sowing seed, transplanting

rubysong, I use marigolds, they attract beneficial insects that eat garden pests. I like the simple marigolds like tagetes

I am going to move a new rhubarb plant from a very large round container to a shadier patch of bare soil. I want to put dwarf beans in the container

Yay won`t be long before it is full on. I feel like sowing some boltardy in small tray pots outside today. Also a few lettuce in the propagator, which is only at 18 right now, not needing heat. I use a moisture mat underneath, and vermiculite on top of the pot, keeps it all nice and moist

Time to go through my many seed packets. At one time I had seed packs neatly filed in sowing order

I am very much tring to keep a hold on amounts. Its not an allotment any more

Just started off some sweet (bell) peppers in a polythene bag in the airing cupboard as I don't have a heated propagator now. Then it will be pattypan squash and mini corncobs. I want to try some different veg this year although will sow french beans and mange tout outside later in the year.

Yesterday I planted canary creeper and nasturtiums in window boxes. Will add tagetes in a couple of weeks. A tray of red geraniums from b&q will complete the boxes.
Last year was all about shades of purple and pink so a change of colour scheme is called for.
Lots of buds on the lilac, the plum tree and the hydrangeas.

Crafty one please tell us what your aphid repelling plants are. I have put in some seeds and have little Tigerella tomato plants an inch high. I also have some perennial sweet pea seeds in, gathered from a gateway in the village. I soaked then overnight and some had tiny sprouts on. The flower seeds from free packets with magazines are not doing anything yet. They are on a window sill in the utility room, maybe I'll bring them where it is warmer. I like the idea of a diary of seed sowing. I have a garden notebook but rarely write in it.

sown today inside with a lid. 3 x ferline (dt brown). I only want 2 plants. Very good blight resistance, outdoors

I have had to order sweet pea plugs, they are best started in autumn anyway. My germination rate is 1%, rubbish old seeds, will be abandoned this week

T and M sent me 24 lavender plugs. Except they were not lavender, I think they are pansies. I am not really bothered, they were cheap and I cba waiting 2-3 years anyway. They might be violas, I hope so. In and out of my small wooden greenhouse, each day, they look healthy

I plan to get my propagator out in a couple of weeks, I want to get some tomato ferline going

I don`t have good growing -on space here so will leave many seeds to as late as possible

Last year I found that leaving sowing for the majority until the weather warmed up slightly benefitted the seedlings.
The seeds sown a little later produced just as good plants as the earlier ones that were subject to a cooler environment in the greenhouse.
However, some seeds, particularly the pea family do need the cold to start germination.
I love the foibles of gardening, so much is experimenting and wait and see.

sweet peas, sowed 10 seeds 8 days ago, only 2 up but they are slow germinators. Out all day, in all night