Bit worried that we're too late for the season

[NettleNik]

Hiya!
We've had our allotment for about two weeks now - and I've sown all my seeds into little modules, and covered them in cling film. The majority have now sprouted and I've removed the cling film. They are on the window sills in the house. Could I ask what size should they be when I plant them out into beds?

I've sown:
Pumpkin
Squash
Beetroot
Onions
French Beans
Climbing Beans
Peas
Courgettes
Cucumber
Cabbages
Brussel Sprouts
Lettuce
Leaf Beet
Carrots

Planning to recycle sodapop bottles and use them as cloches around each plant til they are bigger. Are we too late? Bit worried as I've never done this before. Although I am loving it - bit obsessed with my allotment. Spent the afternoon cutting all the wood to make the raised beds.

Can anyone give me some advice please?
Nik :-[ ???

[NettleNik]

[manicscousers]

Hiya, nettlenick, don't worry, the season is only just beginning  ;D
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?page=9
this might help, from the wiki

[springbok]

You are one step further than me :) 

I am only sowing this weekend!! :) I have been told that Traditionally this is the right time to sow, so heres praying we have a good summer :)

[Digeroo]

Personally I would get the carrots out asap.  Perhaps sow some more direct.  Its a bit on the cold side for Pumpkins squash and courgettes and cues.  Though I have had some courgettes out under plastic bottles for several weeks now and they are looking very bonny. but it is a gamble with the weather which you may not win. so only put out plants you are able to loose. 

Same for the beans but these are even more of a problem under plastic bottles since they do not like getting too hot and it is as easy to cook them on the nice day as freeze them on a bad one.

You seem amazingly well organised.  How many window sills do you have. can you still see out?

[SPUDLY]

Pumpkin..........Mine are set on my plot under cloches for now, will remove the covers end of the month
Squash...........Cant help, never grown
Beetroot..........Set on plot 31/3/09
Onions............Potted up 20/2/09, when 5" tall set out on plot
French Beans....Now in pots 4" tall, will plant out towards end of the month
Climbing Beans..Same as above
Peas..............Potted up 20/2/09, set on plot 30/3/09
Courgettes.....In pots under cover, will plant out end of the month
Cucumber..... Not growing any
Cabbages.......Planted start of march, now growing happily on the plot
Brussel Sprouts.....Planted two batches, 8/3/09 & 31/3/09 now growing on plot
Lettuce....... Continuous sowing since 14/3/09 in pots first then out onto the plot
Leaf Beet..... Not growing
Carrots.......Set straight out on the plot 19/3/09

[NettleNik]

Hiya, nettlenick, don't worry, the season is only just beginning  ;D
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?page=9
this might help, from the wiki

Thankyou for the link - forgot about the wiki on here. Whew! ::)So glad we are ok. I don't expect miracles - really enjoying it all - feels great sowing seeds and planning what we would like to grow and everything. It's brought us closer as a family as well - I write a blog about it all for the family and friends to see how we are getting on - and my little boy (nearly 2) points at the allotment pictures and knows exactly what it is - he goes and fetches his wellies bless him. Fantastic! Everybody should have one!
Thanks so much for the advice! Nik ;D

[1066]

NettleNik, I think the thing with gardening & allotments is you are either too late
or too early plus everyone seems to have their own way of doing things. So there is no definitive right or wrong which can make it seem very confusing!  But the great thing is that you will now start finding out what works for you  :D  I always have a potter round the site to see what everone is up to - lots of people have beans out (but protected) I can't see any sweetcorn yet, and a few have courgettes also under cover. I just keep on learning  8)
Its also great to read what a positive impact your allotment is having
Happy Planting  ;D

[Ishard]

Don't worry NettleNick Ive hardly planted/sown anything yet.

Its so true what 1066 says 'Learn what works for you' as last year I had hundreds of seeds planted at home in pots, trays loo rolls and newspaper. Such a lot of hard work!

This year after talking to fellow ( more experienced)  plot holders I have hardly planted any seeds at home, just the quash, melons, courgettes and cucs, the rest are going to be sown in situ as and when the weather is suitable.
I will however chit the parsnips at home and then plant them direct.

If it works for the great alloment next to mine it will work for me!