Wednesday 23 April 2014

Seed selection

This year we are going to try everything we can think of. Well, almost everything. The asparagus will just have to wait. Next year we'll probably grow less different types of veg but more of what grew well. I fear our brassica won't do very well since our soil is slightly acidic but because of the state of the beds we couldn't lime the brassica beds in the autumn. Is there anything we can add now to improve the pH?

An Azorean friend with an amazing garden recommended vegetableseeds.net so that's where we went for our seed supplies. I found the reviews very helpful when choosing among the many tasty-sounding varieties, but I've also tended to go for the Scottish-sounding varieties: Leek Musselburgh, Tomato Ailsa Craig, Potato Dunluce.

In late February I started propagating in earnest. The first things I sowed were 'Speedy Salads' (tatsoi and red mustard frills) and tomatoes (Ailsa Craig and Golden Cherry). I probably sowed far too many tomatoes; in my impatience I sowed a second time and then all of the first seeds came up so I now have about 50 tomato plants! How many will we need to cover our annual tomato consumption?

The scene in the conservatory, March 2013
The scene in the conservatory, March 2013

The tomato plants are taking over the greenhouse
The tomato plants are taking over the greenhouse.

I probably lavished most care on my selection of squashes: courgettes (Nimba - ten out of 12 seeds came good), butternut squash (Gourd Metro F1), pumpkin (Little Jack) and a Hokkaido-type squash (Winter Uchiki Kuri - only one of eight made it, better luck next time). They are just the most attractive-looking seedlings. Again, no idea how many we'll need, but at least they store well, apart from the courgettes.

Courgettes, the coolest-looking seedlings
Courgettes, the coolest-looking seedlings

The courgettes a month later
The courgettes a month later

Probably the most ambitious seed I've selected is globe artichoke. I was relieved to discover a plant in nearby Castle Kennedy Gardens so there is hope. So far they are doing all right in the greenhouse, but how will they cope outside?

Globe artichokes in Scotland? Fingers crossed.
Globe artichokes in Scotland? Fingers crossed.

The conservatory is emptying out somewhat, but it is a bit difficult to know when to plant out since most of the gardening books and instructions on seed packets are based on southern England. I've added a couple of weeks, but I wish the seed instructions would give the minimum temperature and the preferred temperature range of the plant.

The scene in the conservatory, late April 2014
The scene in the conservatory, late April 2014

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