Plant now.

Piltdown

It is now time to think about what you are going to grow this coming season. I would even suggest that you should think about planting some seedlings such as tomato plants and chillies. It is always good to get a head start.

To get free seeds from tomatoes simply scrap out the seeds onto some kitchen towel, blot away as much moisture as you can then dry on a windowsill.

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alanobrien

Be careful starting plants like toms off to early, they can grow very "leggy" and so do not establish well. A lesson learned from past experience. Personally I would only start chillies and toms now under hydroponic or aeroponic conditions with a good grow lamp.

SuzieMum

My tomatos went leggy last yr because they were too hot in my porch when I started them off, so have learned my lesson there. I have today sowed my first seeds of the year. Red peppers!

Thefunkygibbons

Time to raid the garden centres for those seed potatoes

before they run out

(Now all is I need is a few dozen egg boxes to start them off in)

MORPH3US

Can someone please explain what "leggy" means?

If I shouldn't plant tomatoes now, when should I plant them?

Anyone know where I can get a cheap "cold frame" from?

Sorry for all the questions....

M

GreenPete

Leggy is when a plant grow long and thin where there isn't enough light or space for it to fill out normally.
Tomatoes are OK started out now just as long as you have got a light and frost free place for them to grow once they've germinated.

billieboy_2

I've started Tom Thumb lettuces off in a windowsill propagator on my kitchen windowsill. They've already shown signs of sprouding:j . Advice from a gardening mag says to put them outside in a coldframe when the seeds germinate. Haven't got a coldframe so I'll try my mini "greenhouse".

Wildgarlic_2

alanobrien wrote: »

Be careful starting plants like toms off to early, they can grow very "leggy" and so do not establish well. A lesson learned from past experience. Personally I would only start chillies and toms now under hydroponic or aeroponic conditions with a good grow lamp.

Can you recommend a good site to learn more about the hydroponic/aeroponic growing? I want to grow lots of chillies and toms this year. I don't have a greenhouse (yet) but do have a large window sill that I can use to start things off. We live in the north east of Scotland and so have a short growing season anyway but want to make the best of it this year.

Wildgarlic_2

MORPH3US wrote: »

Anyone know where I can get a cheap "cold frame" from?

You can make one - we made ours from the base of an old divan bed and covered it with polythene from a 'pound shop'. You could also use old windows propped up on bricks or knock together some bits of wood to make the frame and cover with old window or perspex (not that cheap to buy new though) - obviously take care if you've got children so that they don't end up crashing through the glass and injuring themselves.

GreenPete

Wildgarlic wrote: »

Can you recommend a good site to learn more about the hydroponic/aeroponic growing? I want to grow lots of chillies and toms this year. I don't have a greenhouse (yet) but do have a large window sill that I can use to start things off. We live in the north east of Scotland and so have a short growing season anyway but want to make the best of it this year.

With your shorter growing season check this site http://www.realseeds.co.uk/, they have lots of tomato and chillies selected for quick maturity and for growing outside in our climate.

MORPH3US

Thanks for the advice guys, what I actually meant was a mini greenhouse.....

Our garden isn't really big enough for a full greenhouse, is it worth me getting a mini greenhouse?

Any recommendations where is cheap to get one from?

Was thinking of this one maybe..... http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7201981/Trail/searchtext>GREENHOUSE.htm

Is it worth the outlay compared to the payback?