Crikey. Veg growing help please!!!

pinkie_pie

Bought some random kits from pound shop place, then found out we have an allotment so the idea is obviously to grow the seedlings and plant in the ground!

However I just followed the instructions on the kits, and now I'm worried I haven't thought about seasons, or the other seeds I bought, and also I put ALL the seeds in each wee pot and they are a bit full

So far we have...

four pots of lettuce seedlings (around 50 a pot! Tiny diddy pots! They are now around 8cm high, two leafs on each end).
four pots each of carrot, red onion and leek (tiny thin cressy looking seedlings, maybe 20-30 a pot. Look a bit thin and pathetic. one bit on each end. Around 4cm high)
four pots of courgette, around two in each pot although one has five. Now around 12-15cm high and looking very healthy.)

Seriously the pots are the tiny freebies that they gave with the kit, wasn't really expecting anything to grow! I'm assuming I need to plant them all into their own pots (and plant wiser next time, with far less seeds!) but are the skinny ones strong enough?

I'm also worried about time of year, the instructions all had a very random Jan-June planting instructions on them. When will they be ready for outdoors?


Next big question is, I also have a lot of seeds, mostly purchased last year on impulse. Most types of herbs and veg if I'm honest. How do I know what to plant now, what to put in tubs now, etc etc? As surely I can't just start planting everything in sight! :rotfl:


Finally, along with the seeds I bought raspberry, blueberry and redcurrant plants which are still in the packaging looking deadish. Figured may still have life in them so will give them a go. Also bought two bags of baby onions to plant, and this was either last summer or the one before! They now have nice green sprouts, but I'm assuming have been left far too long to get any nice taste!!! Is that so?

Thank you!!!

misskool

Did you read the back of the seed packets? They normally have lots of information

Lettuce, they are really too crowded so you can !!!!! them out or kill the ones you don't want to grow up. Lettuce are ok when it's cool so they should be ok to go out as long as you know you're not likely to get any more frost. carrots should be sown direct as they have a long tap root that you'll be eating but someone on here has transplanted them (if you're really careful).

Leek can be left to grow for a bit then potted on with a bit of space between them.

You plant out when the weather is good enough for them. Hardy things like strawberries/peas can be hardened off if grown indoors and left to their own devices

It's much too early for courgettes (unless you have time/space to protect them)

As for seed packets from last year, if they were kept in a cool dark place and weren't opened you should be ok to start planting them. What have you got?

Raspberry can go in now. blueberries need ericaceous (special acidic compost) so needs to be potted into that. redcurrants should be ok to be planted out.

I wouldn't plant the baby onions (esp if from last summer), just sling them into the compost heap and then get some new ones.

Farway

Lettuce, may run to seed if you transplant them, and is too early to go outside, suggest you buy another packet of mixed lettuce, and do not sow the lot at once, just a pinch every two weeks or so

Carrot, will not do well if transplanted, suggest you plant the whole pot full and hope to get some useful baby ones, then buy another packet

Leeks & onions, plant the whole pot, use as "spring onions" Then sow more, or buy onion sets now

Courgette, I guess you love them? You will get loads of them. Pull all but one from each pot, allow one to grow and gradually harden off come April, ready to plant out in May, you may need to repot if they get too big before then

"Also bought two bags of baby onions to plant, and this was either last summer or the one before! They now have nice green sprouts, but I'm assuming have been left far too long to get any nice taste!!! Is that so?"

I assume you mean onion sets? As you have no idea when you bought them, or what you really have, I would just put on compost heap and start again. Taste has nothing to do with it, just what were you expecting to grow?

chrisaj

Gosh.........:eek: right, lettuce you can transplant into rows on your allotment. The carrots don't like their roots disturbed, so is it poss to put them as they are into the ground without disturbing them too much. Make sure you water the pots well beforehand as they'll come out much easier.
Leeks and red onions you can transplaant them into the ground using a dibber, one hole for each plant, I use a small cane, just push it into the gound to make a hole then drop the seeding in, the just water in. They shoud be ok to go out now. Courgettes still need protecting from the cold. If you've got too many of one veg, can you ask the pther allotment holders if they'd like your surplus, they may have stuff they want to get rid of.
Are you thinking of planting you fruit canes in the allotment as well. Blusberries need an ericaceous compost, I grow mine in tubs.
If the veg seeds haven't been opened they should be ok.
If you've got runner beans I sow mine staight outside in May.
Hope the above is helpful to you