Ok I know it's only first week in January, and even though I have dug the plot over and over....my fingers are itching to start sowing stuff!! ;)
I have a million seeds thanks to the seed circle but can anyone suggest what I should be starting off in seed trays for planting out in March/April please ;D ;D
Onions are about the only thing I would consider in January... :-X
I like to strike the odd chili seed in Jan but not bothering this year as I have some overwintered..
I'm putting my feat up with the gardening cataloges for the next couple of months!!!
chilli's! i can do chilli's thank you for that suggestion, have already got onions out there, maybe I prop some real potato seeds see what comes of them.. ;D cheers guys.
i too have itchy fingers thinking about sowing some sweetpea seeds as think they can be sowed now as some could have been started before Xmas at moment this Ive to content my self by going and buying out the pound shop bargains eg potatoes i had good results with them last year
I've just sown four different chillies - Pretty in Purple (love it) Naga Morich, Peter pepper (rude) and seeds from a chilli given to me last year by a Pakistani friend at the allotments. Also sown my giant onion.
They are all in a heated propagator in the cold greenhouse.
I've got first few chillies just coming up.. ;D..and I'm going to sow few more today. I'm determined to get chillies and pepper this year..last lot struggled a bit and crop wasn't anything to 'brag about'.
Now that I've got my cheap 'home made' light system sorted for early growing..I might do few micro tomatoes too.. ;D ;D
Hmm...and maybe some herbs.. :-\...some coriander under lights.. ;D
goodlife how did you do you light system and pics or plans thanks sue
goodlife how did you do you light system and pics or plans thanks sue
Here is picture..
[attachment=1]
The bottom part is just normal storage container..lined with tin foil and some clear tape. I pinched the wooden bit from my spare blinds.. ;D..the light can be clipped along the wooden bit as it required for the distance from plants.
Light holder was about £3 from Wilko's and grow light £11 from Ebay (that one is blue light for the growth). I bought another holder as and when I need additional light/colour.
From carboard box I made the hood and its lined again with tin foil...I spent whole £1 for it.. ;D
Tape, glue and the boxes I already had.
Its not the most beautiful or practical of the designs..but it will do for now and it didn't break the bank.. ;)
At the moment the hood is resting on top of the storage container..which is fine..but once I have some taller plants..I can then attach the hood on the wooden bit and raise it where needed...but I'm still working on how to best do that...but I think I might put another wooden bit up for another end for the second light and then perharps put wire across from which the hood will be hanging..we'll see what I come up with as and when the time comes..
..and to add to that..
I'm not planning to grow anything in long term in that..just to keep early sowings going onfor a month or so..so that eventually I can get my small plants hardened off and grown in GH in natural light... ;)
That looks great, goodlife - in the proudest tradition of Blue Peter! ;D
Speaking as yet another A4A-er with itchy fingers, I'd like to ask, how many watts is your bulb? I see there's a 65 watt one on ebay for £11.49 plus P & P. Is that the one you got?
I do have quite a posh grow light that my OH gave me for Christmas last year, but I found the seedlings got a bit leggy under it. I'd like to have a blue-spectrum bulb (or two?) for the babies and then move them under the other grow light as they mature (to be grown on in a frost-free conservatory and finally outdoors in late May). How many baby plants in modules could I fit underneath one bulb, I wonder?
I've got zillions of different varieties to sow, particularly tender things such as chillies and aubergines, and I'm still trying to work out the logistics of it all.
Spudbash :)
That light is 45W and I can fit in the box aboutt 18 3" pots so not so many as plants..but plenty in smaller modules.
I don't think the light would be enough for any larger area. But certainly having lined with tin foil all the sides should help with even light distribution. I propably could fit 72 cell tray in it.
I've been looking some of those ready made grow light kits that you can fit 2 seed trays undernearth and they are around £50-£60..but they are open sided and the lights are advertized being adequate strenght for those systems..mine having about same output with benefit of reflective sides. So in theory it should be enough for seedlings and other little things.
But if I need to spend another £11 for another bulb..its still cheap enough for me... ;D Things one can do with a bit of tin foil, carboard and brown tape.. ;D ;D
OH wanted buy me a proper light shade for my bulb..but I rather made my own..I'm sure it works just as well.. ;D
Thanks, goodlife. I always appreciate your info. Now all I need to do is convince my OH of the benefits... ;D
Spudbash :)
I used this grow kit the as the 'spec' for my version.. ;)
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/Greenhouse%20Equipment_Propagation/GRE-518.htm
..so far the few seedlings that I have under my single light are looking ok and not 'stretched' at all. ;D
Just said to the wife I might start putting some seeds in trays next week, 'TOO EARLY', to early it is, :)
we or i should say my ex had a two hood type thing some where must search out the sheds when the liquid sunshine stops, as its given me an idea
as its given me an idea ...I can feel blue peter moment coming on... ;D
My light system is and upturned stool with a propagator/ seed tray on the upturned seat with a lidl work lamp which has 3 low energy bulbs and can be uses 1,2, or all 3 bulbs balanced on the leg stretchers over the top. Crinkled [ie old] aluminium foil around the sides and hey presto! ;D Didn't cost a penny, all bits on site.... When the onions come out it'll be TPS and some chillies or peppers but I'm still picking them from last years plants..
I got a small grow tent of e/bay and a light which I boughtof the same 2 years ago costs pennys to run what I have to do is watch the hours I leave it on been reading up on it will get there in the end 8)
Do you leave the lamp on 24 hours a day?
I put my light on timer..running about 14hrs a day.
can you plant garlic in jan?
Yes you can.
Quote from: darren69 on January 13, 2012, 09:41:25
can you plant garlic in jan?
What's wrong with me - I thought this said 'can you plant garlic in JAM'!
Quote from: Squash64 on January 13, 2012, 10:47:05
Quote from: darren69 on January 13, 2012, 09:41:25
can you plant garlic in jan?
What's wrong with me - I thought this said 'can you plant garlic in JAM'!
you could try it ;D
You are not the only one Squash64 I was also wondering about the Jam. And even more why Goodlife should think it a good idea.
I've got my onion seeds in and I also sowed my leek seeds on New Years day - its a tradition a picked up from some of the old timers on my old plot. Some always sowed theirs on Boxing Day and some on new Years day.
There's a guy on my new plot who used to be a 'shower' and he sows his leek seed in October! :o
And even more why Goodlife should think it a good idea.
Never tried Jam method..but its nice to know that at least you are doubting my advise if I go properly bonkers.. ;D
Will you tell me if I loose it..? ..be gentle though.. ;)
I know it is definitely me, I started loosing it some years ago. ;D
My only consolation at the time was that I was working in an office with quite a few youngsters and found they were far more scatterbrained than me.
I thought it was said jam as well !I think Ive got Lotty fever I need councilling :'( I must get some seeds planted :'(
It's very comforting to see I'm not the only one. :)
Quote from: sheddie on January 14, 2012, 09:43:19
I've got my onion seeds in and I also sowed my leek seeds on New Years day - its a tradition a picked up from some of the old timers on my old plot. Some always sowed theirs on Boxing Day and some on new Years day.
There's a guy on my new plot who used to be a 'shower' and he sows his leek seed in October! :o
Sheddie,
Do you sow your seeds indoors/ outside or in cold greenhouse??
Debs
Hi Debs,
I sow them indoors, just on a windowsill in the kitchen. I leave them there till March and then out in the cold frame/unheated greenhouse till mid April 'ish and then plant them out (depending on what the weather feels like of course) ::)
Great >:(
All this talk about itchy fingers made mine itch too!!
Just couldn't resist. . .
So out came the seed box. . .
what can I sow now. . . (rummages through packets) . . .
WAHEY!! ;D
Cauliflower All Year Round,
Onion Ailsa Craig
Leek Musselburgh will all be sown this week ;D
Debs (No willpower)
I don't know about willpower but my excuse is that I'm testing the viability of some chilli seeds so that it's not too late for me to buy a replacement if they don't germinate in a couple of weeks' time.
Quite what will happen to my willpower if I do have to order some more I don't know. ;D
This seed sowing addiction if affecting my dreams too..............in my dream last night I was saving seeds from chillies but instead of putting them into separate packets according to variety I mixed them all up. Then I spent the rest of the dream wondering if I should attempt to sort them out, or just sow them as they were.
::)
I fed my growing addiction by sowing sweet peas and echinacea and delphiniums.
It just makes you feel that there is an end to winter just around the corner.
Did sow a few brocolli but didnt put them in the gh early enough and now they are super leggy.
But a few seeds dont cost much and its worth it to see little green leaves poking out of the soil.
xx Sunloving
My Dad asked me yesterday if I have started sowing my Tomatoes! ??? even I know it's a bit early I am eyeing up a baby poly tunnel for next month and then I will re review my seeds ;D ;D
i dont have a greenhouse or poly tunnel, just a large cold frame so i have to make a later start than most plot holders, towards the end of march for me after the spuds and onions have gone in.
Well i had a wee fix yesterday! It felt so GOOD!I planted my cabbages two types and cawli leeks and shallotts,it was great ,did the candel and claypot it was still warm this morning ;D and allmy garlic in the lottys up and looking good(brought it from Turkey big fat things they were) ;D