Bluebells are a gardener’s indicator that it is time to get planting. In the old days the bluebells would come out slowly over several weeks, now they appear over one week. This about sums up spring these days. In recent years there have been a number of disrupted spring seasons with extreme heat and extreme …Read More about Spring has sprung
Posts relating to seedlings
Spring planting
Spring is not the season it used to be. These days spring can involve soaring and plunging temperatures in a matter of days. This is very bad for young plants trying to establish outdoors. While the nice bright sunny days are encouraging the night time temperatures and cold soil means it is still several weeks …Read More about Spring planting
January: Starting Chilli Peppers
January is the quiet month outdoors. The winter crops (garlic, broad beans and onions) are in the pots and beds and waiting for the big frost and snow. Winter salads (chard, pak choy and lettuce) have grown well and should stand through the cold. Now is the time to head indoors and leave the garden …Read More about January: Starting Chilli Peppers
Starting some tomatoes
Starting tomatoes from seed is the best way to get plants already suited to the place where they will grow. Shop bought plants can be in shock. However, starting seeds indoors can be tricky especially when extra cold outside results in the house heating system being turned up. The lack of sunshine indoors and chills …Read More about Starting some tomatoes
Repotting tomato seedlings
To get good results from summer tomatoes it is best to start the plants indoors in a propagator or individual pots and repot them to larger pots two or three times before the plants go outdoors. Now if a good time to be starting tomatoes from seed, preferably starting a small batch every week for …Read More about Repotting tomato seedlings
Hardening off gallery
The process of moving seedlings from the warmth and protection of the house or greenhouse outdoors into the garden is called “hardening off.” This most delicate time in plant growth, following weeks of careful nurturing of small plants from seed, leaves the gardener at the mercy of outdoor elements often unpredictable and fast changing. While …Read More about Hardening off gallery