It might only be January, but I can't go any longer without sowing a few seeds. Last year I began my sweet peppers and aubergines during the first month of the year and they did GREAT. This year, to get even further ahead, I've started some herbs (and a few other things too) because I just needed to get my hands in the dirt!
Early Peppers and Aubergines
I wasn't sure how starting my aubergines and sweet peppers this early would work out. HOWEVER, it was great. Once they germinate, these tiny seedlings basically sit around for a couple of months not doing a lot until the weather's warmer. I thought it was a dead loss to begin with. But, compare them to the seeds I sowed later in the year, and the early starters became the biggest plants with the best harvests. You can't argue with that, so that's my plan for 2018 too.
A Head-Start with Herbs
One thing I really want to grow more of this year are herbs. Many of my egg customers and my gardening clients have said they'd buy freshly picked herbs if I had them available. I'd be a fool not to act on this so I decided to start some early in the season. Now, these do need bottom heat and they'll require a warm windowsill or heated greenhouse to keep them going until the warmer weather appears. But to have some young plants early on will be a great start to the season.
So today I put in:
- Flat Leaf Parsley
- Curley Parsley
- Sweet Basil
- Cinnamon Basil
- Dill
- Coriander
I also had a couple of trays to spare so I filled one with sweet peas and the other with some VERY OLD cucumber and salad onions. I don't expect these seeds to actually germinate. If they do it's a bonus.
It feels GOOD to get my hands the dirt again. It's very relaxing and a great stress-buster, particularly for me. And when those first green shoots start appearing, it'll be even more a thrill - especially since we are still in the depths of winter.
What are you growing? Do you start anything this early? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for reading,
Geoff
i have some old flower (marigold, sunflower, sweet pea) seeds that i'll be testing here soon. i've got too many herbs & not enough space right now, though! in a few weeks they'll get started - anise, basil, marjoram, cumin, coriander.
yay seeds!
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Oh @twinislandflames You should do a post about how you test your seeds! That would be great!
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cool idea - i haven't completely finished my post schedule yet, so i can get that added in. it's nothing earth shattering, but it certainly couldn't hurt!
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Yes, would be great to see how you do. Seeds can be so fickle. A couple of years ago I decided to throw in all my flower seeds and make the most of them. Nothing came up. Last year I had some old salad seeds so I threw them in a pot thinking they'd do the same as the flowers (ie nothing) and, you guessed it, HUGE numbers germinated! LOL
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We started cayenne, bell and jalapeno peppers on christmas day. We don't have a south facing window so everything else will wait until it gets warm
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Great stuff. I don't tend to do chilli peppers as I can't stomach them!
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My grandmother used a heating pad with some towels under her herbs when she started them early. Just cycled the heat so they did not get to hot.
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That's a great option - especially if you don't have a heated propagator!
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I was waiting until next week. I feel like I’m always way to early. I’m in zone 6 and I need just a little more day length I think. Thanks for the content
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I probably haven't enough day length either...I just can't stop myself. I'll have to top up with grow lights if necessary.
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Good for you and I'm getting antsy to play in the dirt, too. Cheering on all the little sprouts!
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I'll probably have WAY too many seedlings all over every windowsill before long but hey...I need some sprouts!
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I feel ya! I began starting seeds about a month ago. I plan to do an update on what I’ve started soon. I don’t think it’s ever too early to start anything if you have enough room and light. I’ve got some onions going, parsley, thyme, rosemary, ashwaganda, lavender, and strawberries. I just can’t help myself.... How many days til spring?
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Too many days @powellx5 But it'll be here soon enough and hopefully we'll be ready for it. :)
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Do you use a grow light? Sorry to butt in here.
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Those could have been my own words!
I just got a package in the mail yesterday that I have been waiting for. WHenI tried to order certain seeds late in the season last year, they were sold out... so... I ordered them now... lol- I'm ahead of the system this year!
Keep us up to date with the progress!
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It's too hard to go with out sowing seeds for too long, isn't it? And this illness had me down in the dumps; I needed some gardening fun. :D
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Nice start I need to get on it although dont have seeds trays so will have to improvise for now!
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Improvise away! What are you going to use?
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I have an old seed tray I found! Dont' know if should drill holes in the bottom?
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hoorah! If it hasn't any holes and you want to add soil and sow into it, I would create some drainage otherwise it could become too damp and the seeds might rot.
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Right on mission for the afternoon maybe. Cracking day for a walk today !
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I'm afraid if I start anything now it will get long and spindly, or die from lack of sunlight. My south-facing windows are shaded by huge pine trees. Do you use a grow light?
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I do have grow lights to use if needed though I normally find that if I start the plants off on a windowsill and then move them to my frost-free conservatory (but without heating) they grow slowly enough not to become mega leggy.
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