What seeds to sow next year...

This year I have so many tomatoes, petunias etc that I think next year I must plant fewer of the things that come up easily, or else buy the plants....
I thought I would like some artichokes but as I hadn't grown them before I bought 5 little plants at great expense- I also had an aged packet of seeds which I thought I'd try. Despite the first sowing being rifled inthe greenhouse by something burrowing in, I now have 8 little plants just as big as the bought ones, which came by mail order the other day. The plants cost �£9.00, the seeds 75p [so you can see how old they were!]
I still have trays of seedlings needing potting and as usual I'm running out of space and pots.
How does everyone else decide what to grow from seed and what to buy as plants?
And why can't we buy mini-packs of seeds?
[and what is the answer to god, the universe, and everything?]

 

Liz - I do know your problem. I sowed over 50 packets of seeds this year, and now some of them are getting quite big, and I don't know what to do with them. I pot almost everything up, hoping that if I can't use them I can give them away. I hate throwing away healthy seedlings or plants.

For next year, I have decided to try a totally new system. Its called discipline. It consists of making a list of the name and number of fully grown plants that you need given the space available. Add 50% for losses, and then that list becomes your shopping list. Mind you I think I will keep the old system going as well - just in case. :D

 

The answer is 42, Liz - didn't you know that? :D

I like the idea of discipline, Peter - I might try that...... since I seem to have the same problem as both of you - see plantaholics anonymous... Can I interest you in some seedlings?

 

Hmm discipline...its a good idea in theory
Im new to gardening, and have been buying seeds left right and centre, picking up gardening mags with free seeds, been given them by my friends too.
And as I live in an ex weaving town, most of my friends live in terraced houses with concreted back yards, so I cant even GIVE my seedlings away (sigh)
roll on allotment..only 23 months to wait (heavy sigh)

[ 29. May 2007, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: peapod ]

 

Self-discipline?! ROFL. I just buy whatever is

*big, gorgeous, impractical and difficult.
*has the prettiest picture on the seed packet.
*on a sale and I have to grab it NOW or it'll be gone.
*at the front of the seasonal rack at the Garden Centre with a Buy Me Now sticker on.

I also have a fair few of plants that
*are surplus to my friends' requirements for tomato/cukes/marigolds etc.
*one of my friends is chucking it out because it's ailing and/or ugly.

In fact I never raise my own tomatoes because someone always gives me some. Cheap or what!


I think I'm onto a winner this year because the school where I work is having a garden made so there will be lots of space to fill.

Small seed packets sound like a good idea but I think that it will be an excuse for the seed companies to charge almost as much for a small packet as they do for a standard packet - maybe because the actual seed is the cheapest component. So I'd rather get my full ration, sow what I need and keep the rest in reserve for the inevitable failures.

 

I tried five spot last yr and they failed. I`ve used the same packet of seed this yr and they`ve grown.Very strange.I don`t think there are that many seeds you can`t keep and use again.
In fact the only one i can think of is parsnip.
I was talking to a friend at allotment about sweet william and how i hadn`t bought any seeds this yr so hadn`t sown any.He said he`d set some dwarf variety away in pouches and i could have some.I came home and rummaged about and found a packet.It was May 30th and i know there`ll be no flowers this yr but i took a chance anyway.Also found and sown that day,poached egg and corriander.I just can`t resist.
I was in a supermarket on tuesday that i don`t usually shop at looking for something i`d seen adverised on the telly.(chocolate)Got to the checkout and spyed some plants at the other side.I had waited in the queue and it was almost my turn but i just had to have a look.
"Save my space please" i said to the lady behind me.
I came home with 20 lobelia,�£2.49, 20 geranium,�£2.49,2 bars of chocolate and 2 frozen stir fries.I was very happy. :D