Has anyone started seeds off in a cold greenhouse yet?

[jowly]

Just that really

Last year I left it a bit too late, and although they caught up I'd like to be a bit more on the ball, but wondering if it's still too early

It's early to be doing anything half hardy such as petunias if they're in an unheated greenhouse but anything hardy will be fine.
I've only just started things inside this week- once my sweet peas germinate, they'll be chucked into a cold frame and start the next pack etc.

I have our in some saved marigold seeds in an unheated greenhouse but mostly I'm starting seeds in the house then putting them in the greenhouse once they are up (only hardy seeds of course. Tomatoes are still inside)

I've got some pelargonium seedlings I've just pricked out.. do you think these would be ok out there so long as no frosts?

Yes, I put some Cephalaria gigantea in my cold green house about 3-4 weeks ago and they seem to be geminating fine. I didn't receive any instructions with them but I've since learned that I should have started them indoors- luckily, they don't seem to know that!!

I have a few things in my windowsill propagator but nothing in my greenhouse at the moment.

I've got some snapdragons in the greenhouse that I started off on the windowsill.

I've got some other stuff growing on the windowsill but I'm dithering about putting them in the greenhouse because it's not the most well constructed and I'm worried I'll be caught out by late cold weather. Last year I got ahead of myself planting out and lost some stuff to frost.

You can start hardy annuals, cosmos for eg, but I’m waiting til April because I live in a colder part of the country. Last year I started seedlings too early and had epic fails.

Btw Gardeners question time on radio 4 talked about this today. You can find it by googling radio 4.

You can find when your last frost date is in your area. My area is late May. I don’t risk putting anything tender outside til 1st June.

What happens if they are started to early? I have geraniums, petunias, verbena, coleus and bizzies on my windowsill for a few weeks now and they seem alright. Although my morning glories are going mad and I do think how on earth am I going to contain them before they go out!

@Packit

You can find when your last frost date is in your area. My area is late May. I don’t risk putting anything tender outside til 1st June.

By outside do you mean properly outside, or in a greenhouse?

@MaxCrashtappen it's not starting them too early that's the problem, it's putting them outside when it's still too cold. I am keen to get stuff out in to the greenhouse to free up my windowsills, but not sure when I can.

You sound like you're having great success!

Start hardy stuff like peas inside then straight out into greenhouse as soon as they come up. Tender stuff: way too early, there’s nothing to be gained (they’ll grow much quicker sown later) and you’ll probably lose them.

My sweetpeas germinated fine a few weeks ago in the greenhouse and now I've got sunflowers on the go as well (started them off inside then transferred). I didn't know it was a bit early to be honest as I'm new to this!

I am going to sow some salad crops this weekend, there was a good article in the guardian about getting all those old left over salad seeds we all have and mixing them together to get a salad mix , some will germinate, some won’t but I hope a get a decent eat young crop.

And I am peering at my sweet peas hopefully, but nothing yet.

@muckandnettles

My sweetpeas germinated fine a few weeks ago in the greenhouse and now I've got sunflowers on the go as well (started them off inside then transferred). I didn't know it was a bit early to be honest as I'm new to this!

Sweet peas are hardy so that’s perfect. Sunflowers are not (although not super tender) so a frost will kill them but it’s been a mild winter so you never know- you might get away with it. An unheated greenhouse will freeze just like outside. At this time of year a greenhouse just protects from strong winds and heavy rain that’ll obliterate seedlings. It won’t stop them freezing.

When you say "cold green house" that is actually a green house with minimal heat. We have a tubular heater in the one with citrus. The counts as cold. Unheated green house is Frost free...if you're lucky.Most seed packets state germinate between 15/20,or even higher. Depends vastly where you live. You can start off year round salad,peas,sweet peas. Also depends on the weather. I live in the mildest SE corner of the UK,and last year driven crazy by every surface in my conservatory covered in potted on plants because of unusual late frosts.

napody is correct. Forgot to mention as well as a small heater, this green house is "double glazed" with bubble wrap,there is a further layer put over plants on cold or frosty nights. People have a big misconception about what actually a heated green house is. Normally either a bottle gas or electric fan heater and even in "normal" time cost an enormous amount of money

Just checked my sweet peas, that warm day on Thursday has done the trick, we have germination!

I haven't started any in my unheated greenhouse yet, but I have moved my sweet peas and lettuce out there after starting them on windowsills. Ive now got various other trays on every window sill available, so ideally need to move some more out soon if I can!

I’ve just put my radish, lettuce, rocket and salad leaf seedlings in the coldhouse. We’ll see if they survive

@jowly

I've got some pelargonium seedlings I've just pricked out.. do you think these would be ok out there so long as no frosts?

I wouldn't put them straight out, no. I've got some I've bought as plugs that I need to get a little larger before I start even putting them out for a bit of a good day

jowly I wouldn’t put anything tender properly outside until after frosts.

My sweet pea are enjoying life a bit too much on a warm indoor windowsill but tomorrow they're going in the cold frame. I always feel mean pinching them out when they've tried so hard to grow but needs doing as they're a bit leggy already

I've put some broad beans, peas and salad leaves seeds in the greenhouse at the weekend. The sweet peas are germinating nicely in the conservatory (it's pretty cold in there). I always sow too early but I'm holding off at the moment from sowing too much.