The beginning of Spring 🌱 Time to start sowing...slowly
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Tomorrow is the beginning of spring - 'Imbolc' in the Gaelic calendar. Although it falls shortly before the official spring equinox, the coming of Imbolc signals the returning of light and the first signs of spring after the long dark winter. Traditionally it's a time of renewal and new beginnings as the natural world begins to stir to life. You might have started to spot the first snowdrops, crocuses and the swellings of buds on some trees. Wondering what you can sow now?The first stirrings of spring can tempt us into going full steam ahead with our sowings but it's good to take a slower approach. Weather can shift unexpectedly and prolonged freezing temperatures might still surprise us, so unless you've got heated propagation benches you won't get much of a head start compared with waiting a few more weeks. We'll be making a tentative first start by sowing our sweet peas, Iceland poppies, peas (for indoor growing) and mizuna but we'll wait a few more weeks before we really begin in earnest. ​Broad beans are hardy enough to be sown outdoors; they are best sown early so the plants are established before blackfly appears. ​Onions also like a little heat to germinate and can then be grown on under cover until ready for planting. We'll be waiting a few more weeks to sow our tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. They will need some extra heat and light to do well regardless. They are very cold sensitive and will grow ‘leggy’ if not provided with heat and light at this time of year. Our next newsletter will be a deep dive into our top tips for these sowings so keep your eyes peeled for that... Click on the link below to have a browse at our ever expanding seed catalogue, full of a diverse mix of varieties chosen for their flavour, beauty, yield, vigour, reliability and adaptability.
P.S. If you're planning to grow sweet peas, now is a great time to sow them. Soak them in water overnight then add four seeds to each corner of a 9cm pot. Keep seedlings under cover and protect from mice! Get yours here!​All the best and happy growing, The team at Vital Seeds |
Vital Seeds Ltd
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