[Dave W]

John Mason	Posted 11/3/2010 21:51 (#526703 - in reply to #526702) Subject: Re: Very cold March
Offline Manager Location: Machynlleth, Mid Wales ()	This is perhaps the wrong thread, but yes March has been horribly cold compared to recent years, and I'm wondering when it will be safe to get the onion sets into the ground. GFS is encouraging, with a warm-up throughout the second half of the month. Cheers - John  ----- www.geologywales.co.uk/storms

[scrapemedic]

The ground hs warmed up a bit over the last week, and its not too soggy, so anything that is hardy or hardened off enough to go out could do now.

[John Mason]

The main reason for caution in this department is that if you plant into cold soil, with a few exceptions, plants grow as stunted forms that never really get going to their full potential: at least, that's what the old boys hereabouts have told me.

But the charts are starting to look more accommodating now :)

Cheers - John 

[Dave W]

.. until next weekend :)

Some cold nights esp in the west till midweek too with the grass mins still down to -5C to -10C I'd think in places.

[Dave W]

This germination chart may be of interest: http://tomclothier.h...net/page11.html

[chrisips]

I'm getting a veggie patch going for the first time this year,so at the moment am a complete beginner.I got my two good sized patches ready just before winter set in,but don't have much idea of when to start getting things in and to be honest don't really know what i can get going in trays in the small greenhouse i've bought.

I've gone for all the things we eat a lot of, onion sets, garlic and potatoes,and from seed carrots, broccoli, sprouts, parsnips, spring onions, cauliflower and lettuce.

Looking forward to the next year so any help and advice is always much appreciated. [y]

[pettinger]

Started a new allotment last year, and made the mistake of rushing to get things into the ground as soon as the instructions on the packet said you could.
This was, I think, a mistake : Other plot holders around me sowed and planted later, and their plants soon overtook mine. Am planting and sowing at least 3 or 4 weeks later this year, especially as the ground is still so cold.

[John Mason]

Likewise - not planting until early April. On the allotment, watch what the old boys are doing and borrow a bit of their experience of them - the payback will be significant! Just buy them a pint as a thankyou and you'll never be short of good advice! My garden mentor extracts weather forecasts out of me in return!

Cheers - John 

[Dave W]

Excellent advice John, not enough consideration given to the harvesting of wisdom in this world!