Sowing in a conservatory

[ATTA Hi all.

I'm brand new - not only to this forum (hi) but to proper gardening too. My girlfriend and I have just moved into a great little flat in London which has a small (big for London) little patio garden with borders on three sides. It's south-west facing, as is a conservatory (the dining room), and I want to start making the most of the abundance of light by sowing.

Our hope is to grow a few things this year - tomatoes, a few beans, carrots and plenty of different types of lettuces ("pick and come again", I think they're called?!), along with a stack of herbs which even I can grow. I'd love to try potatoes but fear they're out of my capable range!

My question is quite simple: what, if anything, can I start sowing in small pots in the conservatory during these dark, grey months? I've read that people do start in February if they have greenhouses, and as long as I keep them relatively warm, moist and perhaps wrapped in a plastic bag to speed things along, will they be ok?

If anyone has any advice based on these photos of what we might grow, do shout - open to anything. Sunflowers on the wall will look spectacular, I think...

Cheers

Will

 

Hello and welcome.

That's a nice pad you have there. South west facing too, perfect.

I've never raised them from seed, but young plants should grow fine in that conservatory. Whether you'd want to or not is a different matter, because they do smell quite strong.

Can't see a problem there.

I've never grown them, but my son did (he was 3 at the time). All the books say carrots are hard work, but my son threw some seeds on the ground and a few months later had some carrots.

If you want to broaden that to 'not really lettuce' but more delicious and lower maintenance, then look at Leaf beet (Chard - eg 'Chard - bright lights' or 'Rainbow chard'), and nasturtium.

Most herbs are easy but there are a few things to look out for. Basil is so soft that despite what the books say, it is really an indoor plant. Coriander is supposed to prefer full sun, true if you want it to bolt, grow it in moist dappled shade. Sage is zero maintenance and is pretty too, but give it plenty of room as it grows big, and keep good air circulation around it because it is prone to a horrible looking mould.

Spuds are about as easy as it gets but they really need room. In your case, a deep container may be the best solution. The trick is take a massive container, and fill it about 4 inches deep with rotted manure (available from any garden centre). Plus one or two seedies (sprouted spuds) on top, and cover to a depth of about 2 inches with compost or manure. As the plants appear, as soon as they have two levels of leaves, bury the lower leaves so just the tops ones remain above the surface. Keep doing this as the plants grow, until the container is full. The plants will ultimately flower and then look like they are dying. That's when you're spuds are ready. Simply push the container over and collect your new potatoes. Sweep up the mess, job done.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

Some good advice from Clueless there We're still in the low light period so a lot of stuff will grow too leggy at this time of year, hang on a bit for most stuff, march is a better starting time.

You could do peppers & chillies now though, they need a longer growing season.

 

Good morning Will,
what a super set up. I expect things will be very protected in the patio area. More delicate herbs, like Basil (to go with your home grown Tomatoes) and a few select flowers that enjoy being viewed " close up" and have a stunning fragrance that will waft in on a nice Summer as evening,
aaahhhh,

Jenny namaste

 

Hi Will and welcome to GC
Looks like a nice cozy courtyard you have there....nice and sheltered....hows about some fruit...Raspberrys and maybe some strawberries in baskets....as Zigs said a wee bit early for sowing yet but we're all chomping at the bit to get going...not long to wait

 

I got over excited last year and sowed everything within the first 2 weeks of February in my conservatory. As stated above it really did go leggy, so hold off if I was you.

Rusty

 

Hi Will, Im new to gardening too, but can't wait to start growing few things soon! I want to grow carrots and these come again leaves too, and one potato bag.

 

Hi will, I start my sowing in the conservatory, currently growing tomatoes and strawberries. Our conservatory is south facing and I sow many flowers and veg from there. As for growing on, all I can say is in the warmer days a lot of watering is required throughout the day.

 

Hi all. Amazing response - thanks to everyone! Really appreciate it. I think I'll wait 3 or 4 weeks before going ahead - it's 1c at the moment, and there's absolutely no point in this gloom ... so will wait until early March before sowing.

Yes, re fruit - raspberries and strawberries will have to be attempted!

I'm intrigued, Jenny, on what smelly flowers you'd recommend. I haven't got a clue. I remember in our garden as a boy, we had a tiny strip (long, but very thin - about 8 feet) of a garden, but we had one tree which grew uncontrollably and had this incredible white blossom which smelled great. Quite big petals I think. That about sums up my knowledge of flowers. Pathetic!

We also had a hydrangea which I thrashed with a football and cricket balls. Survived absolutely fine!

Anyway - am researching potato bags now. Look forward to contributing more here as the year goes on. Thanks a lot for everyone's replies

Will

 

Sorry, I tried to put your pic up the right way but I might have messed up your original post

 

As I read that , WTL, the image of Philadelphus ( Mock Orange) came to me. Now that would knock your socks off
Jenny

 

No worries!

That's the one! Excellent. I'll try that.

Any suggestions for vine-like things to grow up, and potentially over, some of the conservatory? Don't want it to damage the glass or the branches become as hard as nails, but I thought something wispy and elegant might look nice, provided I can pot it by the door!