Too early?

[pakaba]

I planted broad beans and spring onion seeds today! I know it might be a little early but I just couldn't help it!  We built 8 raised borders last year and the soil in them is perfect!   I just needed to share my excitement at my first planting of the season.  It'll be interesting to see how they do.

[pakaba]

[RenishawPhil]

Well why not!

I think its far to wet to be working the soil in general. 
Looked at our winter onions and garlic today and they actually look fantastic!, really lush, especially the onions.  I wont be touching the soil until march

[Robert_Brenchley]

You're fine planting BB's, they're almost indestructible. The only thing I've come across which finishes them off is waterlogging.

[pakaba]

It'll be interesting to see what happens. I wouldn't dream of planting in the open soil but just couldn't resist trying to plant in the well drained raised beds.   It's just so invigorating to be outside planting. At worst I'll lose a packet of seeds and can replant a next month :-)

[antipodes]

Even though it's wet here, as I am on sandy loam, they say it will be dry this weekend so I will take the opportunity to start the onions, broad beans and the first early spuds. We are about 3 weeks ahead of the UK with planting times so I think I will be OK. It's terribly mild as far as temperatures go. I will do some spring onions too I think but under cloches. My garlic is looking very good but i wonder if it has been cold enough to get it bulbing properly?  My rhubarb is also starting to  come up, and with all this rain and a good heap of manure this winter, I hope the crop will be dazzling !

[Digeroo]

I think that it is a perfect time to start.  I sowed mine in February last year and to my great surprise they thrived.  I consider the early ones a bit of a gamble so I only plant a few, after all I cannot eat more than a certain amount.  Then I sow some more and more and more over the months.   I cover mine with plastic bottles or else they simply become breakfast for the squirrels and voles.  Perhaps this year they will keep drier that way as well.  I tend to divide my packets into four batches.   But this year I have heaps, I ticked a box saying large packet and ended up with a Kilo as well as my own saved seeds.

I do love the first sowings of the years.  I am always really impatient to get going.  I really love it hen the first green shoots starts showing above the soil.   Broadbeans are so unusual because the cotyledons stay underground, so the first showing are real leaves.  Maybe it helps them when it is cold.   I have hedged my bets and sown some in pots as well.

My soil is very soggy then one of my bottles was blown off so I dug up the seed to see if it was ok and luckily no sign of mould.