It’s sowing time, which means sorting out the seeds and getting the seed trays etc. prepared. This is the point where, every year, I kick myself for not washing the pots before putting them away.
Washing the trays is not the most pleasant job, but you can’t get the kids to do it, even for a shiny new penny.
Took the module trays onto the grass behind the big greenhouse and used the hosepipe sprayer to wash off the thick. Then into a nine gallon trug of water with about an egg cup of bleach to sterilise before back onto the grass for a final spray.
Inevitably, some splashed back over me, soaking my shoes. And fishing trays out of a trug full of freezing cold water when it’s 6ºC outside is no fun. So the Bustaseed modules were done with nice warm water in the kitchen sink. That made me very popular.
I did wonder about the dishwasher, but that really would be going too far!
It’s sobering to reflect that washing the thousands of pots used for bedding plants on Victorian estates was a winter job for the youngest members of staff. These children, maybe just 12 years old, would face weeks of pot scrubbing. Up to their elbows in cold water, standing in an unheated shed, possibly for a ten-hour day, six days a week. Sundays were for church attendance, of course.
Still, they got to warm up by carrying sacks of coal to feed the glasshouse boilers throughout the night.
And they, or their family I suppose, got to pay for the privilege of them being trained up for his career. With intelligence, diligence and hard work, he could aspire to the lofty heights of Head Gardener in just 25 years. The good old days, indeed.
Seed Sowing
The weather having turned very wet and windy, time to move into the potting shed and start sowing for planting out later.
First of all, the peppers, sweet Asti Red and chilli, Cayenne Long Slim. I’m aiming at 6 sweet peppers and 1 chilli, so sowed 2 seeds per pot or large module. One to grow and one to fail. I may end up with 8 sweet peppers, but that’s alright.
Then one gherkin Anulka and one cucumber Marketmore. Two seeds per pot, with a second sowing in late March to give follow on plants when the weather is more certain,
Parsley sown into deep modules, 9 per tray. They’re commercial modules and the size basis is a bit different, but two of the nine module trays will fit into one seed tray.
All of those went into the Geopod propagator with the temperature set at 25ºC. They’d actually like it a little warmer, but the maximum setting is 25º and it won’t make a huge difference to germination times.
Bustaseed trays and modules in the propagator.
Next brassicas, leeks and lettuce all into Bustaseed modules and from there into a Vitopod set at 20ºC which is near optimum germination temperature for all of them. The trays with leeks in are stacked on top of each other, to save space. Once they start germinating, they’ll be moved out.
- Brussels Sprouts – Doric
- Cabbage – Caraflex
- Cabbage – Greyhound
- Cabbage – Earliest of All
- Leek – Bulgarian Giant
- Lettuce – Black Seeded Simpson
- Lettuce – Lollo Rosso
- Lettuce – All Year Round
And finally, in response to popular demand, half a seed tray of trailing lobelia, mixed cascade.
Can I clean my seed trays with jays fluid
You could but personally I wouldn’t.
This is not a question on pot washing , but would like your expert advise please.
I hope to grow for the first time main crop potatoes I have king Edward seed potatoes bought , I would like to ask you would you chit these if so for how long also when would you plant your main crop potatoes.
Thank you in advance Sue 1st time veg grower hopefully.
Hi Sue,
I offer a specialist e-book on growing potatoes here and cover potatoes along with other vegetables in Vegetable Growing Month by Month
Advice on watering. I have sown peas, broad and runner beans in toilet tubes which are placed in an old mushroom tray on a windowsill how can one judge the amount of water needed?
I have also baught bustarseed trays on your advice, and do not understand the watering procedure. Please explain.
An aged gardener!!
Meliora
Hello Mellora
Card tubes are tricky – too much water and they disintegrate, too little and the plants don’t grow. Just a matter of judgement really.
Bustaseed modules are very easy. You can lift a strip partially out and check both root development and the compost’s moisture. To water, just use the gutter strip at the end until it has a little water at the base. Much easier than watering from above where you often disturb or even wash away tiny seedlings.