Still Smarter

So... Has anyone been out and bought seeds for the first time?

Not for the first time, but I have a few started in my small greenhouse

I have made a start. Few chilli & Tomato in the propagator.

New watering system sorted.

Real or metaphorical?

Are we discussing a new start, where shall I plant them???

Who shall I plant them with? Me??

I shall have a look for some seeds.

Very real tomatos. Try it, you will be amazed at the difference.

Think. Tomato gin.

The only thing I have started so far is peas.
I am not going to be sowing my tomatoes or chillis till the end of the month.

myles wrote: Wed Mar 08, 2023 4:33 pm The only thing I have started so far is peas.
I am not going to be sowing my tomatoes or chillis till the end of the month.

Yeah. I seem to recall you said this last year.
I think you said something about waiting for 10 hours daylight or was it 12 ?

I have been caught out by the cold snap. They should have been going out into the poly this week

I don't want to use supplemental lighting. I can start the seeds earlier but they just get leggy.
So I am waiting a few weeks longer to get the day length.

I had planned to start sowing this weekend but will need to check the temperature in the greenhouse. Could start them on a windowsill and move them out as soon as they germinate.

I have built a heat mat into the lower shelf on my greenhouse staging with a soil heating cable and an inkbird controller. I added 3 layers of 100gm landscape fabric to work as a temperature diffuser.

Tomatoes, chillis, and peppers, are now sown. Also, have the first few trays of chard, beetroot and spinach on the go.
I start most things in 2 inch round pots. I fit 15 into a standard seed tray. I actually use 15 cell inserts in seed trays as a base to fit my round pots into.
Have 3 packets of leeks sown into a raised bed - 3 different varieties.Blue Solaise, Carentan and Autumn Giant2. These are actually being tested as I want to find the best variety that will produce offshoots in year 2 as a change over to perennial vegetables.

Autumn sowed Ishikura onions are doing fine, I have 2 pots of Babington and French Poireau perennial leeks. My 3 plants of Good King Henry are showing signs of life. French Tarragon is coming up in the greenhouse and the chervil overwintered fine.

I use a brewing mat and the ink bird. If I set 22c the chillies almost jump out of the soil like they have been scolded

I am this year concentrating on quality not quantity. Also planning a big winter push. Growing in the winter (in poly) is harder, but somehow more rewarding.

Mash wrote: Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:21 am I am this year concentrating on quality not quantity. Also planning a big winter push. Growing in the winter (in poly) is harder, but somehow more rewarding.

Agree with both of those ideas.
I have ordered a three-colour Pak Choi mix for fast crops this season, along with 2 kales for winter crops in the cold greenhouse. Emerald Ice and Midnight Sun. Both are supposed to be good eating. They will go in the 35-litre pots that I use for tomatoes. I intend to sow some carrots and beets in containers to move into the greenhouse once the tomatoes have finished. Will also be putting in some winter gem lettuce.

I don't grow silly hot chillis.
Cayenne Heatwave 30K to 50K which we toast before grinding. Mellows out the heat a bit and increases the flavour.

Then for the mild mix, we use for the freezer.
Hot Wax 5K to 10K but mostly picked yellow (kebab chillis)
Jalapenos 2.5K to 8K
and new for this year Havana Gold. Supposed to be 500 to 2K but with a Habanero flavour.

Winter gem & winter density were a dead loss in the poly this year. However mispoona and its mate (whose name I cannot remember) did fantastically well producing lettuce style leaves all winter. Also left the "not quite big enough". Beetroot in the ground and they provided salad leaves too. Ditto perpetual spinach.

I don't grow silly hot chillis.
Cayenne Heatwave 30K to 50K which we toast before grinding. Mellows out the heat a bit and increases the flavour.

Here here.

We have grown what we know as carrot chillies. They seem to get better every year on the own seed. Originally maybe anahiem. Roast and pickle will.

We also grow a hybrid "numex " spicy but also flavourful. Dried and ground (in "the" blitzer)

And a very silly hot chilli which makes insecticide (soaked in neutral) , is on trial this year.

Will here we are again my chillies are just up.
The Polly has done well overwinter, kept us with greens. Just having a tidy up.

We seem to have a glut of celeriac.. Ideas anyone?

Mash wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:55 am Will here we are again my chillies are just up.
The Polly has done well overwinter, kept us with greens. Just having a tidy up.

We seem to have a glut of celeriac.. Ideas anyone?

Been pondering when to start my chilli's, but will have to check whether the propagator still works.

Also got about 6 different strains of Thyme which I want to start, as once a few of them are up, they're perennial if I look after them properly.

Anytime now is good to get them going, but they do need some heat. Mine are up in 7 days but that's 30c in the airing cupboard

Mash wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2024 4:00 pm {snip}
but that's 30c in the airing cupboard

........combi boiler, so no "airing cupboard"

Booo. It's replaced our tumble dryer too

I haven't started anything yet as I don't use additional lighting.
I will sow the first batch of peas/lettuce/spinach/Asian greens this weekend.
Tomatoes and Chillis are still a couple of weeks away.

I made a silly early start this year. Let's see.

Mainly chilli's 'cos they need a bit longer.