Talkback: Early seed sowing

donutsmrs

I have sown some tomato seeds this weekend and sweet pea. It is just great to be out in the garden, and it is lovely to walk into a lovely warm greenhouse. I have my little heaters in my greenhouses and it keeps them nice and warm. My fuchsias are staring to put out green shoots along with several other plants. I just love the spring and the start of a new gardening year.

figrat

Absolutely! My hellebores, primroses, early daffs and snowdrops are all blooming away. I've got toms, peppers, sweet peas, mange tout and broad beans coming up in the gh. I've especially enjoyed the 'surprise' clumps of snowdrops popping up where I divided clumps in the green last year. Hoping to get some more seeds going in the gh tomorrow- leeks, calendula and Brassicas. Some of last year's calendula have overwintered out in the garden though, so I guess I'll have some self- seeders to look out for.

Tootles

Hello, yes I agree. Lovely to get sowing isn't it? May I ask your opinion though pls? I planted some tomato seeds last week and they are up already. I had them in a utility room. It has a window put not mega bright. They looked like they were stretching for light so I put them in the greenhouse.....but it's not heated and I'm worried that the little seedlings might freeze. Is it best to bring them back in especially with the cold weather coming? Or do you think they'll be ok in the greenhouse?

sotongeoff

Bring them in-they will not survive in a cold greenhouse until April at the earliest-especially as they are just seedlings-they need warmth and good light

Tootles

Thanks sotongeoff. How do I stop them going too leggy? I love learning from experienced folk! Thank you muchly.

sotongeoff

Tomatoes aren't so bad-when you prick out the seedlings you can bury the stems up to the first true leaves-you can do that with a lot of seedlins-not cucumbers definitely

But they need good all round light -that is the snag if you start too early

Tootles

Thanks again sotongeoff. You are a gardening guru! Fab tips. Cheers!

SwissSue

Tootles, have a look on here: http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/

Excellent advice from Nick.

denise bailey

Just wondering when to start my chilli seeds off thanks for info

Tootles

Thanks Swiss sue!

ballydavis

try growing your tomatoes in acid peat  this year instead of ordinary peat or garden soil. you will find that the true flavour of the toms. wil come out and you will be surprised how good they taste. oh bye the way dont be in such a hurry to start growing plants too early they al need daylight to grow strongly apart from the fact that you wil always get late frosts which can kill off tomatoes if sown too early.i have grown all kinds of plants for the last 20 years and from experience i have found that if you wait till march the plants will grow just as strong with less heat required.