Are we starting to sow to early .....

I'm a very firm believer that the weather cannot be forecast more than 5 days out, and only 2 days with good accuracy; perhaps I will give the Met office some slack for 2 weeks out for an "indication" of what might be coming.

I'm not persuaded by Daily Express headlines (other than the hassle of having to calm down general hysteria from ordinarily level-headed folk re-posting the Tabloid headlines in the forum worrying if they should buy more fuel / heaters / aeroplane tickets! and the like)

But it doesn't stop me speculating (not to be confused with Wishing, Hoping and Guessing )

My current thinking is whether the exceptionally strong jet stream we have had of late, and the very strong "push" of Atlantic storms our way, means that:

a) the Jetstream will remain strong enough to prevent any continental high pressure causing a block to our weather (which is when, here in East Anglia at least, we get the Bear from the East, which can easily bring -10C or lower)

b) all that "stuff" has pushed more warm Gulf Stream water our way, than normal, such that our coastal sea temperatures are higher than normal, and consequently that will prevent severe cold being "as severe" as it might be.

 

Too early I think. I reckon they grow relatively quickly, and thus will become large. I sow mine 1st week of March.

 

I've sown my N.Sylvestris early because last year i left it too late..luckily Kristen came to the rescue at Shineyland and the year before when i sowed them mid March they took an age to get going....so i'm hoping for earlier ones this year

 

Not sown anything at all yet but am tempted

 

Im soldiering on with canna seed which id planned too as i want so many,apart from that ive popped some coleous on compost to accompany them(in the kitchen window) and chard but thats for the hens,its not died in the garden from last yr so i hope i can produce some greens asap for them maybe..next..not sure
Happy growing gang,hope the seasons are good to us x

 

I have sown some sweet peas and broad beans. They should be able to stick out Feb and March. If they come up.

I'm going to sow a few things that need cold stratification as well.
Nothing else till late March and nothing remotely tender, like courgettes, till early May.

 

I sow most perennials late spring to mature the following year.
In autumn I sowed the cold needing seeds in the coldframe (Allium, Frits, Galtonia, Lilies etc) and most of these are germinating already.
I also started a few "project" plants off early, including Musschia wollastonii and various members of the Fabacaea family. And since the new year I've started on the many Salvia seeds that I have. All of these will have the use of my grow cupboard.

 

Just sweetpeas sown so far and they are popping their heads up!

 

I sowed Lavatera arborea seeds back in November (late), but they haven't come up yet... however I was just imitating nature, as on our coast, Lavatera arborea drop their seeds in November then sprout in Spring. Ive even mixed some seasalt in the sand to make them feel even more at home!

 

Assuming you sowed outside Stephen I wouldn't expect to see them for another month.

 

I'm hoping to start my canna seed asap but anything else will be March to April