Topic: Calculating seeds needed...help!

[glosterwomble]

There is probably a very easy way to work this out but I am struggling with working out how many seeds etc to buy. ??? How do you know/work out how many seeds you need? Ok, so to a degree it is personal depending on what veg you enjoy eating but if I buy a packet of carrot seed (1100 seeds per packet) how many carrots can I expect to get? Same question applies to Pots (how many pots from one plant?), cabbage, beans, leek, etc etc. There are only 2 of us but I am happy to have some spare veg for friends. Thanks in advance!

[manicscousers]

we only plant 8 runner beans and 3 courgette plants, we always end up with a freezer full so I guess our calculations on them are well out !!, don't worry, I reckon someone on here's got facts and figures for you  :)

[kitten]

Great question gw, i was going to post a question similar to this later! I thought i'd got our seed order worked out but it's so difficult to know how much of everything you'll get from each packet. There are four of us sharing our plot. Looking forward to finding out! kitten x

[supersprout]

Useful calculator here:
http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=gatepage&gate=GH_VegTipsAK
with caution - not allowing for poor germination, weather, cold snaps, drought and Acts of God or Hoe :-[

to make sense of it in the kitchen
http://www.sysindia.com/kitchen/vegical.html

Some veg growing books have comprehensive guides

Tim's policy is to sow little and often for continuous cropping of young veg - gives more control as well as hedging against adverse sowing/planting conditions :)

[cornykev]

;D Womble you never know how many plants will grow, I put in two rows of parsnip the whole lot come up another bloke on the plot put in four rows he had a couple a dozen so it is hard to plan. Two packets of carrots should do you they don't all go in at the same time, its always better to have too much than too little I love me carrots so I'll be putting in more this year, as you said give it away if its a plenty, I give some veggies away but now I am buying so I be a bit tighter next year.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

Err on the side of plenty; most seeds are cheap enough that you don't hav to be stingy, and most of them will keep till next year. Always plant too many; it's easier to thin out surplus than to plant extra.

[kt.]

I usually just guess quantities of what I want to plant each year at the time of sowing. Filling in gaps with whatever I can throughout the year. I like the calculator site. Have added it to favourites for this next year. Dont know if i'll use it yet though.

I have heard some people say - 1/3rd for the birds and pests >:(,        1/3rd for the weather :(          and 1/3rd for you.  :D         So plant plenty!

[glosterwomble]

thank you all, yes the calculator page will help. I think I've become old before my time, I'm 34 yo and spend hours studying seed catalogues!

[supersprout]

I think I've become old before my time, I'm 34 yo and spend hours studying seed catalogues!

erm, not til tomorrow? 8) ;)

[saddad]

One version of the saying is
One for the mice, one for the crow,
One to rot and one to grow......
 ???
Bit optomistic some years!
 ;D
Yes Grawrc has it as his bottom line,,, just seen him in News.

[glosterwomble]

Yes supersprout you're correct,

I think I've become old before my time, I'm 34 yo and spend hours studying seed catalogues!

erm, not til tomorrow? 8) ;)

[Rosyred]

I found last year I didn't have enough as I wanted to me able to give veg to others as I lost alot of plants so I would say go for more.