Growing plans - am I too late?

[seeyouinanotherlifewhenwearebothcats]

Hello all! Back at trying to grow things with the children in the garden this year. The wishlist was courgettes, chilis, lettuce and potentially rhubarb. Have I left it too late to grow any of these things?! We did grow courgettes quite well in 2023 so I have an idea how to start them.

These will be grown on trough planters, barrel pots. Can chilis be grown in smaller pots? And maybe rhubarb doesn’t lend itself to pots?

Many thanks in advance for any tips, always appreciate the knowledge of this community 🌿

Ideally the rhubarb would be in the ground, as it likes rich damp soil. But you could grow it in a pot. It's not too late, but isn't ideal.

Buy a chilli plant, and grow the rest from seed. All is fine!

You’ve definitely not left it too late.
When you should start things off depends a bit on whereabouts you are. I’m in the NE and don’t usually start anything off until middle / end of March. You want to be sure there’s not going to be any more frosts before things go outside.

No don't grow the rhubarb from seed! That would take forever. Buy a sprouting plant, or scrounge some off someone with a very established plant.

Ffs. That should say NB not NO.
(And why can other people edit but not me?)

Ah thank you both very much! Delighted I am still in time, good point about the risk of frost of course!
If I was to put the rhubarb in the ground does it take up a lot of space?

yes, rhubarb needs a lot of space at least 2x2 feet, ideally 3x3 tbh
if you can put in a good amount of manure when you plant it. it's a hungry plant.

I've only started seeds (tomatos and cucumbers) indoors this week. cucumbers need high temps to germinate. tomatos are a big more forgiving.

great thing about seeds is that you can grow varieties that you can't buy in the shops and that are very tasty.

Get your chilis going asap, they need a long season, or buy little plants. Lettuce whenever you feel like starting it indoors in trays; tomatoes now too; i dont start my courgettes until April.

Chilis need maximum sunshine and heat; they are quite hungry plants too so keep feeding them once you start. Fine in pots.

Brilliant, thank you all! Going to kick off our growing this week