I haven’t started sowing as it’s such cold weather. Waiting a little while I find better as things catch up with the warmer lighter days. When I sow I sow on my allotment in covered seed trays with fleece over the top. This seems to prevent legginess. The seedlings get maximum light being outdoors and the plastic cover and fleece are enough to keep the cold off. In a normal February I would be just starting now but it’s about to get even colder so I’m going to wait a couple of weeks.
I also sow in the autumn in boxes, with fleece or double fleece over the top. I have overwintered lettuces now which are about 5” tall and should grow well when I plant them out under a mini tunnel in a couple of weeks. They have survived winter ok – despite the boxes being blown off the table in a gale and having to be replanted!
For tomatoes I germinate them indoors then treat them as above. Courgettes squash and runner beans outside as above but much later.
I never get legginess problems with this method- which came about as I have nowhere suitable at home.
Best of luck everybody with your seedlings this year!
Penny
