Wednesday 9 April 2014

Sowing, Pricking Out And Potting On

April is such a busy month for gardeners with all the sowing, pricking out of seedlings and potting on to be done. Sunday was the day for sowing my cucurbits, squash - Autumn Crown, Little Gem Rolet and Custard White, courgette - One Ball and Parthenon and cucumber - Mini Munch and Crystal Lemon.


If you remember last year, I had great success with Mini Munch cucumbers. As the name would suggest, the plants produce mini fruit, and they were prolific. I wasn't very keen on Crystal Lemon and wasn't going to bother growing them again, but my dad was particularly fond of them so I'll grow a plant or two just for him now that he no longer has a garden of his own.


I also sowed some morning glory - Heavenly Blue. They should look nice scrambling up the fence. I noticed this morning that they're already starting to germinate, hows that for fast work?

My tomatoes were sown on the 8th of March and I got them pricked out on the 26th of March. They're now residing in the mini greenhouse which is inside the big greenhouse for a bit of added protection. I've found that by moving them outside at the earliest opportunity where they can get extra light, it makes for healthier, sturdier plants.


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38 comments:

  1. Your seedlings are doing well. I love morning glory 'heavenly blue'........

    I have some straggly seedlings in one of the bedrooms.........must put them outside. Tku for the reminder :)

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    1. My fence is very bare so the morning glory will go some way to covering it up, it's such a pretty flower. I use Daniel's windowsill for my seedlings, it's the sunniest one in the house, but I often forget to check on things, especially when he's away at university.

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  2. It is a busy time yes but rather lovely all the same, if all goes well there will be some serious picking to do later on in the year.

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    1. I love this time of year, as you say, busy but enjoyable. I do hope we get a good summer and that all our crops do well.

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  3. You beat me to it as I only started sowing some seeds in pots yesterday. Flighty xx

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    1. There's still plenty of time left yet. I've still got many more things to sow, I like to do a bit every so often and spread it out so that I'm not inundated with everything germinating at once.

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  4. Good work! I've just had to start again with my mini cucumbers. I had some nice looking little plants and then the slugs devoured all but one!

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    1. That's so annoying, it's happened to me plenty over the years. I hope your second sowing is left alone and that the plants go on to produce some lovely cucumbers for you.

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  5. Just got my tomato seeds in let alone cucumbers and squashes. I always feel I'm a little bit behind everybody else. We're trying cucamelons this year. A James Wong thing. Could be interesting.

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    1. I think things usually catch up. I like to get things started a little earlier so that I'm not rushing to get everything done at once. I've heard of others growing cucamelons, I look forward to hearing how they do and what you think of them.

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  6. We're at the sowing stage now.

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    1. I've still got plenty of sowing to do yet, as well as pricking out and potting on. I love this time of year.

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  7. I have quite a few seedling in need of repotting now. Not all have started growing yet though to my dismay.

    X x

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    1. Some of the things I started quite early took a long time to germinate. Sometimes it's better to start things a little later but I'm too impatient.

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  8. You are way ahead of me Jo but I am hoping to get some sowing done over the next few days!!

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    1. There's still plenty of time yet. I've got more sowing to do, I haven't even started on peas or beans, then there's the sweetcorn.

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  9. It's certainly reaching that manic time of year in the greenhouse Jo when there just does not seem enough time to do it all :) Hoping to sow my cues, pumpkins and courgettes by the middle of the month. Will leave morning glories until May.

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    1. Never mind running out of time, I'm fast running out of space too. Most things, except for those I sowed at the weekend, are now residing in the greenhouse, I don't know what I do without it.

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  10. I wasn't going to grow Crystal Lemons again either, but they were so prolific, and the guinea pigs really like them, I think I'll put in a couple as well. I love the idea of a greenhouse within a greenhouse - double protection!

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    1. I was surprised that my dad liked the Crystal Lemon cucumbers, he's quite a traditional man, I thought a lemon shaped cucumber would be a step too far for him, but no. The greenhouse within a greenhouse works well at this time of year when the nights are still quite chilly.

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  11. Wow you will have lots of things growing!! I love the word cucurbit!! xx

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    1. I hope they all grow well and that I get to harvest plenty. The word cucurbit is one of those you can really get your tongue round.

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  12. I am behind you all busy sowing our first seeds of the season this week........it's cold up north so there is no point sowing earlier as I can't plant out until later on in the month or even early May.

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    1. It's all about judging things just right. Sow too early and everything ends up leggy before it's warm enough to get them planted in the ground, plant too late and they won't have time to produce a worthwhile harvest. It's all a juggling act.

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  13. The seedlings look so stunning! You grow so various plants. So exciting. Good job!

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    1. I enjoy growing a variety of different things, even different varieties of the same veg. If something doesn't do so well, you've got a chance that a different variety will do better.

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  14. Your tomatoes are looking good Jo. I only have a handful this year, too late to sow more so I'll go with the few I have. I have never had any success growing Morning Glory, well done you! I seem to be doing better with the flowers this year than veg, for a change, not even any courgettes up yet but lots of lower seedlings.
    Hope all well Jo, sorry I never got around to replying to your last email!
    Gill xx

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    1. It isn't too late for tomatoes quite yet, there's always the garden centre too where you can pick up a plant or two. I've got some flowers on the go this year for the allotment, ones I'll be able to cut and bring home for the house.

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  15. I love this time of year, it's all so busy as everything seems to spring up and need potting on at once. Your toms are bigger than mine!xxx

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    1. It is such a busy time of year, but like you, I love it. My tomatoes were sown on the 8th of March so they're quite small to say how long they've been growing for, but early sowings do grow at a slower pace but everything should start and put a spurt on now that some warmer weather is on the way.

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  16. Lovely post and thank you for sharing

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    1. I think all gardeners will be busy sowing their seeds at this time of year. I like to list what I've sown and when as it gives me something to refer back to.

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  17. My book arrived today, but I haven't had time to look at it yet, but that is how I will be spending my time tonight. Thank you again xxx

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    1. You're welcome. I'm pleased to hear it's arrived safely. Happy reading.

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  18. I'm still trying to decide what to prioritise and sow, I need to get a move on!

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    1. I find it easier to sow things in batches then I'm not rushing to do everything in one go, I wouldn't have enough windowsills if I did that. It will be the turn of the legumes next.

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  19. Gosh, those look great. You're much further ahead than me.

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    1. I like to get some early sowings done so that everything isn't left until the last minute. If they don't work out, that's fine, there's always time to sow more, but if they do, then I'm ahead of the game.

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