what do you protect your sownings in March & April??

this is my first year growing a large amount of seeds for my allotment in previous years i only had the garden and grew most things in tubs so only had a few seeds in the house on window sills, and last year i did not get my plot till late may when i got most things from friends and garden centers.

this year i am struggling for space I have a green house but its not heated i dont have a conservatory all my window sills are full and i need more room I also have a cold frame but its to early to put things in there isnt it?

what do you do to combat this in march and April?

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Davies on March 7, 2012 at 18:08

This is only my second year growing veg, I got a greenhouse (not heated) for xmas from my hubby and I have started my seeds off in there, as long as the frost cant get to them they should be fine. The more experienced gardeners will probably say different, but my seeds are already coming up fine and dandy so I cant be doing too much wrong, so give it a go

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Permalink Reply by Debbie on March 7, 2012 at 20:41

If you've got carried away, pop them in the cold frame and cover them up at night with horticultural fleece, or a piece of cardborda, an old towel or blanket. Just something to keep the frost off. Next year, wait! Easier said than done :)

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on March 7, 2012 at 21:05

Ware yu by cardborda, pleez

Debbie said:

If you've got carried away, pop them in the cold frame and cover them up at night with horticultural fleece, or a piece of cardborda, an old towel or blanket. Just something to keep the frost off. Next year, wait! Easier said than done :)

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Permalink Reply by Debbie on March 7, 2012 at 21:48

hahahahaha note to self......don't post and watch telly at the same time LOL

Fred Hogg said:

Ware yu by cardborda, pleez

Debbie said:

If you've got carried away, pop them in the cold frame and cover them up at night with horticultural fleece, or a piece of cardborda, an old towel or blanket. Just something to keep the frost off. Next year, wait! Easier said than done :)

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on March 7, 2012 at 23:21

I'd agree with Samantha. There's no rush so just pace things nice and steady. If you want long rows of the same vegetable all maturing at the same time you need to sow a lot of seeds but I prefer to sow little and often through the season for a continuity of supply. I have plenty of fleece handy but if I lose early sowings due to extreme weather it's not the end of the world.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on March 8, 2012 at 4:04

Samantha and Colin have got it spot on, time and spacing. I've got victorian colossal climbing peas, and a tobacco plantation to fit into the equation now. So spacing is important..

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on March 8, 2012 at 23:05

Fred, I grow Alderman climbing peas up a wigwam which only takes up about a square yard of ground and provides a lot of peas over a much longer cropping season than conventional types. I also put a few sweat pea plants among them to make it look pretty:)

Fred Hogg said:

Samantha and Colin have got it spot on, time and spacing. I've got victorian colossal climbing peas, and a tobacco plantation to fit into the equation now. So spacing is important..

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Permalink Reply by John Martin on March 9, 2012 at 10:31

Guys there is no rush to have everything sown early. Like Colin I try to sow little and often. For instance I have four sowings of Cauli, six of Beetroot, three of Cabbage and three of peas. You should also remember with the likes of peas and carrots because the variety says its an early only means it matures quickly and not that you have to plant it first. I often plant an early variety of peas in the bed I've just lifted my new potatoes out of.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on March 9, 2012 at 14:04

I also put a few sweat pea plants among them to make it look pretty:)

Just realized what I typed. Sweat peas might look nice but they certainly pong!!

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on March 9, 2012 at 15:53

If they pong put them in cardborda

Colin Robinson said:

I also put a few sweat pea plants among them to make it look pretty:)

Just realized what I typed. Sweat peas might look nice but they certainly pong!!