Seeds and all that stuff

Happy New Year To everyone. I hope you had a lovely time.

Now is the time to start thinking of buying seeds & seedlings, bulbs & sets etc.

The fresh new season stock is now in the Garden Centre and if you buy early you can get the pick of them. I only have room for an overview of each today but will return to them in coming weeks.

Seeds are really very easy. Yes they really are and I will devote a least one article to them in the coming weeks.

Bulbs, as always, are virtually foolproof. They are big enough to handle easily and have enough stored food to grow in spite of a little benign neglect.

Seedlings are seeds that have been germinated for you so cutting out the first step in growing them. It is this first step, germination, that most of us find the most tricky.

Plugs are young plants that have been grown on beyond the seedling stage so cutting out yet another stage for you. Plugs are big enough to plant directly into Tubs and baskets now. They can then be left to grow on, till later in the year when they can be put out - once the threat of frost is past.

Onion Sets are basically young onions that can be planted out and left to grow on till they are ready to lift. Probably the easiest of vegetables to grow and as they require so little room you can try them in the smallest of gardens.

Seed Potatoes are not really seed as such but selected tubers carried over from last year's potato crop. You simply plant the tubers and they will sprout shoots and grow into full blown potato plants.

Hopefully I've whetted your appetite and you can't wait for the coming season!

Article provided by Ron from West Carlston Garden Centre in Torrance.

This week's competition for £10 gift token: Name an onion called after a German City.

This year we won't take first answer in, but the first out the hat after closing on Saturday.

You can e-mail or phone answers to: info@westcarlston.com or Tel: 01360 620248