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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 20, 2007 14:06:30 GMT
I just sorted out my big bathroom ready for the seeds trays and just thought "oh s*d it!" and I've sown three trays of San Marzano plum tomatoes, and 1 tray each of Gardeners Delight and Moneymaker.....every year I vow not to be too early and every year I just cannot wait!  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 20, 2007 14:19:11 GMT
Im really itching to start, but so far Im in a bit of a quandary about where Ill put them, the kitchen is rammed atm with the plants which used to live in the now defunct greenhouse.......Im soooooooo jealous 4P!
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 20, 2007 14:23:49 GMT
Well, I'm really lucky as I have a nice warm bathroom which is mainly unused as student daughter's away ( smallest uses our tiny one  ). I put my old Imperial size drawing board over the bath and load it up with seeds trays..  S'luvverleey.. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 14:28:34 GMT
Was going to sow some toms today and then I kept reading that I was too early, so I sowed some more peas instead. ;D Now someone else has taken the plunge, I may do a few toms tomorrow, just as an experiment like.  thanks for the gee up 4P. ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 20, 2007 14:30:08 GMT
OOh peas! I've got a pkt of them........  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 14:37:11 GMT
my first year, i'm hoping for greatness! ;D
I've actually had a piece of guttering up the side of the house for ages, which I got the OH to saw into bits for me today. Too damn cold to wash and drill it though, so I'll try and use that in the third sowing.
;D
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 20, 2007 14:42:15 GMT
Actually I think it's a good idea to start peas off early as if we get another year like last year they really should have cropped before the really bad heat starts....mine were pathetic in the really steamy heat. Therefore you really are just being sensible ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 14:54:58 GMT
hee hee that's a first !
as my heat won't happen til July, I might manage to get a reasonable pea season.
;D
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 20:27:21 GMT
HI 4P
I was thinking of sowing my seeds early as im going away for 2 weeks in feb.
Do you think they would be ok of should i wait till i get back.Im only thinking about the seeds that need to be sown in feb not after feb if you get what i mean.
I would be glad of the advice.
Karen
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 20, 2007 20:32:15 GMT
It depends if you can keep them moist enough Karenwl. If you have them in a warm room they run the risk of drying out. I would wait until you come back if I were you..it's still very early in the season in February. I just jumped the gun cos I can't wait! And I never go anywhere anyway!  Anything you sow afterwards will catch up anyway. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 20:36:11 GMT
4P thanks for the advice i think i will wait then, I'm a bit like you cant wait to get going if i wasn't going away then i would make a start.
Thanks again for the advice.
Karen
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 20:47:24 GMT
Having potted on today some Autumn sown perennials, I am all lined up for some sowing of hardy stuff from tomorrow and onwards. I have rather too many packets, but then one can never have too many!
Nowadays I don't use a seed tray, unless it is for half hardy annuals, or more difficult stuff, preferring a 5'' pot and just a pinch of seed. That way I don't have 650 more than I need and can re-sow if I have a crisis.
Tomatoes - Last year all sown 13 March. Many got rather leggy, which I solved by planting deep. They are able to grow roots from their stem. One variety was stocky and sane, rather like a good garden centre specimen. So I sowed 3 of these two weeks ago. They now have their seed leaves on and are 4cm (1 1/2'') high. We'll see......
Peas - 2 Meteor (earlies) Autumn sowings and looking OK for now.
Broad beans - Sowing more tomorrow. Given the stupid weather my others have been in situ for a month. I will cloche them tomorrow, due to the cold snap.
Generally - Don't sow too early!!! Winter is just round the corner. Certainly don't sow half hardy stuff just yet.
Have fun! Whatever you do....
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Post by Jonah on Jan 20, 2007 21:59:30 GMT
I just sorted out my big bathroom ready for the seeds trays and just thought "oh s*d it!" and I've sown three trays of San Marzano plum tomatoes, and 1 tray each of Gardeners Delight and Moneymaker.....every year I vow not to be too early and every year I just cannot wait! Hi 4P Out of curiosity, what happens to your toms if sown too early? Are they moving to a g/h or outside? I've not got into fruit and veg as yet, but want to learn. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2007 0:04:52 GMT
As 4P hasn't responded...shame on you! If you grow tom's too early (say before 21 March) on say a bedroom windowsill they reach for the light, but there isn't sufficient. However, as they are warm they still grow. Instead of having a nice stocky friendly hippo of a tom, you get a very thin grumpy giraffe of a tom. Technically this is called etoilation (from the French "very thin grumpy giraffe"). www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=etoliation&meta=&btnG=Google+SearchHowever, all is not lost, as tomatoes are very forgiving plants. If you have a very thin stalk then simply plant very deeply in a 99p B&Q builder's bucket with just the top leaves showing. The buried stalk will actually produce roots from........the stalk.... a tomato genetically speaking is just an upside down potato afterall. Or the "weak" tomato plant will produce side shoots. Simply snap, cut or whatever and plant. Again the magical tom will grow! But DON'T sow toms yet! Unless you are as mad as a hatter* *Or you are called 4Ps or Captain Cabbage, which amounts much to the same thing  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2007 1:38:18 GMT
Too risky for me as yet to be sowing.....we could still end up with a winter this far north.....will wait until feb and then start my sowing....meantime i will be sitting on my hands to stop them from doing anything daft. ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 22, 2007 6:05:24 GMT
But DON'T sow toms yet! Unless you are as mad as a hatter* Think I may fit nicely into the Mad Hatter description ;D ;D there must be enough of us now to form a Mad Hatters Club. Feel some sowing coming on this week ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 22, 2007 7:11:10 GMT
Sorry Jonah, domestic life stopped me getting on the pooter last night ...well if my toms germinate at the right time and the weather's too cold too put them out, I just shove next door to Mum (nice warm house everywhere, big windowsills) and she keeps watering & turning them until we can get them in the PT! It's always a gamble to sow early but I just neeeeed to start! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2007 14:06:41 GMT
I've got 6 broad beans on the go, already poking through, will need to harden them off very soon now.
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). I put my old Imperial size drawing board over the bath and load it up with seeds trays.. 
S'luvverleey..
Anything you sow afterwards will catch up anyway.
