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Hello Charles and forum users.
Yours books have been so helpful and inspirational, most other allotmenteers are confused why I am so ahead of them, and with such a neat plot. However, I have been struggling with the art of raising plants, getting better at pricking out, thou my tomatoes seedlings did not look healthy tonight, hey ho, we live and learn.
Compost type for raising plants has confused me somewhat, but think I get it now. Seed and soil compost, such as Verve John Inns from B&Q which is gritty for drainage, is for raising seeds for pricking out latter such as Lettuce, Tomatoes, Chillis. All other larger seeds from beetroot through to beans, can be sowed direct into quality multi-purpose soil in module trays.
Additional to this is finding a happy medium between growing success rates and time spent raising plants. If my time was unlimited, as you say, raising plants is best rather than sowing, as plants can grow away strong from slug damage. My time is limited, so below is currently my methods of raising plants. I keep reminding myself, if I fail, I can buy plants online and plug the gaps.
Outside direct – Radish, Garlic, Broad bean, Onion, Potatoes, Spring Onion, Coriander, Carrot, Parsnip
Outside direct to transplant – Leek
Indoors in clumps in modules – Beetroot, Onion, Spinach, Leaf Beat, Pea, French Beans
Indoors as single plants in modules – Runner Beans, Broad Beans, Squash
Indoors in seed trays for pricking out as single plants in modules – Lettuce, Celeraic, Herbs, Other salad plants
Indoors in seed trays for pricking out as single plants for continual potting on – Tomatoes, Chillis
So that is where I am at the moment with raising plants. Wish I had more time but I don’t. I am raising plants on a hotbed in a polytunnel which I filled Feb, reached 68c, but dropped to 20c by the beginning of April. The heat had been brilliant at raising plants early, notably peas and lettuce, but since it has cooled somewhat, I have got black ants nesting in it, I have had slugs visiting (cutting as I see) and also mice visiting, which completely ate my second sowing of peas and my sunflowers!!! Wish I had the time to top it the hotbed up!
Thoughts welcome.
Many Thanks
GaryYes time is often the main, limiting factor. I can’t create more for you Gary, only hope that no dig, with its smaller amount of weeding and cultivating time, allows you time to propagate better plants.
What you are doing looks commendable and now its warming up you will be ok without extra heat.
As for composts to sow and plant, a good multipurpose should cover it but they are not as reliable as I would like. Add some vermiculite for sowing lettuce and basil, I sow everything else into multipurpose.
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