Hi
I have a strange and probably rather silly question but at my age I will ask anyway...what the heck!
On seed packets the sowing information is given (i.e. sow between Feb and May) Now this is fine but none of the packets that I have seen actually give the times that should be left between sowings to give continuity of produce through the year.
On rare occasions there is mention in the odd book but the information is usually resticted to one product, usually the quick growers like lettuce, and not general advice for all seed products.
Is there any definitive source where this information may be obtained or is it a 'suck it and see' excercise?
Continuity
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
I think it is down to pot luck Weed.
So many factors at stake. Weather conditions etc.
Haven't you noticed how early sowings can catch up with the later ones.
I think patience is needed not to sow too early then
little and often is the answer but even then I could be wrong.
Have a good growing year in 2008.
Beryl.
So many factors at stake. Weather conditions etc.
Haven't you noticed how early sowings can catch up with the later ones.
I think patience is needed not to sow too early then
little and often is the answer but even then I could be wrong.
Have a good growing year in 2008.
Beryl.
I don't think the seed companies could give advice on successional sowing because it varies so much according where you live.
Many years ago, I moved from growing vegetables in the Lea valley in Hertfordshire to the slopes of the Pennines in the Yorkshire Dales and that was a huge shock! I even ignore the normal "sowing time" advice on seed packets and sow when the conditions are right, not when I 'should' sow them! So sowing for succession would be meaningless.
Many years ago, I moved from growing vegetables in the Lea valley in Hertfordshire to the slopes of the Pennines in the Yorkshire Dales and that was a huge shock! I even ignore the normal "sowing time" advice on seed packets and sow when the conditions are right, not when I 'should' sow them! So sowing for succession would be meaningless.
Thanks both
Its a 'suck it and see' approach then.
Short-hand note pad at the ready, pencil(s) sharpened for the off.
It will be an interesting excercise to sow many seeds at regular intervals and see how things work.
Do I have the patience I ask myself... time will tell
Its a 'suck it and see' approach then.
Short-hand note pad at the ready, pencil(s) sharpened for the off.
It will be an interesting excercise to sow many seeds at regular intervals and see how things work.
Do I have the patience I ask myself... time will tell
I am in my own little world, ...it's OK, ...they know me there!
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Geoff
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It is very difficult to get this right. There are several things to think about.
First and last sowing dates
The packets and books can only indicate averages. Seasonal variation, location and climate change will all affect this. It is always fun to try and extend the season but if the cost of heat or other protection matters it is not always worth the bother. If space and time allow it does no harm to experiment as long as anything you get is a bonus and you are not doing it at the expense of something reliable and needed.
Time to maturity
This is probably a bit easier to predict, particularly with highly bred varieties but it will still vary. If you know roughly what it is at least it stops you sowing that late that things have no chance.
Standing time
This is probably the most important factor. First to state the obvious, if something will only stand mature for a week without spoiling the batch size has to be what you can eat in a week and the succession plan has to be weekly. This assumes you are looking at succession to eat fresh instead of preserving. But how reliably can you predict standing time? This is subject to the same factors as first and last sowing – particularly weather, we all know how a hot spell sends things to seed. When selecting varieties it is often a good idea to select ones that are described as “stands well”.
Discipline
I find this the hardest part of growing for succession. It is very difficult to make yourself raise small batches of plants then even harder to plant out say 5 Calabrese when you have 10 good plants!
We try to always eat fresh, we had 5 different vegetables for Sunday dinner all picked that day, but we are doing more by growing different things or varieties than by clever succession. We try to only freeze standbys like peas, broad and runner beans.
I don’t suppose that has helped you much but it might have prompted some thought.
First and last sowing dates
The packets and books can only indicate averages. Seasonal variation, location and climate change will all affect this. It is always fun to try and extend the season but if the cost of heat or other protection matters it is not always worth the bother. If space and time allow it does no harm to experiment as long as anything you get is a bonus and you are not doing it at the expense of something reliable and needed.
Time to maturity
This is probably a bit easier to predict, particularly with highly bred varieties but it will still vary. If you know roughly what it is at least it stops you sowing that late that things have no chance.
Standing time
This is probably the most important factor. First to state the obvious, if something will only stand mature for a week without spoiling the batch size has to be what you can eat in a week and the succession plan has to be weekly. This assumes you are looking at succession to eat fresh instead of preserving. But how reliably can you predict standing time? This is subject to the same factors as first and last sowing – particularly weather, we all know how a hot spell sends things to seed. When selecting varieties it is often a good idea to select ones that are described as “stands well”.
Discipline
I find this the hardest part of growing for succession. It is very difficult to make yourself raise small batches of plants then even harder to plant out say 5 Calabrese when you have 10 good plants!
We try to always eat fresh, we had 5 different vegetables for Sunday dinner all picked that day, but we are doing more by growing different things or varieties than by clever succession. We try to only freeze standbys like peas, broad and runner beans.
I don’t suppose that has helped you much but it might have prompted some thought.
Good advice Geoff and that last heading hit a chord with me - guilty as charged 
It is not so easy and a spell of bad weather holding things back means all your careful sucessional sowings end up catching up with one another.
For mixed areas where a crop rotation is not so clear cut, I tend to use the old Geoff Hamilton trick - keep spares in pots ready to fill gaps. It's not the end of the world if a few plants end up on the compost heap and you can then harvest, chuck some compost and fertiliser in and re-plant instantly.
Pots of salads and multiple sown beetroot or spring onions are good to have from early spring to late summer. Dwarf beans are worth keeping on hand through late spring and summer. I also find chard and spinich useful at both ends of the main growing season for a quick crop.
Sue
It is not so easy and a spell of bad weather holding things back means all your careful sucessional sowings end up catching up with one another.
For mixed areas where a crop rotation is not so clear cut, I tend to use the old Geoff Hamilton trick - keep spares in pots ready to fill gaps. It's not the end of the world if a few plants end up on the compost heap and you can then harvest, chuck some compost and fertiliser in and re-plant instantly.
Pots of salads and multiple sown beetroot or spring onions are good to have from early spring to late summer. Dwarf beans are worth keeping on hand through late spring and summer. I also find chard and spinich useful at both ends of the main growing season for a quick crop.
Sue
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alan refail
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Good advice Geoff and Sue.
Can I add my own advice for Weed - experiment but keep a record of sowing/planting (and possibly croppig) dates. Then any successes can be repeated next year, and any failures can lead to modifications.
Alan
Can I add my own advice for Weed - experiment but keep a record of sowing/planting (and possibly croppig) dates. Then any successes can be repeated next year, and any failures can lead to modifications.
Alan
Thank you all for the excellent advice..
Its not that I am trying to push the boundaries at the beginning or the end of the seasons, although with the global warming that we hear so much about this is beginning to happen.
What I want to do is to space my planting so that I don't get a series of gluts but a gradual maturing of vegetable plants.. I do accept that some varieties will catch up on previous sowings ...I'll give it a go
Discipline....now that is the key factor and I may fall short here...hence notepad and pencils
Its not that I am trying to push the boundaries at the beginning or the end of the seasons, although with the global warming that we hear so much about this is beginning to happen.
What I want to do is to space my planting so that I don't get a series of gluts but a gradual maturing of vegetable plants.. I do accept that some varieties will catch up on previous sowings ...I'll give it a go
Discipline....now that is the key factor and I may fall short here...hence notepad and pencils
I am in my own little world, ...it's OK, ...they know me there!