Like many of the rest of you posting, i am thinking ahead to spring. :)
Is there any veg that you can't start as seedlings indoors and then plant out?
I've done this successfully with some of the harder ones, parsley and swede, just as an experiment with newspaper pots. Just trying to get the most out of the growing season.
Thanks in advance!
personaly any peas and beans along with courgetes and squash/pumpkins
Quote from: STHLMgreen on October 20, 2006, 22:14:09
Is there any veg that you can't start as seedlings indoors and then plant out?
Hardly any that you
can't IMO, though some might do better sown direct. Sowed loads (leaves, squash, roots, brassica, alliums) in modules, pots or trays this year because of the wierd weather - even carrot*, parsnip, beet*, celeriac did well. The only veg that didn't enjoy modules were salsify and scorzonera - the roots grew long too quickly and they just pulled out of the modules, so they'll go direct in the soil next year.
*sown in clusters
I do sow beans direct, but sprout them in a damp teatowel for a few days indoors first :)
btw these brilliant modules are Made in Sweden - can you get them cheaper there ???
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2037
Thanks for the link SS. Those modules look like a brilliant idea. Last night Gordon ordered two of the plug plant trainers for my birthday (it's not till January but I didn't want to risk them selling out ;D). Then my thinking had me google for it this morning and I find that Harrods have it on sale at £12.95 ggrrrrr :( :(. Still - they charge for delivery so he only paid £1.05 more than he needed to, so I won't tell him!! But if anyone else is considering ordering them, then take a look at the Harrod's website first.
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/product/product.asp?prod=GPR-125&ctgry=Greenhouse%20Equipment_Propagation&cookie%5Ftest=1
Tricia
i've even grown beetroot in jiffy 7's, just until they start, had a problem with parsnips this year, what with wet, cold and warm all in the wrong places,
round carrots are o.k. started off in modules,
I use rootrainers for beans, peas,
peat pots, 99p for 10, in a local shop, for all brassicas, trying to keep the dreaded club root at bay
what with all the slugs and snails, I'll try anything to start stuff off out of the ground
never mind tricia, they will last a lifetime ;D
I expect they'll get cheaper and cheaper as peeps find out how good they are, so I'll be embarrassed to say how much I paid for mine! 8)
I'm sulking SS I can never germinate Scorzonera!
:(
Quote from: manicscousers on October 22, 2006, 22:14:26
peat pots, 99p for 10, in a local shop, for all brassicas, trying to keep the dreaded club root at bay
what with all the slugs and snails, I'll try anything to start stuff off out of the ground
Quick tip. My local Wilko's are now selling J.Arthur Bowers peat pots at half price. Bought loads yesterday - like you, I start off anything I possibly can in them.
unfortunately, our nearest wilkos is about 8 miles away, which adds to the price, thanks for the tip, though, I'll see if any family's going in to St Helens ;D
Just a thought on modules. I set out on these but now find that:
1. I never need 49 of the same veg plant.
2. So you have various plants. Like 3X14 + 7. But they are not all ready at the same time?
3. So when you come to transplant, & they don't freely release from the modules, you have to tip the container over and.......!!
If anyone else is using the Swedish 7x7 modules or similar, results of a season's trial and error below:
The ventilator top is real clever. Once the seedlings are up, turn the top 90 degrees for more ventilation. I'd had them weeks before I figured this out ::)
Plants will happily grow quite big in these modules, so they can go straight out in the ground - even big ones like squash. Saves potting on. If left in the modules for longer than 4-6 weeks, I gave them a feed.
Transplanting: I let the plants to get a little rootbound in the modules, empty the water out the day before transplant day so they aren't sopping wet, lift the tray, chop/tear off the sticking out roots*, then use the pop-up gadget and they slide out easily. Make a dibber hole, drop in and water. Yes, I know it goes against everything you read about not checking the plants. But the seedlings seem happy ... and some of us chop off leek roots?
Ideal for getting into the swing of successional sowing - one 7 x 7 tray of e.g. carrot, red beet, gold beet, lettuce, chicory, year round cauli, kohlrabi etc. every 3-4 weeks
tim - we do grow 49 x same variety of tomato and onion :D
*not parsnips!
scorzonera :o beginner's luck I think saddad. I read that they are like parsnip e.g. get fresh seed - mine were brand spanking new from Franchi :) don't know how I'm going to harvest them in a no-dig garden, d'oh!
I usually harvest roots by gently levering with a fork until they just lift out easily; that way I do it with minimal disturbance. Really long ones need a spade, and scorzonera and salsify need real careful treatment because they're so brittle. If you manage to grow real long ones, they might need digging out in the traditional manner, but at the moment the only things I do that with are potatoes.
Nice spiel, Sarah - yes, of course, leeks & onions.
But for other things we are much more modest.
Thanks for the guidelines Sarah 8). Now I need to know which of the following varieties I can mix in the modules, as with my small veggie patch I don't need 49 of anything except celeriac and leeks. I grow: toms, cucs, aubs and peppers which I start off in a heated propagator normally (can I use the modules in the propagator?) and grow on in the GH. For outside I grow parsnips, garlic, shallots (trying from seeds this year so in the propagator to germinate), kohlrabi, climbing French beans, mangetout, courgettes, squashes and sweet corn. I'm pretty sure there isn't anything in that lot that you don't grow ;), so I hope you don't mind me asking :).
Tricia
lol@tricia, the successional idea might suit a small garden, as soon as you harvest a lettuce or beetroot you have a seedling to go in the space :D
lucky you with a heated propagator - why not give it a go? might work without the module lid if the propagator has its own?
I grew all those listed in the modules, except for beans, which go in direct, four to a hole, 1 ft apart each way (thanks jennym, this method was brill last year) - sprouted first
if you mix plants in the modules, try to alternate row of tall and thin (alliums/sweetcorn) with fat (squash)?
labelling is still a puzzle, I write on paper and put it with the module - the paper usually gets watered on so it becomes unreadable :P With prinky's labelling machine I hope to do better next year ;)
Thanks again Sarah. Now I have to ask - what is 'prinkys labelling machine? ???
Dymo Letratag - see http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,23904.0
hours of winter fun
;D
Wow supersprout, those modules look great.
I haven't seen anything similar here, and I'm afraid I wouldn't know what they we're called in Swedish to do a search!
I have found that it is pretty rare that something would be cheaper in Sweden though. The tax is pretty high.
Do you know the name of the company?
Just for you sthlm ;)
Potter Garden Nordic AB
Elinehög
Bollerup
SE-273 94 Tomelilla
Sweden
+46 (0) 414-44 20 70
www.pottergarden.se
Art. No. 0245
haven't looked so would be interested in what you discover ::)
no prices on there, so I've emailed...