I've never grown anything in my life before (well, except maybe a bad beard in the 6th form). Since getting a little 5mx8m Leisure Garden plot in November I've built my beds, laid membrane and mulch over the paths between, hand cleared the weeds and dug in dozens of barrow loads of year old horse manure and 700kgs of well rotted deep black. I've joined the HDRA and the ordered my seeds and planned my 5 bed rotation. Now everything I've read seems to suggest that to get the most number of crops I have to plant seedings in trays, transplant them, harden them etc etc etc. If I'm happy and willing to accept fewer crops and later planting each year, can I just plant everything directly into the beds? Or is there something really crucial that I've missed? I live in a tiny house in London with no garden or room to have loads of seedlings coming up. I also have a demanding full time job and a dog that needs walking - so I can't turn this hobby into a full time career (which it is threatening to become), but I accept that as the year progresses I'll be spending more and more time at my lovely little allotment... I've read through as many posts on here as I can, but I thought it was probably time to ask. Any and all advice would be welcome. Happy New Year everyone.
depends if you have pest problems.
if you ahve birds they might pinch the seeds, slugs and snails will eat the new shoots an by the ime you realise youve ran out of time for sowing.
if your soil is good then you can plant directly in the soil.
Some plants though are still bets given a head start in pots such as peppers and tomatoes.
Ask around the allotments people may be willing to supply you with spare seedlings especially if you make a donation to their seed costs. Everyone always grows too many and ends up throwing some away.
Mike, I live in a small flat too, with little real space to grow loads of seedlings in pots. Last year I had the space and went mad - this year it will have to be a different story.
I intend to direct-sow:
Leeks (dig a trench, direct sow, then earth up through the season - I believe you can also transplant as per the norm), beans, peas, broad beans, onions (seed and sets), spring onions, garlic, spuds (of course), cauli (station sow direct?), cabbage, brussels, purple sprouting, and many more I'm sure. And of course normally direct sown stuff like carrots and parsnips and swede.
My growing space indoors will be reserved for tomatoes, sweetcorn and pumpkins. I am considering getting a cold frame for some of these so they can stay at the lottie as soon as possible.
I expect slugs will be the biggest problem, and some things I might have to try in pots left at the lottie, and then transplanted when larger (lettuce in particular).
I dont think you'll have any problems growing direct, most hardy stuff (lettuces, leeks, onions) is probably happiest sown direct. Â As long as your soil is well prepared and you have something to give them a headstart eg a bit of fleece over the top they will probbaly be much happier than being sown inside and moved.
The exception is non hardy stuff that needs a long summer season, eg Toms, cucumbers, squashes etc. Â And these are easy enough - just buy a few plants.
I've got a big greenhouse but find myself increasingly sowing direct, the plants often seem healthier and its a lot less hassle.
Above all enjoy it and best of luck.
Adrian
You could use a seed bed and transplant. That way you can protect a small area from birds and use slug traps effectively. You could also cover it with windows if you want.
Yes any relatively sheltered area can act as a seed bed.
Remember that many seeds need to be sown in situ though, eg most roots, carrots etc.
Most seedlings for transplanting can be sown in small pots of compost, as they germinate, they can be potted on, but still left outside. Then planted up when they are bigger.
I don't grow anything at home, it all takes place on the allotment ...
Thanks for all your help guys. As this is year one I'll probably add it to the list of mistakes I'm bound to make or see if I can sort out a bit of space - but it's only 5mx8m in total - not the world largets once you've carved out five raised beds. Anyway, to be honest I'm having a ball digging and sorting it out. I'm sure if anything grows at all, it'll just be a bonus. Just in case anyone's interested this is what I'm planning to sow and they type I've bought:
TOMATO Alicante
SUNFLOWER Russian Mammoth
HORSERADISH
SQUASH Butternut
POTATO Desiree
POTATO Pink Fir Apple
DILL
CORIANDER Cilantro
CARROT Starca F1
FENNEL Finale
LEEK Monstruoso de Carentan
GARLIC Printanor
ONION Red Baron
BEETROOT Golden
BEETROOT Monogram
RUNNER BEAN Desiree
BROAD BEAN Super Aquadulce
LETTUCE Little Gem
BRUSSELS SPROUT (Mid) Cavalier F1
BROCCOLI Purple Sprouting Early
PARSNIP F1 Gladiator
PEA Feltham First
ROCKET Wild
I sow almost everything directly, I cover the beds with some fleece.
I plan on making a nursery bed though, for things that are happy to be transplanted.
I grow my peppers and chilies at home in pots, they don't need much space, just some sunshine (my chilies are still fruiting now, and my house is rarely above 10C as I cannot afford heating).
I had a clay soil allotment and many seeds struggled to get established, so I started lots off in pots and as long as you're not worried about huge yields and perfect show veg, you can get away with starting out even some fussy transplanters in pots. Mice had a field day crop topping my first attempts, but when I raised the pots off the ground on a pallet, more survived. depending on the location of your plot you can peg the pots to the pallet with pea netting so they are harder to half inch.
Mind you, last winter someone had off with the pallet itself.........
Nearly everything on your list Mike can be direct sown and much of it has to.
Only exceptions are of course the tomatoes and butternut squashes.
If you struggle to get anything to germinate, if say your soil is quite firm, then you can always make a V shaped trench with compost and sow into that, this often works well with some that are hard to germinate eg carrots and parsnips.
Once again - I can only thank you all.
Keep a sharp eye on your horseradish - it will spread like a weed if left unchecked. Plant it at the edge of a bed for ease if possible.
Quote from: plotofweeds on January 04, 2006, 16:58:06
Nearly everything on your list Mike can be direct sown and much of it has to.
you can always make a V shaped trench with compost and sow into that, this often works well with some that are hard to germinate eg carrots and parsnips.
Always use this method with my carrots......make a shallow trench, line the bottom with fresh compost, lightly water & then sow the seed. Cover with fresh compost & lightly water again. Added advantage is that I'm not wasting fresh compost between the rows where nothing is planted.
btw..clumps of chives are a good idea near your carrots, as are french marigolds - scent helps fox carrot fly. PM me if you'd like me to send you some of my saved marigold seeds if you'd like to give them a go.
All the best - Lishka