my greenhouse as yet.
DeleteIt's hard to resist the temptation to sow some seed after a long winter. Even though I've already sown quite a few, I keep looking at my calendar, willing the days to go by more quickly so that I can sow more...
ReplyDeleteThat's it, now I've started there'll be no stopping me. It always so exciting at this time of year looking forward to a new growing season.
DeleteYour idea of the mixed lettuces with the old seed is a great one, if they don't do a lot you have lost nothing and if they grow well then you are set for lettuce and salad! Clever you! xx
ReplyDeleteThe mix of old seed was actually suggested to me in the comments of another post so I can't claim credit for that idea. It is a good one though, I hope it works.
DeleteI've not really started any veg seeds yet, apart form leeks, but I will be soon. It's so exciting at this time of year isn't it!
ReplyDeleteYou're obviously more patient than I am, it is so exciting at this time of year, I just can't restrain myself.
DeleteSo many seed, so little time! I love buying seed and there always seems to be something new to try.
ReplyDeleteI've got far too many seeds in my seed stash, more than I'll ever get round to sowing. Buying seed seems to be addictive.
DeleteI've not sown a thing yet, but I am desperate too.
ReplyDeletex x
I'm sure you'll get getting your fingers in the compost very soon, especially if the good weather continues. It's lovely and sunny here today.
DeleteYou've succumbed to temptation then Jo :) I'm just about still managing to hold on but for how much longer is anybody's guess.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much willpower, that's the problem. At least I managed to last until March.
DeleteOK. This week. I've dallied long enough.
ReplyDeleteIt's that fine line of holding off until the weather improves and leaving things too late. I may regret being too eager yet, we'll see.
DeleteSowing is well along with us but we do have a sunroom a greenhouse and a tunnel so no problem as to where to keep all the seedlings, most of what has been sow is destined for the tunnel. The only tomato that we grow is Sun Gold fantastic flavour and a heavy cropper. I also don't like salad very much but I do like watercress so I'm giving that a go this year, maybe I will enjoy salad this way.
ReplyDeleteHaving somewhere to keep the seedlings where it's warm and light enough is the problem when sowing early, a polytunnel is a great solution to this. I've only grown Sungold once in the past and I have to say that I wasn't very keen on it but I hear only good things about it from other people so I think I may have to give it a try again. I've grown watercress in the past and I too am giving that a go again this year. It worked well before so I'm hoping for good results from it again.
DeleteAll the posts are great! I have been thinking of buying a package of some plants but I did not find the ones I want. I love your primeroses and fungi as well. Cheers,
ReplyDeleteSandra
Primroses are one of my favourite flowers, they look so delicate yet they're quite tough. I hope you manage to find the plants you're looking for.
DeleteI'love try to find them again! Cheers, Sandra
DeleteWe have quite a good selection of plants in our garden centres, I usually come away with more than I've gone for.
DeleteI confess I've been seed sowing too! I've just potted my tomatoes on, need to do my sweet peppers too. I've also sown chillies, aubergines, leeks, mixed salad leaves, spring onions, radishes, cornflowers, dahlias and verbena bonariensis.. I think that's it.. Just couldn't help myself! :o)
ReplyDeleteYou've made a good start there. It's so hard to hold back when you're itching to get going, I'll be sowing more seeds myself soon.
DeleteYou have a wide variety of vegetables to be planted.
ReplyDeleteThis is only the start, there'll be plenty more when I really get going.
DeleteI hope they all germinate! I like the idea of sowing old seeds together for pot luck. I don't have any old ones at the moment but might try in future years! I shan't be sowing for a few weeks yet :)
ReplyDeleteSome have already started to germinate. I've sown these earlier than I'd have liked really but you've got to start sometime, I just hope they grow well enough.
DeleteI was led astray too, sowed lots of seeds and then it rained all week and temperatures plummeted. You should have some lovely salad come summer. Always good to see what you are sowing.xxx
ReplyDeleteI didn't think the nice weather would last, but I don't suppose it's been too bad. Some of the seeds have now germinated so it's time to be sowing some more.
DeleteThe more I read other people's blogs, the keener I become to sow ahead of time! Such an exciting time f year!
ReplyDeleteI definitely get led astray when I hear what other people are sowing, it makes me all the more eager to start off my own seeds. The ones I sowed have started to germinate so it will be pricking out and potting on time soon.
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