RIP our dear gardener Steve. Your videos will continue to spread your sound advice, we are blessed to have been able to appreciate them while you were still with us. Deepest sympathies to your family.🙏
The rush is because most people don’t have the same time and space as you. Lettuce, beetroot, brassica seedlings etc. need to be planted to make room to sow warm weather vegetables in cell trays. Also we might only have one spare day or afternoon in a 3 week time period to both plant out and sow more seeds. Most people have lifestyles where free time and space is severely limited.
Thank you Steve for all your gardening and growing advise … will miss you and remember you for your knowledge, gentle explanations and enthusiasm. God bless …
super video as always ,, poignant to remember ,,, the weather and temp are always, always, in charge no matter what ,always has been ,always will be , let that guide you , and not what everyone else is doing 👍👍
It’s the excitement for the growing season that pushes us to plant to early. I have learned that it’s ok to gamble a bit with cold hardy crops, but just a few as an experiment. I also have to be willing to cover, like I will need to for the next 5 nights. I no longer experiment with any heat lovers, because like you mentioned it just knocks them back hard.
I think the rush is due to lack of space, in smaller gardens especially, and especially if you are new to gardening. I'm in Penrith, so follow you and Tony Smith particularly as being in the middle. Wise words about temperature in this video.
I agree with that , and would also add a lack of time and scale. Steve is fortunate to have time to pot things on several times if needed , visit the allotment most days , and generally invest a great deal more time in the plants than most folk. Right now I have my greenhouse tomatoes indoors and they are just about too big to stay there, but it is too cold for the greenhouse. In all likelihood I'll put them in the greenhouse in the next week. If they do not thrive I am more than happy to pop down the garden centre and get replacements. If I grew at the scale Steve does that would be an unattractive option.
Hi Steve you have taught me a lot about temperature! I used to at the end of March sow all my seeds the lot ? Now thanks to you I’ve not sowed the plants that need warmth! didn’t know now I’m teaching my eldest son ! We’ve been putting a small poly tunnel in his garden! My son will get it right not like me 😂yes his mother to guide him 😂 thank you for all your information lv Irene 😘 xx
Great info, Steve. I planned to sow seeds today, but my forecast calls for 10 inches of snow in two days. Based on experience and understanding of my weather patterns that means it could be 6-12 inches. I'm not is a rush now and will sow when everything is right.
Always the best advice to both record and follow your own data. It’s a game changer. I think with home gardeners it’s the limited greenhouse space or indoors space that makes folk eager to get planting out. I know it’s a struggle for me and I’m quite strict with the amounts I sow and grow to try to manage it, I’m still looking at a full greenhouse of seedlings, more I want to sow and it’ll be at least 4 or 5 weeks before I can plant most things out.
I think this is something you have to learn as you go. For me I saw last year the damage a frost can do at the end of the season. We are in Lancashire and had a super early frost in September and it instantly killed all my squash and corgette plants that were still looking really healthy till that point. It caught a lot of us out at our allotments! So now even though I see loads of people with quite big squash plants online no way am I even sowing mine for another couple of weeks it’s just not worth it to loose them. 😊 Also anything out now even though it should stand a frost is under fleece just in case!
Allotment neighbour planted sweet peas out a couple of weeks ago. Maybe he is trying to get ahead but they're looking sad for themselves. I think the garden rush is down to the short growing window each season (for some plants).
I think it's a combination of spring over enthusiasm, unfounded optimism about the weather and a lack of protected cosy growing spaces for a lot of us. Eventually our partners demand the windowsills back. I dream of a proper polytunnel one day.
I started far too early last year so this year I didn't sow a seed or even cut the grass until easter. Nature finds a way and plants always grow way better and faster when it's warmer. For more tropical plants like chilli and pepper I've opted for plugs as I haven't any heated growing space
In addition to forecasts being for nearby towns with higher temperatures than rural edge of village plots, they are for 1.2 5 metres above ground level (height of Stevenson screen) when it's normally colder at ground level, and even colder still over ground covered with plastic membranes, sometimes frosting on mypex and polythene coverings when everywhere else is untouched.
Thank you so much. I was having guilt dreams and then actually couldn’t do anything for a short while so I panicked. You make me reassess and calm down and let reason prevail…. 👍👍👍🇨🇦👩🌾
Totally of subject, but I've got a massive amount of respect for you and your knowledge Steve. I've only started getting into growing in the past year or so and only took on an allotment this year - its reassuring to see the dandelions in your allotment 😎
Very good advice Steve. I look how long it takes for the crop to mature and use the best time of the year. For example Sweet corn modern varieties are bred to mature in 100days . So sowing 10 days before end of May indoors and planting out weather permitting the first two weeks of June produces a crop at the end of August. ( London Kent border)
You're right Steve, we've still got 7° at night forecast here in Germany next week, I would have put my hot weather veg plants outside two or three weeks ago, but you were right to teach us to be cautious. Instead I'll pot them on once again to give them another few days under cover before I decide it's time 👍🏼
Great advice Steve, I live in The north Pennines 414 m above sea level and expecting snow/sleet on tuesday, have always been very cautious about planting out, I have a house full of plants and a polytunnel with a large heated propagator bursting at the seams but it will wait till I'm sure the weather is right
Had a sharp frost this morning here in Somerset was-0.4 in the greenhouse this morning iv got about 30 sweet pepper plants in the ground in there had them fleeced over they are looking OK still time will tell the rush was serious lack of windowsill space lol
Thanks pal good information 👍I grow everything in containers so can put things back in the greenhouse or house if it gets too cold , But I never go with "the gardening rush" because its more work and money than needed protecting plants from cold weather..
the rush is simply space the average gardener lacks warm space i have a 6x6 green house so things have to go out to make way for the plants that need to grow in the greenhouse for the season....a polytunnel is a god send that the garden gardener has no room for
I always feel like I'm behind, seeing all other people being organised and planned with huge seedlings and plants. It's like keeping up with the Johnses... 😅 With I know is nonsense, weather is a fickle B.. So we'll practice patience, but still stay so excited to see plant sprouts 😊
I've often wondered about the rush to get stuff in the ground at least till after the blackthorn winter, a cold snap that always seems to arrive with the blossoming of the blackthorn
Definitely lack of space with me, but I'm holding off planting out as long as possible. I'm in southern Scotland, just over the border from yourself in Cumbria. More cold temps to come for a while, so not putting anything out just yet.
4:30 the big rush is because people are excited to get the first harvest! they are just exiting a 6 month long period of not being able to grow any of the "best" fruits/vegetables, of course they miss being able to walk out into the garden and grab something to eat. for a small minority of people, there is also the challenge of trying to get the earliest harvest possible, more as a way to brag about their gardening skills than anything else.
I think we all sow seeds some better then other, or people have light and heat. Cos we watch the videos u see people planting and are like why aren't I, so u rush to plant them out. It like a competition between gardens lol
I like to push the boundaries a little . I always make sure I have extra plants to fall back on, just in case 😊. You need to get rid of those dandelions before they produce seed or you will be overrun 😢
I am heading up to the Northern Kinn music festival this coming Thursday and will be away for 4 days. Here in Norfolk on the allotment is perfect on the north side but waterlogged and soggy at the south. My early spuds are up in the dry and I will bank them up before I go. I have seeds sown and germinating in the ground at the top end and I will cover all them with fleece. My main crop spuds are still waiting to be put in because of the wet ground. My polytunnel is bursting with plants ready to go out. My decision is whether to plant out brassicas before I go or wait until I get back. A good video.
I had to put my peppers, aubergines and cucumbers in the tunnel very early as my grow lights stopped working I have my tomatoes only now inside the house as we have enough light on windowsills atm, but I didn't want to buy new ones when my grow lights went out cos I only had a few weeks left till planting out
Hi Steve, Good intro to weather models and their predictions. This season is being influenced by several Sudden Stratopheric Warming events that took place earlier in the year. They were one of the causes of the rather "cool" temps that hit your polytunnel greens. Will not be surprised by a late frost here in Lincs (normal last date around first week of May), so holding back still on the tender ones. One reason why gardeners may be tempting fate by sowing early is if they have a failure then there is still time to resow for a crop. A balancing game I suppose. Regards, Peter
It's a bit of a balancing act for me. I don't have great space indoors. Either my cats may get them or the light isn't great. For example my tomatoes were really skinny stemmed indoors. They're now on the greenhouse and have really gained strength. On the other hand they are experiencing fluctuating temperature in the greenhouse. My greenhouse is pretty good, it's a rhino and so keeps heat fairly stable. I use bubble wrap and heat from an oil heater If necessary. I think the important thing is, I've lived it and learnt what I personally can get away with over a few years of growing. I've started early, started late. Put out early, put out late. I'm always building a picture of what works for me personally. New gardeners have a challenge because there is so much conflicting information. Your approach is perfect for an inexperienced Gardner because it's a belt and braces approach offering the best chance!
I've planted tomatoes far too early before and ended up trying to plant 2' tall ones. It worked, I wound the stem round the pot, one snapped, but it still grew. So I leave it a little longer to sow seeds now.
I only sowed mine last week, along with the chili peppers. I should have started the peppers a week or two earlier, but I'll just take a bit more care of them in September and October. It usually all works out OK in the end.
I seem to get ahead of the proper season every spring. I will have to cover all the things I've planted thus far later today. It is supposed to get down to 29F here tonight. I'm sure I will lose quite a few plants. Fortunately I have many more already started in the greenhouse and inside the house.
Great video I've made that mistake in the past trying to push the limits but I have no where at home (yet) where I can hold back the plants the only window that I am allowed to use are north eastly facing not good for growing or keeping plant back
The reason is the earlier you get the plants in, the more you can harvest. You're sitting there with a load of planted out plants behind you! Never take much notice of a seed packet, It's a very rough guide. The notion that it all goes in and then we sit and do nothing is wrong, there is always something to do in the garden. For instance you could have a tidy up there and get rid of some of that rubbish and those dandelions tidied up in the background. There is an amateurish way to get going to early and messing it up, but also a more experienced way of starting early too. The latter has the tools to allow this. Gardening is gambling, it's like Roulette. Some like to gamble, some don't. The thing is you get to manipulate the odds. Whilst some of forecasting is computer modelled, some is also not. They're watching what is happening (which way the wind is blowing, where it's coming from etc) and the closer you get to an event the more accurate it gets. The forecast a week away is less accurate then todays forecast was las night for instance. If I want to gamble hard (and put all my chips on one number) then i'll put all my plants out and hope. If I want to go 50/50 then i'll put some out and keep some in. If I want to push the odds in my favour then i'll put them out and fleece them at night. We can't manipulate the weather, but we can protect our plants from it. It's all about how serious you want to get, how much time and money you want to invest. Answer me this, i'm at 1000ft up on the Northern most tip of the Southern Pennine moors, when should I have planted my first (early) crop of peas out?
The big rush is by people who sowed there seeds too early and now have every windowsill full of tender plants 😂 I watch it every year and smile .After 40 years I've learnt patience and have the confidence that I will have all my veg when it's time .
Hi Steve i suffer from a condition called white finger my hands where in severe pain today in work the top third of all my fingers where pure white due to the cold weather made worse by the wind and heavy rain i work in a cemetery outside Belfast so how can gardeners in my area plant tender plants out but they are i wouldn't let a dog out never mind plant tender plants what's the rush its only April
RIP our dear gardener Steve. Your videos will continue to spread your sound advice, we are blessed to have been able to appreciate them while you were still with us. Deepest sympathies to your family.🙏
The rush is because most people don’t have the same time and space as you. Lettuce, beetroot, brassica seedlings etc. need to be planted to make room to sow warm weather vegetables in cell trays. Also we might only have one spare day or afternoon in a 3 week time period to both plant out and sow more seeds.
Most people have lifestyles where free time and space is severely limited.
Oh I more or less repeated your comment before I got down to read yours ! 👍
Thank you Steve for all your gardening and growing advise … will miss you and remember you for your knowledge, gentle explanations and enthusiasm. God bless …
🌻 💚
super video as always ,, poignant to remember ,,, the weather and temp are always, always, in charge no matter what ,always has been ,always will be , let that guide you , and not what everyone else is doing 👍👍
It’s the excitement for the growing season that pushes us to plant to early. I have learned that it’s ok to gamble a bit with cold hardy crops, but just a few as an experiment. I also have to be willing to cover, like I will need to for the next 5 nights. I no longer experiment with any heat lovers, because like you mentioned it just knocks them back hard.
I think the rush is due to lack of space, in smaller gardens especially, and especially if you are new to gardening. I'm in Penrith, so follow you and Tony Smith particularly as being in the middle. Wise words about temperature in this video.
I agree with that , and would also add a lack of time and scale. Steve is fortunate to have time to pot things on several times if needed , visit the allotment most days , and generally invest a great deal more time in the plants than most folk.
Right now I have my greenhouse tomatoes indoors and they are just about too big to stay there, but it is too cold for the greenhouse. In all likelihood I'll put them in the greenhouse in the next week. If they do not thrive I am more than happy to pop down the garden centre and get replacements. If I grew at the scale Steve does that would be an unattractive option.
We'll all miss you Steve. RIP.
Hi Steve you have taught me a lot about temperature! I used to at the end of March sow all my seeds the lot ? Now thanks to you I’ve not sowed the plants that need warmth! didn’t know now I’m teaching my eldest son ! We’ve been putting a small poly tunnel in his garden! My son will get it right not like me 😂yes his mother to guide him 😂 thank you for all your information lv Irene 😘 xx
Thank you so much! New gardener here and I was stressing about planting my seedlings out despite the weather. I will hold on for a couple of weeks! 😊
Very true Steve, Over time you learn to listen from the old ones 😁👍
Great info, Steve. I planned to sow seeds today, but my forecast calls for 10 inches of snow in two days. Based on experience and understanding of my weather patterns that means it could be 6-12 inches. I'm not is a rush now and will sow when everything is right.
Always the best advice to both record and follow your own data. It’s a game changer.
I think with home gardeners it’s the limited greenhouse space or indoors space that makes folk eager to get planting out.
I know it’s a struggle for me and I’m quite strict with the amounts I sow and grow to try to manage it, I’m still looking at a full greenhouse of seedlings, more I want to sow and it’ll be at least 4 or 5 weeks before I can plant most things out.
Totally agree!
I think this is something you have to learn as you go. For me I saw last year the damage a frost can do at the end of the season. We are in Lancashire and had a super early frost in September and it instantly killed all my squash and corgette plants that were still looking really healthy till that point. It caught a lot of us out at our allotments! So now even though I see loads of people with quite big squash plants online no way am I even sowing mine for another couple of weeks it’s just not worth it to loose them. 😊 Also anything out now even though it should stand a frost is under fleece just in case!
Its still cold Ive been holding off putting out but the brassicas will need to go soon. Great video
Allotment neighbour planted sweet peas out a couple of weeks ago. Maybe he is trying to get ahead but they're looking sad for themselves. I think the garden rush is down to the short growing window each season (for some plants).
Slow and steady wins the race!
Steve such WISE words !!! Have learnt this the hard way 😢👏👏👏👏👏 Take care x
...Also busy lifestyle, thanks for all the info Steve, much appreciated.
you were very best teacher steve RIP MATE X
I think it's a combination of spring over enthusiasm, unfounded optimism about the weather and a lack of protected cosy growing spaces for a lot of us. Eventually our partners demand the windowsills back. I dream of a proper polytunnel one day.
i love your design for the beds in the poly. Looks nice. that is one MASSIVE poly.
Great basic down to earth advice as always.
I started far too early last year so this year I didn't sow a seed or even cut the grass until easter. Nature finds a way and plants always grow way better and faster when it's warmer. For more tropical plants like chilli and pepper I've opted for plugs as I haven't any heated growing space
In addition to forecasts being for nearby towns with higher temperatures than rural edge of village plots, they are for 1.2 5 metres above ground level (height of Stevenson screen) when it's normally colder at ground level, and even colder still over ground covered with plastic membranes, sometimes frosting on mypex and polythene coverings when everywhere else is untouched.
Thank you so much. I was having guilt dreams and then actually couldn’t do anything for a short while so I panicked. You make me reassess and calm down and let reason prevail…. 👍👍👍🇨🇦👩🌾
Totally of subject, but I've got a massive amount of respect for you and your knowledge Steve. I've only started getting into growing in the past year or so and only took on an allotment this year - its reassuring to see the dandelions in your allotment 😎
Very good advice Steve. I look how long it takes for the crop to mature and use the best time of the year. For example Sweet corn modern varieties are bred to mature in 100days . So sowing 10 days before end of May indoors and planting out weather permitting the first two weeks of June produces a crop at the end of August. ( London Kent border)
You're right Steve, we've still got 7° at night forecast here in Germany next week, I would have put my hot weather veg plants outside two or three weeks ago, but you were right to teach us to be cautious. Instead I'll pot them on once again to give them another few days under cover before I decide it's time 👍🏼
Great advice Steve, I live in The north Pennines 414 m above sea level and expecting snow/sleet on tuesday, have always been very cautious about planting out, I have a house full of plants and a polytunnel with a large heated propagator bursting at the seams but it will wait till I'm sure the weather is right
Had a sharp frost this morning here in Somerset was-0.4 in the greenhouse this morning iv got about 30 sweet pepper plants in the ground in there had them fleeced over they are looking OK still time will tell the rush was serious lack of windowsill space lol
Thanks pal good information 👍I grow everything in containers so can put things back in the greenhouse or house if it gets too cold , But I never go with "the gardening rush" because its more work and money than needed protecting plants from cold weather..
the rush is simply space the average gardener lacks warm space i have a 6x6 green house so things have to go out to make way for the plants that need to grow in the greenhouse for the season....a polytunnel is a god send that the garden gardener has no room for
Some interesting info on weather/ temperatures in this vlog much appreciated thanks Steve 👍
I always feel like I'm behind, seeing all other people being organised and planned with huge seedlings and plants. It's like keeping up with the Johnses... 😅 With I know is nonsense, weather is a fickle B.. So we'll practice patience, but still stay so excited to see plant sprouts 😊
Nice video. You've stopped saying stay safe. Good man! 👍😉
I've often wondered about the rush to get stuff in the ground at least till after the blackthorn winter, a cold snap that always seems to arrive with the blossoming of the blackthorn
Definitely lack of space with me, but I'm holding off planting out as long as possible. I'm in southern Scotland, just over the border from yourself in Cumbria. More cold temps to come for a while, so not putting anything out just yet.
4:30 the big rush is because people are excited to get the first harvest! they are just exiting a 6 month long period of not being able to grow any of the "best" fruits/vegetables, of course they miss being able to walk out into the garden and grab something to eat. for a small minority of people, there is also the challenge of trying to get the earliest harvest possible, more as a way to brag about their gardening skills than anything else.
I think we all sow seeds some better then other, or people have light and heat. Cos we watch the videos u see people planting and are like why aren't I, so u rush to plant them out. It like a competition between gardens lol
Average last frost was the 19th of April-freeze watch tonight and tomorrow. Forecasts are important, but so is our common sense 👩🏼🌾👍🏼
Hi Steve, great video with plenty of useful information about when it's the best time to plants put your plants. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
👍
❤
Hi Steve!🎉🇨🇦
I like to push the boundaries a little . I always make sure I have extra plants to fall back on, just in case 😊. You need to get rid of those dandelions before they produce seed or you will be overrun 😢
That was fantastic thanks.
I am heading up to the Northern Kinn music festival this coming Thursday and will be away for 4 days. Here in Norfolk on the allotment is perfect on the north side but waterlogged and soggy at the south. My early spuds are up in the dry and I will bank them up before I go. I have seeds sown and germinating in the ground at the top end and I will cover all them with fleece. My main crop spuds are still waiting to be put in because of the wet ground. My polytunnel is bursting with plants ready to go out. My decision is whether to plant out brassicas before I go or wait until I get back. A good video.
I had to put my peppers, aubergines and cucumbers in the tunnel very early as my grow lights stopped working I have my tomatoes only now inside the house as we have enough light on windowsills atm, but I didn't want to buy new ones when my grow lights went out cos I only had a few weeks left till planting out
Informative video Steve , the rush I think is due to space
Hi Steve, Good intro to weather models and their predictions. This season is being influenced by several Sudden Stratopheric Warming events that took place earlier in the year. They were one of the causes of the rather "cool" temps that hit your polytunnel greens. Will not be surprised by a late frost here in Lincs (normal last date around first week of May), so holding back still on the tender ones. One reason why gardeners may be tempting fate by sowing early is if they have a failure then there is still time to resow for a crop. A balancing game I suppose. Regards, Peter
It's a bit of a balancing act for me. I don't have great space indoors. Either my cats may get them or the light isn't great. For example my tomatoes were really skinny stemmed indoors. They're now on the greenhouse and have really gained strength. On the other hand they are experiencing fluctuating temperature in the greenhouse. My greenhouse is pretty good, it's a rhino and so keeps heat fairly stable. I use bubble wrap and heat from an oil heater If necessary. I think the important thing is, I've lived it and learnt what I personally can get away with over a few years of growing. I've started early, started late. Put out early, put out late. I'm always building a picture of what works for me personally. New gardeners have a challenge because there is so much conflicting information. Your approach is perfect for an inexperienced Gardner because it's a belt and braces approach offering the best chance!
I've planted tomatoes far too early before and ended up trying to plant 2' tall ones. It worked, I wound the stem round the pot, one snapped, but it still grew. So I leave it a little longer to sow seeds now.
I only sowed mine last week, along with the chili peppers. I should have started the peppers a week or two earlier, but I'll just take a bit more care of them in September and October. It usually all works out OK in the end.
I seem to get ahead of the proper season every spring. I will have to cover all the things I've planted thus far later today. It is supposed to get down to 29F here tonight. I'm sure I will lose quite a few plants. Fortunately I have many more already started in the greenhouse and inside the house.
Great video I've made that mistake in the past trying to push the limits but I have no where at home (yet) where I can hold back the plants the only window that I am allowed to use are north eastly facing not good for growing or keeping plant back
Always rushing as I am bonkers and took on two acres, if I don't get things planted I'll never get all the beds filled 😂
The reason is the earlier you get the plants in, the more you can harvest. You're sitting there with a load of planted out plants behind you!
Never take much notice of a seed packet, It's a very rough guide.
The notion that it all goes in and then we sit and do nothing is wrong, there is always something to do in the garden. For instance you could have a tidy up there and get rid of some of that rubbish and those dandelions tidied up in the background. There is an amateurish way to get going to early and messing it up, but also a more experienced way of starting early too. The latter has the tools to allow this. Gardening is gambling, it's like Roulette. Some like to gamble, some don't.
The thing is you get to manipulate the odds. Whilst some of forecasting is computer modelled, some is also not. They're watching what is happening (which way the wind is blowing, where it's coming from etc) and the closer you get to an event the more accurate it gets. The forecast a week away is less accurate then todays forecast was las night for instance.
If I want to gamble hard (and put all my chips on one number) then i'll put all my plants out and hope. If I want to go 50/50 then i'll put some out and keep some in. If I want to push the odds in my favour then i'll put them out and fleece them at night.
We can't manipulate the weather, but we can protect our plants from it.
It's all about how serious you want to get, how much time and money you want to invest.
Answer me this, i'm at 1000ft up on the Northern most tip of the Southern Pennine moors, when should I have planted my first (early) crop of peas out?
The big rush is by people who sowed there seeds too early and now have every windowsill full of tender plants 😂 I watch it every year and smile .After 40 years I've learnt patience and have the confidence that I will have all my veg when it's time .
🌈💚🍀
If we're more relaxed about timings now, we don't need to grow crimson crush or any earlies, ha :)
You remind me of teachers.
Lack of space
Hi Steve i suffer from a condition called white finger my hands where in severe pain today in work the top third of all my fingers where pure white due to the cold weather made worse by the wind and heavy rain i work in a cemetery outside Belfast so how can gardeners in my area plant tender plants out but they are i wouldn't let a dog out never mind plant tender plants what's the rush its only April