The Poultry Keeper

Smudge4 · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject: Is this cheating?

Hello all, I'm a newbie here - I've not grown any veg before but have just moved to France and am about to make some raised beds and start planting. I have seen the local garden centre selling cabbages and lettuces in plant form ie, little young plants not seeds - this seems to easy to me - do I just plant them in and water them and wait? Presumably they are more expensive than seeds but why doesn't everybody just do that? Is there something I have missed?

If I get these little plants, is it too early to plant them out with a cover or would raised beds be enough as I read that they are warmer.

Your advice would be appreciated!

Smudge4

NannyP · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject:

Bonsoir mon ami, bien venue.

I don't think it's cheating at all. It is what I will be doing too.
That way, you only plant what you want, you are less likely to have a whole row of failed seeds, and you can wait until the weather has improved before planting.

I grew my first vegetable last year, and feel more confident this year....so, give yourself a break and enjoy choosing.

We have snow forecast for next weekend, so I'd wait for another week or 2 before you buy. The plants will be in the shops for quite a few weeks I promise. You'll also be able to pick up plants in the market.
Very Happy

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7161 Location: isle of lewis

no not cheating ,
i used to cheat i could never get straight rows ,and used to get the micky taken out of me, i used to buy seeds in a strip so i could just unroll it Wink

,when nobody was looking Laughing

vivaciousviv · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 86 Location: Lot Valley

Hello and welcome Smudge. I don't know what area you are in but I would think that you would need cloches for another couple of weeks. I am going to buy cabbage plants this year as I have not had much success with seeds. Most other things I plant from seed but there is no shame in "cheating" as you put it. Loads of french people do it and they wouldn't be for sale if there wasn't a market for it. Good luck Viv

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1237 Location: Correze

I agree with Viv, Suz and NannyP - wait a week or two before buying - and no, it's not "cheating"!

Must admit, though, that I prefer planting my own seeds in modules and watching them come up!! Get a real buzz from it.

Whereabouts in this lovely, big country are you?

Smudge4 · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

We're in South Haute Vienne, Vanessa - so not a million miles from you! (Hope we're not headed for snow!)

Thanks all for that info - I'll wait a couple of weeks then before buying and planting. This seems like a great forum - really enjoying reading the posts and answers - learning lots!

Smudge4

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 770 Location: St. Asaph

Definitely not cheating.

I've just bought ' pepper ' seedlings. they are easy to grow from seed but you need to start early and I didn't!!!

I also get spring onions as seedlings because although the packs say quick growing in my experience they take ages to show and then look like blades of grass so it's hard to decide whether to leave or pull as weeds!!!

I don't buy such things as lettuce because they are sooooooo easy to grow from seed but the garden centres ask a fortune for half dozen seedlings.

good luck with your veggies.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1237 Location: Correze

Smudge, you have a PM Wink