Sowing multiple seeds by the end of March - Advice needed

[mpdjulie]

I am going to sow carrot, spring onion, spinach, kale, parsnip, PS broccoli, cabbage and pea seeds by the end of March in separate raised beds.  I didn't have much luck last year with anything.  This year I want as much advice as possible beforehand so I am successful.  I would like to know things such as what needs protection, with plastic sheeting, fleece etc... What to protect from slugs and other beasties?
When to feed what and with what?
Any advice would be very much appreciated.  :) :) :)

[mpdjulie]

[Tee Gee]

I am going to sow

By this I presume you mean sow directly into the soil. If I am correct then I would say you are far too early.

If you have the means to grow them on in pots trays etc then it might be OK. But into the soil is a big NoNo for me.

Have a look at the cultural for each of your seed types here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Indexes/index.htm and then take it from there. (Use the alphabetical index)

[saddad]

Carrots and parsnips under fleece... to help keep the surface damp so the little seeds can get up through the soil without it capping...
All the Brassicas and the spinach in cells and transplant as TeeGee says...
Peas soak overnight to speed up germination, they need to soak up a lot of moisture and raised beds can make that harder than in normal soil...

;D

[Georgie]

Someone posted this link on another site I use.  You may find it helpful, I know I have.   :)

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/veg_planner.asp

G x

[PurpleHeather]

It does not matter how warm it is on top, if the soil is too cold underneath, the poor little things will struggle and may take longer to recover than those , sown later on. Like if you get into a cold bed, no matter how many blankets you cover yourself with, if the cold is coming up from underneath, you can not get warm.

If you do not have a green house to start things off in. You can still start them off in little pots, just a few at a time, on a window sill or even out side if you can cover them, keep them near a brick wall in the sun.

Cabbages, sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, they will all start off in pots. It is a fiddly job taking them out and growing them on in bigger pots that way of course, but it is a rainy day job for indoors, covering everything before you start with plastic bin bags.

Peas and beans in the toilet roll tubes. One in each. They can go straight into the ground when they look ready then.

I suppose you could do the toilet roll thing for cabbages too, put one or more seeds in each and then nip off surplus seedlings leaving just one.

Patience is not something us gardeners are blessed with this time of year, we all want to be getting on with it don't we?

[mor]

l also think it would save you a lot of worry if your started with the seeds indoor in pots then you can transfer them when the time is ready.

[alienwithaview]

I totally agree - it's too early yet to sow directly into the soil. Even where we are in Wiltshire I would now (after a disastrous attempt at early sowing last year) regard mid- to late April the start of the outdoors season. I am sticking to pots, coldframes and windowsills until I'm confident the frosts are over...
BUT: We were in Brighton before, and there I started sowing out as early as February and had quite good results, which made me think I could repeat this anywhere. Must have been a really sheltered spot in Sussex then. And I am so impatient!

[Robert_Brenchley]

I wouldn't sow anything direct this early.