BLOOMING TIMES
SowDELICIOUS Got a greenhouse? Is there anything growing in it, or has it become a sad dumping ground for broken garden paraphernalia? Have a spring clear-out, says Flo Whitaker, take the junk to the recycling centre and make space for some nutritious summer veg!
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ow is the ideal time to sow tender summer vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and peppers, (both sweet and chilli types). Frost-sensitive seedlings enjoy the protection of a warm conservatory, electric propagator or heated greenhouse. If you don’t have those, fear not – other methods are available. An airing cupboard may seem an unlikely bit of gardening kit, but the seeds will enjoy the warmth. They require no light during the first stages of germination
Don’t sow the entire packet! Ask yourself, ‘How many plants do I actually need?’ and won’t mind the dark. Check them twice a day and remove to a bright indoor location as soon as shoots appear. A sunny windowsill makes a good propagation bench – but move pots into the centre of the room overnight. Windowsills are often chilly at night, as cool air is trapped between cold glass and drawn curtains – an unpleasant environment for tender plants. Don’t sow the entire packet! Ask yourself, ‘How many plants do I actually need?’ If you keep some seeds in reserve, you can always try again if the first sowing fails. Seed trays occupy lots of space on a greenhouse bench and are too wide for most windowsills. Instead, fill a 10cm pot with seed compost, press the surface down lightly and space a dozen seeds on the surface. Scatter a very fine layer of compost or vermiculite on top and stand the pot in a saucer of water for 10 minutes.
March 2022 | SUSSEX LIVING 77
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23/02/2022 12:56
