The cold weather and planting

[PreppingPingu]

I haven't put anything in the ground yet and its now April! The weather and soil has been so cold. I am going to stick my spuds in as they are turning into trees in their eggs boxes they are sprouting so much! Shall I give it a go and try to plant some seeds under a fleece layer? I do have a couple of hoop tunnels that I can put over stuff too.

I got my allotment last year and although I planted some fruit (blueberries and raspberries,) and lots of spuds, most of last year was spent digging the ground from scratch (as it was a previously undug patch), putting up the required fencing and fighting a war with slugs! I did try carrots and parsnips last year but something ran off with the seeds or they were washed away as they never even sprouted seedlings. I have built some raised beds this year to help act as a barrier for slugs etc and am going to companion plant some marigolds for pest control.

Shall I start to plant stuff anyway and hope for the best or should I wait still more for a wee bit more warmth? Thanks in advance!

[redskies]

I think that as long as you can cover stuff, it should be ok. I put the onions out yesterday, then put old windows over the tyres they're in. Should be like a wee greenhouse in there

[DreamOfPrepping]

I wouldn't risk putting anything in the ground without a ground covering to keep them warm although I'm in Kent and we get all of the North Sea winds so we also end up with a really long winter even if other counties are getting sun.

If you have room I'd suggest floristry buckets as they are nice and deep also stackable after use.



I half inched the green type when my mum's flower shop closed down and I have been using them for years now.

[edward.21]

i would give it another week before planting anything, the plants will find it alot easier to catch up from a late planting than they will to recover from a late frost. if you really want to get going with the spuds put them in give them a good mulch and cover them with fleece until the frost has gone.
good luck

[Rosesandtea]

I will hopefully visit the allotment this weekend if its not raining and this week I might do a bit of raking in the raised beds at home. But I can't cope with cold too well so I don't expect to get a lot done.

I hope to sow some more seeds indoors but with it so cold I can't move the seedlings I have now to the greenhouse so I am not getting things started as much as I normally would. I think I might buy in some starter plants.

[diamond lil]

It won't do anything any harm to wait a bit. Up here you can't plant anything until mid-April any year and we still get a harvest... although last two years have been dire. My garden's still under snow.

[preppingsu]

It won't do anything any harm to wait a bit. Up here you can't plant anything until mid-April any year and we still get a harvest... although last two years have been dire. My garden's still under snow.

I agree. Once it warms up anything you plant will grow well, it won't matter if its been planted a bit later than normal.

Frustrating though. I did say to OH that I was glad we weren't relying on any early spring crops because otherwise we would be very hungry right now!!!

[diamond lil]

In the old days this would definitely be famine.

[redskies]

Lil, I think we're further north than you, and I've had seedlings sprouting since late Feb. Planted the spuds a week ago and put the onions out at the weekend. I think planting in tyres makes a difference; they hold the heat very well with some earth in there. And I've put old windows over the ones that have the onions in them, to make wee cold frame/greenhouse type things. It froze last night, but the veg didn't!

[PreppingPingu]

Thanks for the replies I may put the spuds in this weekend but wait another week for anything else - the long range forecast says that temperatures should begin to rise from this weekend down south here. Must nip to the local garage and see if I can scrounge some tyres. The sun on that black rubber will be good - thanks for reminding me about that Redskies.