First of all, I popped my three dozen onion sets in to modules to give them a start. I'm growing Sturon, a popular variety which seems to do well.
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I was going to leave it at that but I couldn't resist opening a packet of seeds and starting something off, so I decided on leeks. There's nothing much to see here yet but I'm hoping that by sowing early, it will encourage me to get them planted out this year instead of leaving them to languish in the plant pot like they did last year. Consequently, I haven't had any leeks to harvest and they're a wonderful vegetable in the winter months.
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My potatoes had already been set out to chit. I pop them in seed trays and they sit in the conservatory, which isn't heated but is frost free, until it's time for them to be planted. These are the tubers I picked up from a garden centre on my way to Harlow Carr a couple of weeks ago, three each of Sherine, Vales Emerald and Bonnie.
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These are just some of the Arran Pilot tubers which I bought from the allotment shop. I bought half a stone, so a little over 3kg, for £2.25, a very good price.
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I thought that by making a start, it would quell my urge to really get going on the sowing front but I'm not sure it has, perhaps the seed packets will be out again very soon.
My fingers are itching as well, counting down the days............
ReplyDeleteIt won't be long now until we can all get stuck in. Surely some warmer weather will come soon now that March is here.
DeleteThe only seeds that I have sown so far are larkspur. The first lot of onions that we popped into modules are shooting so we need to set some more going.
ReplyDeleteYou're good at being patient. I try to hold off for as long as I can but the excitement of a new gardening season is usually too much for me.
DeleteI have so far resisted but with the lovely weather forecast for the weekend, I might start by sowing some broad beans and leeks. Roll on the proper spring weather xxx
ReplyDeleteHear hear. I don't think it will be too long before I've started off more seeds myself.
DeleteI've started some shallots off too and sowed leek and sweet peas. Its good to get going again isn't it!
ReplyDeleteI forgot about sweet peas, that's something I can start off now. I think I'll get my seed box out again this weekend.
DeleteI love this time of year - after a good ol' rest over the past few months I am now itching to get started as well. Every day I'm looking at my little calendar to see if there is something - anything - that needs doing in preparation for the season & I'm downstairs looking at my onion & pepper starts several times a day to see if they've grown at all in the last couple of hours ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's a great time of year, all the anticipation of the gardening year ahead. I usually try to hold back as much as I can, but then it's such a frantic time towards the back end of March and April and May getting everything sown, potted on and planted out. I love it.
DeleteIt's still early days, especially with the weather like it has been. At just 75p kg for the Arran Pilot tubers that is a very good price indeed! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt is but I'm itching to get going with everything. The allotment shop has some good bargains so I buy from there if I can but I still haven't sourced any Anya's, I'm still looking.
DeleteThought I was a little in front of you until you mentioned sowing leeks. Might try sowing some broad beans soon to try for an early crop.
ReplyDeleteI'm not bothering with broad beans this year, they're my least favourite bean so I'll give the space to runners and French. I'm wondering what else I can sow just now though.
Delete3kgs of potatoes for £2.25 sounds like fantastic value!
ReplyDeleteThe Leeks I sowed the other day have not germinated yet, but at least I got the gratification of sowing them.
I just wish the allotment shop sold Anyas, I'm not having any luck in finding any this year. It feels good to finally sow something, I'm thinking of other seeds I could be sowing now too.
DeleteI'm fighting the urge to sow seeds Jo (successfully so far) but I planted some shallots in cells on Saturday :) Hope that your leeks fare well.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to fight that urge at this time of year when you hear of other people starting seeds off. I've plenty of time to resow the leeks if they amount to nothing.
DeleteI'm holding my breath, but before very long I will start sowing those seeds. Tomatoes first I think. And maybe some sugar snap peas. I already have little chilli seedlings. It's started! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wish I grew chillis, just so that I had some seeds which needed an early start. I will probably start my tomatoes off towards the end of the month or early April.
DeleteStarting off a little at a time seems like a good way to do things! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's still a little early really, but it would be good to spread the sowing out rather than everything being sown at once, it makes for a bit of a hectic month in April.
DeleteYou reminds me to sow some onion seeds. I hope they haven't expired yet.
ReplyDeleteI started my onions from seeds one year but I've gone back to sets, the seeds didn't fare any better and sets are more convenient really.
DeleteI am itching too but I am holding off. I find if I start too early I have seedlings that are too big for being in the polytunnel in pots and not big enough and strong to cope with the cold outside. There is no point me potting out till early June!
ReplyDeleteIt's exactly the same here, I end up with either leggy plants or large plants in pots and not enough room for them. It's just too hard to resist sowing something though.
DeleteGood to see you have got going! The weather has been dismal hasn't it, I have been weeding the front garden for an hour or so each day, not because I'm that dedicated, but because the dogs insist on running each day, at least it gets me out there I suppose. I sowed white cosmos and bidens a week ago and was amazed to see them popping out today!xxx
ReplyDeleteThe weather's been awful just lately but I've heard it's about to change for the better, at least over the weekend. You might as well get stuck in to some weeding whilst you're out there with the dogs, Archie doesn't like to be in the garden, he just sits on the step and waits to be let in again.
DeleteIt feels so good to take the plunge and get the new season underway! I try to resist the temptation to get the propagators out too early as the problem arises when there are hundreds of young plants, still needing heat, with limited space. Needless to say I gave in to temptation ...
ReplyDeleteIt's great to get started again. I try to hold off as long as I can too but the temptation is too great, I just have to start something off. It's not too bad starting early if we have some warm weather, the promlems arise when it's cold and the greenhouse is too cold for the seedlings to be moved to. Later sowings always manage to catch up, it's just that I'm too impatient to wait.
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