First Sowings of the Season

When I produced my sowing plan for the year, I used a spreadsheet. By each seed, I marked the sowing months in columns. Using the sorting function, it’s a matter of a minute to create a sowing list for an individual month.

Having done that, I then referred to my chart of the optimum temperatures for seed germination. Now there’s no real need to be too exact about these temperatures, but they do give a good general guide. I’ve broken them down into two groups, those I’ll aim for 20ºC and the alliums with 15ºC, plus chilli peppers.

Broad Beans, Lettuce, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts in Vitopod.

Along with the temperature guide, I’ve also listed when I should expect to see germination – at that temperature, of course. My list is here as a PDF: February Sowing Plan

The first early potatoes, Casablanca, are going directly into the raised bed in the polytunnel. Looking at the longer range forecast for February, they should be safe enough. I’ll maybe drape some horticultural fleece over the bed, especially if it gets colder than they’re expecting now.

Brassicas

The first brassica sowings will go into pots. Once they germinate, they’ll be pricked out into 3” pots to later transplant outside. Aiming around 20ºC to germinate, dropping them to ambient in the greenhouse when in 3” pots, then hardening off to go outside.

Cabbage, Greyhound – a good old standby, this compact variety should be ready for table by the end of April.

Brussels Sprouts, Doric F1 – decent sprouts, should be starting to harvest in November, with a bit of luck.

Cauliflower, All Year Round – excellent variety, this sowing should be harvestable in June.

Lettuce

I’m sowing four types of lettuce, just aiming for around four or five plants of each. I’ll use Bustaseed modules so they can go out as plugs. They’re in the same propagator as the brassicas, at 20ºC

Marvel of Four Seasons – I first grew these from seeds bought in France on holiday. Finally, the penny dropped that Merveille des Quatre Saisons is Marvel of Four Seasons.

All Year Round – A banker that should be on the table by mid-April.

Lolla Rossa – great loose-leaf type. They do well in 6-8” pots in the greenhouse.

Webbs Wonderful – the standard crisp head lettuce. Harvesting late April onwards.

Broad Beans

Chilli Peppers in Pot on Radiator Shelf

I’m starting these Karmazyn off in rootrainers, which will give me 32 plants in the space of a seed tray. Once they’re up and planted out, I’ll do another batch. I know I could sow directly, but germination is better this way.

They’re in the same propagator as the lettuce and brassicas at 20ºC. They should be ready to go out in a few weeks.

Chilli Peppers

Finally, a small pot with a few Cayenne Long Slim peppers sown. These like a much warmer temperature than the rest, especially to get going, so on a shelf in the lounge above a radiator. Sat on a saucer, to keep the boss happy, with a bag over to keep the humidity in the pot.