Is it Too Early to Plant Veg Seeds Direct into Raised Beds ?

[LIZS]

Just weeded our veg beds - rocket and strawberry plants have survived the winter. Should we start off new crops in pots indoors or are there some we can plant out already?

Lots you can plant out directly now. I have put the following seeds out over the past month or so: carrots, spring onions, broad beans, peas, radish, beetroot, leeks, salad leaves. Will be putting more in soon - parsnips, beans, fennel. Start things like courgettes, pumpkins & tomatoes inside and plant out after last frost.

Great thank you. If it ever stops raining will get onto it this weekend .

Just to let you know there are some seeds which you can plant straight out according to the packaging but we are due an unseasonably cold May so you may not get as many shoots.

Peas and beans for example we could have planted straight out but we had much better results this year from window sill propagating and planting out after - if you choose to do that for things like peas, carrots, beans etc use peat pots as they don't like having their roots disturbed.

Our tomatoes are still inside but are now massive! Wish it was warmer so they could go outside.

Our garlic and onions we planted out in Jan - check the packaging if you want to plant these now as they do take a while to be ready and do well if planted in cold weather. Potatoes have been out since they chitted and we have already finished banking them up and are letting them grow.