The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Bert on February 03, 2014, 08:40:29 am

Title: It's nearly time
Post by: Bert on February 03, 2014, 08:40:29 am
It is getting very close to seed sowing time  :excited: .
I noticed somewhere on this forum that it is best to buy new parsnip seeds every year. I would like to know what other seeds would you replace every year ?
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Rosemary on February 03, 2014, 10:56:04 am
My father-in-law is champing at the bit  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Fleecewife on February 03, 2014, 11:47:38 am
My father-in-law is champing at the bit  :thumbsup:


Me too  :yippee: :yippee: :garden:


I think parsnips are it, aren't they?  Other seed types decrease in their germination success year by year, so I don't use ancient seed, but what I do buy new depends on if I have any seed left over from last year.  Some things such as tomatoes and cucumbers have so few seeds per packet that I have no choice but to buy them fresh, although tomatoes in particular would last for several years. 
This year my veg seed order is short, but I seem to have added quite a few flowers.  The most expensive things are tatties, onion sets and shallot sets (which seem really expensive for just 20 sets  :o   Still, I like shallots )
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Rosemary on February 03, 2014, 11:54:06 am
We always seem to get sucked in by the blandishments of the seed catalogues  ::)

The plan this year is to sell enough at the gate to pay for seeds, seed potatoes and sets. :fc:
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Carse Goodlifers on February 03, 2014, 06:32:57 pm
It may be obvious to some but to the less obvious - if you buy seeds and they are classed as a 'hybrid variety'.
Tomato varieties, 'Sweet Million' and 'Golden Cherry' are classed as F1 Hybrids. 
If you keep any seed from the fruit in 2014 over into 2015 and sow it you will not get what you sowed this year - they revert back to the parent plant traits.

Some fancy flower seeds are hybrids, some sweetcorn varieties too.
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: little blue on February 03, 2014, 06:48:49 pm
I would like to know what other seeds would you replace every year ?

Small ones!

IE things like beans can "last" longer, they are big enough that the "energy" they store for first growth kind of keeps.
Anything small -  parsnips, carrots, grasses, etc just deteriorate faster, so better to buy fresh

hth
:)
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 03, 2014, 10:57:41 pm
I'm saving toilet roll tubes to plant my beans in.  :excited: :excited:
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Greenerlife on February 04, 2014, 09:50:46 am
Exciting! :excited:


I thought you had to buy carrot seed in every year, but I did sow some ancient seed last year - some grew but not many, but better than throwing them out!
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Small Plot Big Ideas on February 04, 2014, 09:58:55 am
I'm saving toilet roll tubes to plant my beans in.  :excited: :excited:


Me too... although I'm a little surprised at how many I've got now. I don't remember going to the loo that many times in the last couple of months!
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Greenerlife on February 04, 2014, 10:07:37 am
I'm saving toilet roll tubes to plant my beans in.  :excited: :excited:


Me too... although I'm a little surprised at how many I've got now. I don't remember going to the loo that many times in the last couple of months!
I collect toilet roll tubes all year - I couldn't plant as many beans!  :roflanim: 
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Carse Goodlifers on February 04, 2014, 05:04:37 pm
Loo rolls are also good for sweet peas and also sunflowers.
The latter not liking a lot of root disturbance.
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Bert on February 04, 2014, 05:33:23 pm

I'm saving toilet roll tubes to plant my beans in.  :excited: :excited:
I keep forgetting  ::)



The plan this year is to sell enough at the gate to pay for seeds, seed potatoes and sets. :fc:


That's my plan as well  :thumbsup: . Sold a few plants last year.
Been doing a bit of work on my barrow today. Just got to put the handle on the top when it's had a couple more coats of varnish.



http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p671/Bertmull/b5b43c8450b932ad01c50825b254a635_zps082fa0cf.jpg[/img]]http://(http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p671/Bertmull/b5b43c8450b932ad01c50825b254a635_zps082fa0cf.jpg) (http://[IMG)


http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p671/Bertmull/68b09454349b8daadc6f2c979e6ba348_zps87f9c49c.jpg[/img]]http://(http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p671/Bertmull/68b09454349b8daadc6f2c979e6ba348_zps87f9c49c.jpg) (http://[IMG)


http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p671/Bertmull/6db5bf5734ac3feea6ab1e14a3afdf08_zpsb51d5ad8.jpg[/img]]http://(http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/p671/Bertmull/6db5bf5734ac3feea6ab1e14a3afdf08_zpsb51d5ad8.jpg) (http://[IMG)


It looks a bit like a cage because of all the red deer, fallow deer and free range sheep we have round here :)
Please pay close attention to the money box :-J . The other half made it and he is very proud of it ::) . Don't tell him but I think it's pretty good to 8) .
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: little blue on February 04, 2014, 09:11:54 pm
that is so cool! :)
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 05, 2014, 12:20:25 am
I like that, Bert, and the money box is great. You should tell him. He might make more things then.


I'm saving toilet roll tubes to plant my beans in.  :excited: :excited:

Me too... although I'm a little surprised at how many I've got now. I don't remember going to the loo that many times in the last couple of months!




It's probably the excitement getting to you.   :eyelashes:
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Carse Goodlifers on February 06, 2014, 06:55:47 pm
Berts Barrow is Brill  :D
I love it - well done you.
Title: Re: It's nearly time
Post by: Anke on February 12, 2014, 10:30:43 am
I like the wheelbarrow! :thumbsup:

Does the mesh roof snap shut and cuts peoples' fingers off, if someone "forgets" to pay? Seriously I am too worried to sell anything at the bottom of my drive as I think people may just run of with the lot???