There is still the occasional heavy night frost, snowdrops are peeping above the ground here and there, and the warm summer still seems very far away. For most flowers and vegetables, therefore, it is still far too early to be sown. Fortunately, there are some early birds; species that you should sow now, in order to successfully pick or harvest later. Are you feeling the seeding jitters yet?
Why start seeding now?
There are several reasons why you can start sowing now. Some seeds need a lot of time to germinate and grow. By sowing early enough, you ensure that the young plants have time enough to develop properly. That way they will be big and strong by the time they can be planted in the open ground. Strong plants have longer stems and also produce flowers a little faster. If you remove the spent flowers during the summer months, you can extend the picking season considerably.
A second reason is that some flowers are so-called cold germinators. What are they, I hear you say? Cold germinators need a cold shock (stratification) before they can germinate. If these cold germinators have not had the right (cold) temperature during sowing, they simply do not germinate. So if you sow them too late or the seeds are too warm, then the seeds won't do anything at all. If you sow them early enough, the cold temperatures will automatically create a cold shock. Finally, you can also divide the workload a bit. In spring, the greenhouse is a busy place. The seed trays are literally filled to the brim. By sowing some flowers and vegetables now, the work is a little more divided and you have a little more breathing room during the busy spring.
Sowing in winter: our tips
A new year, a clean slate. Just rinse out the seed trays before you start sowing and get the dust off the reusable labels, and you'll be perfectly prepared for a new gardening season.
Find the sweet spot of your home if you don't have a greenhouse: where is the temperature constant and the light bright? Do you have a room somewhere with a large window and a stable temperature? Then this may well be your perfect room for seeding.
Allow the seeds to "aerate" from time to time: remove the cover from the seed tray from time to time. This way, you will ensure sufficient oxygen for your seedlings and not give moisture and mold a chance, after seeding.
Do you still have excess water on the inside of your propagator or greenhouse? Then quickly wipe dry.
Check your seedlings regularly after sowing, so you can intervene quickly if there should be any problems.
Are your seedlings in a cold container or greenhouse? Then watch out for severe frosts. Protect your small plants with a fleece as soon as temperatures dip below zero and don't water too much the days before. This way you will make sure the roots don't freeze.
Look on the back of the seed packet. Is the variety you want to sow a light or dark germinator? Important to know before sowing. That way you don't unnecessarily cover the seeds with soil.
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In this video, Angelo tells you step-by-step how to sow Lathyrus or cukes. You can sow in the fall, or start in January and February.
After sowing: in or out of the greenhouse?
If you have a greenhouse or cold tub, then when it comes to flower seeds you are secretly at an advantage. The young seedlings can grow quietly in a bright spot and are protected from the weather. Sowing indoors can work, but you need to take a few things into account. There must be enough light and you need a constant temperature. Indeed, flower seedlings should not be too warm after sowing. After all, they then shoot up into the air too quickly and become long slouches. This causes them to fall over and stop growing. A waste of all the hard work, don't you think?
What flowers can you sow in the greenhouse right now?
Cobaea or bellweed
Lathyrus or sweet pea
Delphinium consolida or annual larkspur
Ammi majus or large field screen
Digitalis or foxglove
Poppy or poppy
Centaurea or cornflower
Our favorite: sowing lathyrus or sweet pea
If you want to sow one pick flower in the winter months, be sure to choose the lathyrus or currant pea. This strong little plant can absolutely take a beating. They can handle freezing temperatures as low as -5°C and bloom the tiles off the roof from late May and early June. Bees and bumblebees love it and the smell is heavenly. Because lathyrus makes deep roots, it is best to sow them in P9 pots. That way they have enough space to grow. In spring plant them out against a climbing frame and during flowering you can pick flowers every day (yes, really every day!). They fit perfectly in small vases.
Sowing now: the vegetable garden
And what about the vegetable garden? Vegetable lovers can also start sowing quietly. Because some vegetable seeds take a very long time to grow, so it's best to sow them early enough.
Peppers and sweet peppers can be sown starting in late January. They like to be warm, so a warm living room or propagator can be helpful. Since these seedlings need a lot of light, a grow light is a useful tool. After all, the days in January and February can still be very dark if you want to sow now.
Along with peppers and peppers, eggplants are also real cold-weather plants. They germinate very slowly, and need a lot of heat. By the way, eggplants like to have soil heat during seeding, so make good use of your floor heating or a heat mat. A grow light can also come in handy here.
Peas are more quickly satisfied: a germination temperature between 12 and 15°C is perfect. These dark sprouts germinate very quickly. A few days after sowing, you can already see the first shoots above the ground.
Broad beans can be pre-sown indoors from mid-January to mid-February in an unheated, light room. From February and March they can also be sown directly in the garden.
Radishes are delicious when you have just harvested them. So be sure to sow in time to enjoy these. You can start from mid-February. They grow best in moderate temperatures, so don't wait too long.
In February you can get started with spinach. In a cold container, you can grow the delicious leaves in no time. Just make sure you choose an early variety.
