is it late winter?
Some of my seed packs say to sow in late winter....well, could they be more specific??
Maybe february? What needs sowing then?
March 1st ? (Three weeks left)
Pst. TM, turn your calender back a month, it will make more sense then...
Lol! No, I meant on 1/3/06 there will be 3 weeks of winter left...?
I know calendars and moons probably don't agree with me but as far as I am concerned March is early spring 8) ........ and I can't and won't still think of it as winter :(. I won't - do you hear!!! ;)
In the RHS veg book I have it divides up the year as
Jan mid-winter
Feb late winter
Mar early spring
Apr mid-spring
May late spring
Jun early summer
Jul mid-summer
Aug late summer
Sep early autumn
Oct mid-autumn
Nov late autumn
Dec early winter
moonbells
Feb it is then, ta Moonbells. I agree with you Amanda, winter is fine up until new year, but then I want to get back out and start things a-growing!
Now, what was it I looked at......red broad beans, carrots and peas Robert.
March is when the bees move onto willow and start producing brood in earnest; that has to be spring!
I agree with late Feb ...
Quote from: amanda21 on January 04, 2006, 21:53:44
I know calendars and moons probably don't agree with me but as far as I am concerned March is early spring  8) ........ and I can't and won't still think of it as winter  :(. I won't - do you hear!!! ;)
:D exactly how I feel, 1st of March is the first day of spring in my opinion, and it can't come soon enough for me! :)
I view the seasons like this.
Winter:
December
January
February
Spring:
March
April
May
Summer:
June
July
August
Autumn
September
October
November.
Officially it is:
Winter: 21st December-21st March
Spring: 21st March-21st June
Summer: 21st June-21st September
Autumn: 21st September-21st December
I would define the first 3 weeks of a season as early and the last three weeks as late.
I'd tend to agree with amphibian, particularly on the 'official' dates, which are based on the solar calendar and not the moon (ie the dates are those of either solstices or equinoxes).
Good enough as a rule of thumb anyway and gives you an idea of the light available for growing plants. However dont just rely on what the calendar says or what the seed packet says. When you do things also depends on the weather conditions. For example it might be late winter and the seed packet says 'sow late winter', but if the soil is soaking wet or it is freezing cold, there is no eathly point in sowing is there? The seed will just rot or freeze to death.
Need i say more?
Follow the weather not the calendar; that's a mistake I've made too often. A neighbour of mine told me he never sows seed until the soil temperature reaches 45 F; I may get a soil thermometer and try his method.
My father-in-law told me last week, don't rush - never plant anything out until you're gardening in a T-shirt.
Emma, I have just noticed you said RED broad beans, where do you get these, and are they a good cropper?
Quote from: deboydoyd on January 05, 2006, 21:48:57
My father-in-law told me last week, don't rush - never plant anything out until you're gardening in a T-shirt.
I'd be stuffed then. I'm one of those people who wears fleeces 5/6 of the year then complains bitterly it's too hot in July and August ::)!
I go with the 'If you can kneel down and you don't want to scream' temperature gauging.
moonbells
I bought these whilst in Devon Derek, so no idea if they are good croppers. Can't remember off hand the seed merchant - will let you know, but I do remember on the packet it reakons the flavour is the best! As it is only me that eats them, I figured I might as well try something a little different.
My view:
Winter starts on the 21st December oand runs unitl 20th March
Spring starts on 21st March and runs until the 20th June
Summer starts on 21st June and runs until 20th September
Autumn starts on 21st September and runs until 20th December
Acording to Mr Titchmarsh on 'the Gardeners Year', early spring starts in late feb or early march depending on whether you are in the north or the south.
I can see the reasoning. the start of spring is reckoned by some to be when the archetypal spring flowers come up (daffs etc). As 2005 showed though, you can still have wintry weather in early march, so I think i will consider mid to late march as when spring proper starts. Which of course fits in with the 'official' or 'solar' seasons, (21st March, the spring equinox).
Joy Larkcom also says late winter = February. Must be right then ;D
February it is then....
I think I will start some toms of shortly, and chillis and aubergines of course, then in feb I will start my first batch of courgettes, broadbeans, peas and lettuce, and travel upwards and onwards from there! ;D
I'm going to start with some broad beans, lettuce, peas, rocket as recommended amongst other things by Joy L for January " sow under cover (mild areas only)" which I reckon Wales definitely is, although I'm not so sure about Essex Emma. Have lived in Norfolk and remember those cold easterlies :(
Will probably also get a few brassicas going. Very keen to start - but was much too early last year with toms and things so am trying to be more patient. Globe artichokes and aubs on the list for February. Only got a small cold frame on my balcony and 2 window ledges so growing on is a problem.
Love the anticipation of this time of year. ;D
Never having done this before, ... when you sow toms chillis and aubs this early do you just use a window cill or do they get put in the airing cupboard?
Think I might have to find a Joy Larkcom book!
Quote from: flowerlady on January 13, 2006, 17:54:53
Never having done this before, ... when you sow toms chillis and aubs this early do you just use a window cill or do they get put in the airing cupboard?
Think I might have to find a Joy Larkcom book!
I have to say as a beginner, the book "Grow your own vegetables" by Joy Larkham a bible (along with some war time books of my grandfather (who I sadly never knew)) The JL book is currently £6.99 (30% off) on Amazon (+ possibly postage) or £7.49 on play.com with free P&P
mat
I'm planning on sticking my head out the door of the shed aound late Feb to see if it's worth starting then, because "I have a cunning plan". I'm going to be using 3 Easy Tunnel PolyCloches, and loads of pop bottles as mini cloches, so hopefully they will give me a bit of a head start on the season. ;D
Btw I've ordered my copy of Joy Larkcom's "Grow your own Veg" from WHSmith online for £6.99, and you can pick up from a local WHSmiths store, saving P&P. I go past mine every Monday, so it'll be no trouble for me. Worth considering if there's a local WHS :D
Dave
Thanks for the book tip chaps, will be checking out Smiths in the morning :)
Only one left, so I bought it. ;D It will certainly keep me quiet!