Topic: Haven't planted anything yet - should i worry?

[shaolin101]

Hi All,

I see all these threads about people's sowing this and that and this is how people's pots of whatever look like now.

i haven't started anything yet. Nearly all my seeds say march-april other than parsnip and spring onion which i think said tehy can start in feb.

Should i be hurrying up? I have a small electric propagator with the vent holes which could be used for anything. I do not have a greenhouse though, and my soil doesn't have any manure/compost in it as i haven't had any - only had allotment a few weeks and been clearing it the whole time.

Shall i just follow the packets for now?

Thanks
Liam

[sarah]

panic ye not. all will be well. if you sow too much now then you will end up with a lot of leggy seedlings before you have your plot ready.  i have not sown anything yet except for some chilles and peppers.  o and some early peas. all these things can happily wait until march and april and will be non the worse for it.  the lengthening hours of daylight will mean that your seeds will catch up no problem. 

[manicscousers]

hiya, Liam..there's no panic to sow, we're all just mad for it, sowing that is..we've started toms, peppers and cucumbers off as we have a greenhouse at home and a polytunnel at the plot..wait 'til you're ready  ;D
oh, and we've done some early peas in a gutter inside  :)

[Trevor_D]

In a word - no! Things catch up.

We plant & sow early for a variety of reasons:

1 - We live in a mild & sheltered spot and can get away with it.
2 - We're such skilful & experienced gardeners that we can push the boundaries of the seasons.
3 - We've got so much to plant that if we left it all for the same week we'd end up in A&E.
4 - We don't bother to actually read what it says on the packets.
5 - We're impatient. (This one accounts for 90% of early sowings!)

(But go on - try a few early sowings, just for the fun of it! And don't tell anyone until you're eating the stuff a month earlier than the rest of us!)

[shaolin101]

Thanks all,

Thats a relief anyway. Think i might go and chuck some spring onions in the floor and see what happens. The packet says they can actually stay there and continue growing until leek size and can still be eaten so might try that too.

And if it doesn't grow i will chuck a few more down in a few weeks - repeat until successful...

[grawrc]

I've done nowt and from the look of the weather outside I won't be doing much this weekend!!

[Tee Gee]

Liked your reply TD well put;

1 - We live in a mild & sheltered spot and can get away with it

I can't on top of the Pennines, had a bit of snow/sleet this morning :'(

2 - We're such skilful & experienced gardeners that we can push the boundaries of the seasons.

Don't know if I can come into that category  ::)

3 - We've got so much to plant that if we left it all for the same week we'd end up in A&E.

Agreed ! and at my age I have to make doubly sure! 8)

4 - We don't bother to actually read what it says on the packets.

What does 'read' mean? I thought you just looked at the picture on the front  ;D

5 - We're impatient. (This one accounts for 90% of early sowings!)

 ??? Lazy more likely in my case!!

I guess you now know what category I come into Shaolin

Welcome to A4A by the way!!

[kenkew]

I can't do with Tee Gee when he gets serious.... ;D

[Twirlie]

Welcome!  I haven't done much either as mine is a newish plot (November).  You could always stick some Garlic in if you're desperate to see something start growing!  I don't have a greenhouse either, so I got a plastic zip up one for the back yard, more like some shelves with a coat.  It was only a tenner and I'm hoping for a real one from freecyle.  I'm in the North and all the long-term-plot holders on our site have advised me to add a month to whatever it says on the packets.  It's killing me though I can't wait!!!!!!!!
Anyway have fun, and good luck, I know I need it!
Twirlie ;D

[dtw]

I think I belong in the impatient category.
I've already got the chillies, peppers and aubergines going indoors.

I sowed black & white kidney beans, chick peas, pinto beans, sweetcorn and 'misty' peas today
in some 24 compartment seed trays.
They're in the greenhouse as there's no room indoors.

[Twirlie]

I'm jealous!  But what a lovelly medley of pulses you have! ;D

[RosieMcPosie]

deffinately impatience is to blame here.
and nope i don't read packets- don't need to- i'm just too clover :D

[caroline7758]

In my limited experience, it's better too alte than to early with most things. As Trevor say, things catch up. Exceptions that I've found are tomatoes, peppers and aubergines which need a good long ripening season.

[Multiveg]

what you could do is sow a couple of seeds in pots for each variety so that you can see what the seedling looks like. One year, OH weeded all but one of my parsnips!

[mysterio_3d]

Dont worry about it.  I've been clearing the allotment myself since last November so and have only chucked some garlic in before Xmas - it seems to be going ok.  However, after buying a load of seeds at Xmas I have been itching to get going and today couldnt resist any longer.  I now have a sunny windowsill full of Tomatoes, Leeks and Pumpkins.  Plenty more still to sow but plenty of time for the land to warm up a bit. :D

[jesssands]

I sowed black & white kidney beans, chick peas, pinto beans, sweetcorn and 'misty' peas today

are chick peas clled something else? I have never seen the seed for sale, please tell me what to look for?

Just love chick pea curry!

[davee52uk]

In addition to the reasons given for sowing early can I also add:

Beacause my neighbour on the allotments does this and I don't like being bettered by him!

[star]

 ;D ;D ;D

[theothermarg]

Seen in a sunday newspaper today, Sow parsnips in the next 2 weeks as they need 11 months to grow! they didn't say this was perhaps meant for show veg in specialised conditions. how many new growers are going to be disapointed over no show seeds because it is way too cold
marg

[Kea]

Though i have read that parsnips germinate better later rather than earlier...so amybe don't get your hopes up if you sow them now and be prepared to repeat sow later.