2306 Growing from seed

As I want to grow loads of stuff this coming year , i would like to set off my seeds a.s.a.p....so when can I start !!!???

I haven't grown veggies for years but want to have a bash at nearly everything this year.Tomatoes, Peppers, zucchini, melons,beans, carrots, cabbage, lettuces, radishes, aubergines....you name it ..if it grows I'd like to try !!!!!!
Ground is good.

I have a small plastic greenhouse which is housing the geranium cuttings at the moment but frankly it won't hold the volume I want to set going.

Is a cold frame the answer ? For example I want to grow loads of different types of tomatoes...so when do i set them going (It must be earlier than in the Uk surely ??..or not...:confused: )

Does anyone have any ideas when the last frosts are likely in Puglia ??

Any thoughts , suggestions , actual details of how you do it greatly appreciated. Also any useful brand names for insect sprays, fertilizers etc.

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/08/2006 - 22:12

This looks like a really useful website. Maybe you can get some answers here:

[url]http://www.doctorgreenfingers.co.uk/index.html[/url]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/09/2006 - 03:53

it maybe will not help your desire to grow from seed but most people here go to the local market and pick up the plants... you will find as soon as the time is right you will find whole corners of the local markets full of local growers with plants in trays.... virtually everything you mentioned is available .... huge varieties of tomatoes... all the main herbs ....lettuce and peppers... in fact it generally works out easier to grow vegs from these plants as you can buy and plant the same day...they have taken the loss on the seedlings ... and any late frosts that might have caught them out will be down to them...

obviously carrots radishes etc excepted.... two other plants that grow well here are asparagus and artichoke...

as regards sprays you visit the local agri chemical shop and ask the person... everyone will be having the same problems and you will get plenty of advice on what to use....

now they tend to plant here using the phases of the moon ... and i believe there are english written books that can help you with this.... if i find a name will let you know... frosts ... if you watch the market stalls each week you will soon know when they think it is safe to move things outdoors.... although often these plants are grown on the coastal plain when by say mid feb there is very little chance of a frost... the risk increases the further inland you are and the height......

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/09/2006 - 06:43

Thanks both of you....you may be right John...this 1st year may just try a few seeds to see how they go and then buy the plants for the bulk of it as you suggest...must confess assumed everyone would be growing from seed .
Cheers me dears....would love to get a decent book if you can think of one....ordered the Vegetable Expert by D.G. Hessayon ( we have a load of his series ) from Amazon and when it came it was in Spanish !!!!!!!!:D ...it was cheaper to keep it than send it back !!! Doesn't help me tho':rolleyes:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/09/2006 - 10:28

OK, taken the hint, will copy the rest of Percy Thrower and send to you...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/09/2006 - 23:32

I knew you would come up trumps...can't do without you !!!!!!!!!

Has Percy got a place in Italy as well then !!!!!;)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/11/2006 - 12:47

Have learnt by trail and error that apart from lettuce (for which we plant seeds and plants)it is much better to go with plants.
The book we find most useful is Calendario Lunare delle semine e dei lavori ISBN 88-440-2586-8 [url]www.giunti.it[/url]
Suppose it will be time to tidy up the orto soon...........

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/11/2006 - 14:15

...and for those of you stuck in the UK wanting to grow some Italian veggies but without access to locally grown Italian plants give [url]www.seedsofitaly.com[/url] a try.
They are very reasonable and sell pretty much everything you would ever dream of growing in your Italian vegetable garden.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/12/2006 - 03:28

I picked up a 2006 Lunar calendar from the Post office which tells you when to plant what etc. I am going to try it this year.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/12/2006 - 03:42

Off to the Post Office late...will have a look for it . Thanks:)