What to sow in Jan

I'm looking at sowing some of my seeds now, don't have the list to hand but thought I'd get others opinions on what they've has sucess and failure with sowing now.

I look forward to your responses

 

I have no idea but the chap across the path from me today was planting broad beans

 

Personally, in frozen ground I would say nothing.

Until at least March the soil is far too cold to sow any seeds other than hardy shrubs that need stratification.

So I would say, spend your time doing soil preparation and forget about sowing any veg until you see weed seed germinating, a good sign that the soil is warm enough for the hardier stuff.

 

sorry should have stated that I'm on about sowing in trays indoors

 

It is possible to start some things off in a propagator, however at this time of year the light levels are very low, so unless you have a heated greenhouse or conservatory you will have problems with the seedlings getting too leggy. I have only a cold greenhouse and so generally don't start seeds off until next month, then I spend a lot of time moving seedlings to the greenhouse during the day and then back into the warm house for the night. Can't wait!

 

I agree with Blackthorn. Getting the seeds to germinate is not a problem. The problem is stopping them getting leggy afterwards.

The energy for growth comes from light. But light levels outside are so much lower in January and February that 4 weeks of growth in January is only the equivalent of one week in March. Light levels inside are even lower. I follow Christopher Lloyd's advice and sow my seeds on March 1st indoors, and for non hardy annuals such as Cosmos, Cleome, Tithonia etc - 1st May

However, as Pete said, there are some things that need a cold period first. You can sow Allium seeds now, in a covered pot outside. They will love the frost. Sow in a deep pot and don't disturb them for a couple of years.

 

I`ll take my allium seed pots out of the greenhouse then.

 

Yes I would Claire. I first tried germinating Allium seeds inside along with all my other seeds and nothing happened. I was later put onto the method of leaving them outside by another GC member and the results were very good. They seem to be quite happy with, and indeed need, the frost. However I would cover them. It prevents other seeds blowing onto the compost and germinating, and also prevents the compost getting too wet.

If you want to experiment, put some inside and some outside. I only tried them inside the house - so I don't know how they would fare in a greenhouse.

 

I`ve taken them out and covered them with leaves for the time being. I have them in a tray ( well actually a shelf off a plastic veg rack that had broken on me so very good drainage). They are some of those really big ones and I`m keen on them succeeding. Thanks again Pete

 

Fingers crossed - Claire

 

I am going to sow some salad seeds in door for young shoot and some bean sprouts.

 

I collected some seeds from my alliums last year so following this thread I might try sowing them as well. Any ideas how long they take to germinate and is there any need to soak the seeds beforehand?
I didn't do anything special to the seeds when I collected them, just waited on the seed head to ripen.

 

Hi Sussexgardener, if they are anything like leeks or spring onions, they will come up like weeds. I would just cover them lightly, I usually use vermiculite, and keep in a warm place.

 

Hi SussexG - I think the key is to sow them and forget about them for two years. They will take a while to germinate - perhaps a month or two, which is why it is important to cover them and prevent other seeds blowing in. They won't mind the frost, and you don't need to soak them - two months outside will take care of that.

What I don't know is how long the bulbs will take to reach flowering size. It certainly won't be in the first or second summer. Mine haven't flowered yet and we are coming up to the third summer for them.

Everyone is impatient, but my view is that if you keep starting off one or two long term projects every year they form a pipeline and eventually a continuous stream of new plants emerge from that pipeline. I have Tulbaghia, Dierama, Agapanthus, Asphodelus, Allium christophii, Allium schubertii and others in that pipeline.

 

Jusr got my seed order-and am sowing Dierama Blackbird in a propagator ( I`m actually making a coir pot and sandwich bag sound posh! ) later this afternoon.