Are there any veg that you would suggest that I not grow from seed or any that grow really well from seed?
I would like to try toms at least rather than buying tomato plants.
Any suggestions?
Sam
Pixie, give the seeds a go.
I grew stuff from seed this year, in not-ideal conditions - my windowsill.
I grew them too hot when young, planted them out too early, and they still did really well. You get such a huge choice of things like toms if you grow from seed. I grew the mini plum tomatoes that I used to buy in the supermarket, and pay a fortune for.
I grew peppers and chillis from seed too ;D
Here I go again!!
Simpson's Seeds are a British family business - mainly tomatoes. = Tim
Grow everything from seed i love to see them sprout and grow, and as yet ( fingers crossed as well as the legs ;D ) no problems as yet.
Peter.
Thanks Guys
Cheers Tim - definately trying toms - looked into Simpsons seeds but have ordered from suttons as a friend has given me vouchers for them and couldn't see anything I would rather have.
Moggle - will try peppers and chillies - best indoors I take it - any particular types to try?
Peter - did you try onions too or just use sets? someone told me that onions are near imposible to do from seed. (or I wasn't listening properly which is probally the truth of it!)
Ta guys
Sam
hi,
i have definitely caught the seed sowing bug. will try anything from seed these days, even bulbs which will take ages to flower!
i found home grown toms a revelation-especially gardener's delight, although everyone has their faves.
broad beans also, and peas-taste is superb. i've grown my asparagus from seed, and i'm really, really pleased with that (and myself!) even though i shan't have a harvest for another 2 years. the squash family all give fast returns for the effort you put in, and i've had great success with strawberries, which suprised me.
i still see each seed that germinates as a thing to be marvelled at. :)
Have grown cacti from seed. Now, there are some that aren't worth trying if you want to see them flower - e.g. mother in law's armchair (apparently, takes 40? years or so from seed to flower), whereas others might flower in the 2nd or 3rd year.
I believe you can grow onions perfectly well from seeds, just a little bit more fussy and time consuming, where as planting sets, well, the seed sowing and thinning has been done for you. You can even grow spuds from seeds, I think, but that really is a labour of love as you have to keep the plant going to produce a weeny tuber, plant that one, to produce 2 slightly larger tubers and so on for a few years before you have enough to harvest and edible crop from.
Other than those 2, I have grown, or tried to grow everything from seed. Somethings are notoriously slow, like parsnips, and other things are really fast like radish. It is very satisfying chucking a load of dust like seed into the ground and seeing nothing for a week or 2, then suddenly spotting little green flecks and watching your little seeds turn into little growing living plants!
And a labour of love, I grew my gorgeous Bird of Paradise from a seed when I was just a teenager, and it has only been flowering for 2 years....and I am now, well, only just past being a teenager! :o ;)
Bad luck E-J, your secret's out -my parents grew one from seed when I was little. 21 AGAIN ;D
I grew onions from seed this year -and I'll keep doing it until the packet runs out. But I'm not sure I'll buy another one, we'll see how the sets do.
Jeremy.
Pixie, I grew my peppers in growbags on my sheltered balcony. I grew redskin, which are meant to be good for containers, and Californian wonder, which were a little small, but still good.
This year, I think i will try some yellow types.
Growing seeds is such an addiction. As EJ and Kerry say, it's fantastic seeing something so small sprout and grow because of your planting and watering :D
Hi Pixie,
As some of the others have said, try seeds of all types of veggies etc I'm sure you will get a good return of the small investment that seeds cost. Incidently I read that Nettos are really cheap for seed,( 19p a packet) we don't have one near where we live in Blairgowrie but if you have one in the neighbourhood then it may be worth a look.
I'm going to give onions a try this coming season from seed and I've ordered and recieved red, white and yellow onions from Tamar Organics, which are reasonably priced.
I just love looking in the seed catalogues and on the web at all the different types of seeds.
Anyway good luck. Feedback on onions next year!
Bloody Ploughman
You must try things from seed. It's so much cheaper and far more rewarding. Also there is more variety when you buy seeds than plants.
Tomatoes are dead easy from seed. Herbs are good too - try basil and parsley (don't let basil get too wet and give it plenty of light. And water parsley with boiling water when you sow them to crack the seed cases.
Have a look in the seed swap forum - I use it so I can try just a few of a plant I haven't grown before.
Thanks guys
I have now ordered shed loads of seeds but have gone for the sets in onions to start with.
Lover is dead happy because I have agreed to do peppers, chillies, big corn and baby corn which are his faves. ;D
Then I told him how much I had spent and he was less impressed (good job I only told him about suttons and T&M ;))
Has anyone tried the seed tapes from Suttons they look quite easy to use? I know that I would be better of with the packets but they just look so easy.
Sam
Forgot to say that looking back at the veg show has been a real help to see what I want to grow this year types wise etc as you can see it properly even if it doesn't happen to have a picture in the catalogue.
Thanks Guys
Sam
Pixie - I read an article, think it was in Organic Gardening magazine by John Yeoman, about making your own seed tapes. Think it involved newspaper and wallpaper paste (suppose you could use flour & water). Think it went something like this: one sheet of newspaper, put some wallpaper paste on it, then place the seeds apart as per the distance you want. place another sheet of newspaper on top. This then can be cut into strips if wanted. For sowing, place seed tape/paper on the soil, water and cover with a fine layer of sand.....
That's cunning MV -I think you should cross post it in 'Tips'
I also think I see a half-term activity coming on -although the spacing may not be all that's desired ;D
What do you reckon it's worth -a smartie a strip?
Jeremy
What a cool idea - some thing to keep the kids amused and a great rainy afternoon project! ;D
A smartie a strip - they will be turning them out like there is no tomorrow ( I would I love smarties - M & M's are better though!)
Do the strips have to be 'planted' as soon as they are done or can you leave them to dry out and save them?
Sam
Dry them out in the airing cupboard or somewhere... Now the dark nights are coming earlier, and the cold and wind and rain and snow.... will post something up by tonight/tomorrow in Tips..
Thank you guys ;D I now have lots to keep me busy on these rainy afternoons!