"I'm late!, I'm late! For a very important date." So said the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.
And if I was an exhibition veg grower I would be late. I've just sown
some ‘Mammoth Improved' onion seeds, whereas exhibition growers always
try to sow their onions on Boxing Day or as soon after the shortest day
as possible.
These are now sitting in the propagator in the garage.
Sadly, I can't get electricity down to the greenhouse, so always have
to sow seeds nearer to the house. In the past I've always used the
conservatory, but light levels there (it's north facing) mean that the
seedlings grow a bit tall and lank. But how can the garage be any
better? Well, we've just got our hands on a growlight and we've set it
up in the garage to see how well it does. We'll be using it to grow on
a range of plants; I'll let you know how we get on.
But at this
time of year seed sowing is a real matter of timing. Like you, I'm
itching to get going, but I know that starting too early is a mistake.
It's fine sowing peppers, tomatoes and other crops needing warmth in a
propagator now (January/February) as they'll germinate quickly, but if
you don't have the right conditions to grow them on afterwards (a
minimum temperature of 10C and good light levels) they'll start to
suffer. Sowings made in March (and even April for crops being planted
outside) will soon catch up with these early starters and often produce
far better plants and crops as they've had better conditions to grow in
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