| How to make an early start on the summer veggie garden |
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Most summer vegetables don’t germinate in cold soil as it can limit the season of summer crops for those gardens that only start to warm up in late spring. But there is a way around that. The secret is not to sow in the ground but to start off seeds in seed trays or pots and keep them in a warm, sheltered place during germination. Ways To Keep
Keep Seeds Warm During Germination:
This can be in a cold frame, in a home made plastic tunnel, on a sunny patio or even a warm windowsill.
One of the most ingenious methods for keeping seeds warm during germination comes from Sean Freeman of Living Seeds. He suggests using a snake tank heating pad, that can be bought from a pet shop or a small heating pad the size of a pillow that is often used for soothing a sore back.
Put the hot pad on a flat, dry surface, with the fluffy side down and the plastic side facing upwards. Put two bricks on their side and place the seed tray that has been planted up with seeds on the bricks. This will keep the seed tray about 10cm above the hot pad.
Turns the hot pad onto the lowest setting and leave it on. It is not necessary to remove the seed tray when watering provided you don’t get water on the plug or the switch. Alternatively, take the seedling tray off, water it and let the water drain before putting it back.
Seed Sowing Guide:
Which ever method you choose to keep the germinating seeds toasty, start with cabbage and peas because they are long crops which don’t like the heat of summer.
By starting them trays in August seedlings can be transplanted in September they will be ready for harvest in November before the onset of the summer heat. The same applies to leafy crops like lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard.
Between the middle and end of August one can also start off tomatoes, cucumbers, gem squash, pumpkin and butternut in pots.
Baby marrows are a quick crop (ready for harvesting within 60 days) so they can safely be sown at the end of September or even early in October. |
