Re: The season begins: the February garden

by gunners71uk 22nd February 2015, 9:20 pm

think i go to bed and dream about spring i was thinking of setting betroot in modules to start some off early do they transplant ok ?

by Chilli-head 22nd February 2015, 9:43 pm

I don't really know, but Geoff Hamilton - who was usually right - said you could multi-sow them in modules in mid- late winter (like now) to plant out as clumps under cloches later, so that they push each other apart to find space. Watch they don't get frosted, that triggers beets to run to seed. I tend to sow some beetroot when I get spare propagator space, but for salad leaves only. I tend to grow beetroot for storage over winter to make borscht, for which early sowing doesn't gain anything.

by Ploshkin 23rd February 2015, 3:08 pm

Gunners. I have often started off beetroot in modules because if I sow directly into the ground they will sometimes germinate and then just do nothing for the rest of the season or the seeds get eaten by mice or something. I'm careful not to disturb the seedlings when I transplant the modules & have grown beetroots successfully this way.

by TamaraNicole 25th February 2015, 12:27 pm

Hi everyone, what'up?
(And sorry again for not coming in for a while...)

by TamaraNicole 25th February 2015, 12:32 pm

Sorry i got mixed up in the forum good idea CH!
Nothing happening in my garden, everything is frozen...

by Chilli-head 25th February 2015, 2:13 pm

Good to see you back Tamara. Sorry if I've confused matters; I wanted to capture the seasonal nature of gardening in the way we organised the threads.

I am still waiting nervously for chilli germination. 16 days so far, and I have one Bolivian Rainbow up. I hope it is the beginning of a run of emergence. Normally it's 14-21 days, and at 21 days I panic and sow more, only to find both batches germinate and I have too many chillies for my greenhouse yet again Laughing

by gunners71uk 27th February 2015, 11:32 am

well theres chilis on wondowsills, sweetpeas in porch braod beans in porch onion seedling in porch pea onwards growing in porch potatoes chitting in pantry spuds chitting in our bedroom there are sweetpeas in allotment greenhouse and onion seedlings too so a bit low key at moment lol

by Dandelion 27th February 2015, 4:33 pm

Something similar here - the windowsills are becoming laden with seedlings. I did get the chitted potatoes planted out in the dustbin I use this afternoon - at least I can protect it with bubble wrap and a stout lid if we get frost. Broadies to go out in the cold frame tomorrow: my knees have had enough for one day!

by Chilli-head 27th February 2015, 5:26 pm

Things are much quieter here. I have my potatoes chitting on the workshop window ledge, and one propagator of chillies and peppers germinating (set to 24C) and another of tomato seedlings at 15C.

So far have only got about 10 chillies up - but there is time yet. Their emergence is normally slow. But the Anaheim from the seed swap are amongst the ones up already. The tomatoes all germinated bar one, so I have twice as many as I need !

The broad beans, garlic and onions have had to fend for themselves since October out in the ground. I am drifting away from module planting a bit. Last year I raised leeks in the traditional seed bed approach rather than modules, and they did very well with a lot less bother.

by TamaraNicole 27th February 2015, 9:26 pm

I've never done anything before april... Should I? You guys have a lot going already!

by Dandelion 28th February 2015, 11:18 am

...but it's all things which need a certain amount of heat. On the whole, I won't be starting the bulk of my veg off until the weather is warmer - my windowsill isn't long enough, and I don't have a heated greenhouse. I like to get a few things off to an early start, just in case we have crazily mild weather, but they will all need a lot of TLC at the moment.

by gunners71uk 4th March 2015, 6:41 pm

we just sowed some mild sweet pepper,moneymaker tom,black russian tom,tumbling tom, it was a bit spontaneous lol Smile

by Dandelion 5th March 2015, 5:03 pm

Ah, Black Russian - my favourite tomato! That's put a smile on my face!

by Chilli-head 5th March 2015, 5:08 pm

Pst ... It's March now.

Black Russian are good, my father likes them too. I grew a black plum type from Ukraine once too, they made quite a lovely coloured passata !

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