Let me bore you with more crop developments. Tomatoes and tagetes have been pricked out of their seed trays and potted on. Both were quite leggy, which troubles some folk.


potted on

It occurs as we don’t have a greenhouse. Though the room with the propagators is the brightest in the cottage (which is on the dark side), there isn’t sufficient light. So those early leaves stretch, leaving long, stringy stems. With these two plants, as well as many others, it ‘s not a problem. Just gently bury up them to their seed leaves (ie, the first ones that develop and which lack any serration) when transplanting. Tomatoes are particularly forgiving as their young fuzzy trunks will send out roots at any spot below soil level..

In the background, broad beans have come up in the root trainers. They go into a cold frame to harden off and later straight into the ground – no potting on with them. Tomatoes will be transfered into larger pots at least once more before their final planting out under cover. This week's sowings are Brussels sprouts and courgettes (zuccini).