Sowing Summer Vegetables in the Winter

Seeds germinating on the boiler on a cold winter's day

Despite the snow and rain over the last couple of days it’s time to start sowing some of our summer vegetables. It takes at least three months for us to produce a respectable Aubergine or Pepper plant suitable for planting outside. Although it might be cold outside we trick the seeds into thinking that there is good weather by placing them on top of our boiler to germinate, and they do so in no time!

Germinated seeds in the greenhouse

 At the first signs of the germinating seedling emerging from the soil we rush them into the greenhouse so the light will stop them going weak and lanky. So far we’ve sown peppers and aubergines for planting outside and tomatoes for planting in the greenhouse.

Lettuce plants in the green house ready for planting outside

Recently planted strawberry runners

We’ve also got lettuce plants ready for planting outside, and have just planted up some strawberry runners which we will plant outside in a few months time. Out side I sowed the first beetroot a few days ago and we’ve got a seedbed of onions braving the cold along with an autumn sowing of broad beans and mange tout peas. Bring on the warm weather.

The onion seed bed outside, on a sunny day last week