Anything need doing ?

[andy]

With the long cold dark nights and awful days, i haven't given the garden much thought so far this year. Im going to be growing a lot of veg for the first time after a very successful tomato crop last year.....i'll have a small 10 x 8' plot plus lots of space for growing stuff in pots, tubs, sacks and troughs,.

So is there anything i should be doing or planting right now ? I have the conservatory if needed (heated) or i could grow things cold, but covered at work.

I like my salad crops...carrots, beetroot, onions, lettuce etc plus will have spuds in sacks. May grow a few sweetcorn in a group but other than that, nothing too fancy. Oh...and runners, maybe something else too up the fence.

Any suggestions when i should get started sowing or planting ?

many thanks

Andy

[Rosefriend]

Loads of things that people in the UK can help you better with, but if you are thinking about having chillies/sweet peppers I would sow soon as they can be very slow in growing at times.

RF

EDIT: Keep an eye on our Grow 2010 threads Andy - there are some really good tips there as well.

gardenworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=2008trials

[Tig]

Andy I did a list of sowing to harvest periods on this thread - quite a while back, don't know if it is any help with your plans

gardenworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=vegetables&action=display&thread=6058

I'm being restrained this year, having sown several things a tad too early in previous years and then struggling to keep them indoors until after the risk of frost, etc.

As RF says, sweet and chilli peppers ripen better in our climate from an early sowing, although again, I'm not starting before late Feb this season.

You could cover your plot with black plastic if you haven't already done so, to stop weed seeds germinating and warm the soil up a bit for later.

x Tig

[Dutchy]

Apart from the moonplanting Paul also sends out this what to do list.
Maybe you find things in it you can use.

The Vegetable Garden in January/February.

Plant Garlic cloves either in pots ready to transplant later
Order seed potatoes
Prepare ground for Asparagus
If you are planning to show Onions at you local village or county show then get them into pots in January.

The Fruit garden in January

Plant Fruit trees and canes
Check the fruit stores for rotting fruit, or attacks by rodents
Plant fruit trees, fruit canes and fruit bushes.

The Flower garden in January

Remove fallen leaves from the borders
Cut down and compost the annuals
Take hardwood cuttings of shrubs and fruit trees
Trim the Sedum stems back ready for the new growth which should be visible at the base. Other Perennials will also be showing shoots of new growth and will require the old stems removing.
Check any plants if they are supported, as high winds may loosen them.
Prune wisteria by taking the side stems back to an 2.5 cm from the main stems.
Plant bare root roses in to holes full of organic matter. The more the better. Plant deeply to prevent the root stock from shooting.

The Greenhouse in January

Clean the greenhouse glass inside and out, then insulate the whole greenhouse using bubble wrap. Check plants weekly to make sure they are not rotting or infected with any diseases. Also keep an eye on the guttering and remove leaves as required.
Look out for any pests and remove as required.

[pdblake]

Start collecting the loo rolls and sort your compost out ready for sowing ;D

[Dutchy]

Build yourself a box in which to set the seed packages by the month so you know when to sow them and can stop worry about all the other seeds you have as well.
You can make one for indoor sowing and one for outdoors.
You an even make that four. ;D
Two veg and two ornamental.