TopVeg – growing veg,fruit&herbs

May 3, 2010

Optimum germination temperature for vegetable seeds.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — TopVeg @ 3:53 pm

There is an optimum temperature, the most ideal temperature,  for vegetable seed to germinate, and it varies from one type of veg to another.

The optimum temperature is printed on the back of some seed packets.

Seeds will germinate over a range of temperatures, but at the optimum temperature :

  1. more seeds germinate – the percentage of seeds to germinate is highest
  2. germination is quicker – the number of days to emergence is less

The benefits of increasing germination rate by hitting the optimum temperature are:

  • seed cost per veg plant produced is less
  • return on effort of seeding is higher

The benefits of decreasing days to emergence by hitting the optimum temperature are:

  • less time for seed to rot off
  • less time for seed to be eaten by predators
  • shorter growing period & earlier harvest

Seeds will germinate at temperatures lower & higher than the optimum temperature, but fewer seeds will germinate & they will take longer to come through.

For example, the optimum germination temperature for asparagus is 77F, when 95% of seeds are likely to germinate, and the asparagus seedlings take 10 days to emerge.  Either side of the optimum temperature, the number of seeds germinating reduces as shown in the table below; and the number of days for the seedlings to emerge increases.

Asparagus seed
Temperature F %germination Days to emerge
32 0
41 0
50 61 53
59 80 24
68 88 15
77 95 10
86 79 12
95 37 19
104 0

Starting seeds off indoors, or outdoors in pots or under glass is worth considering because:

  • germination temperatures for vegetable seeds often differ from the ideal temperatures for plant growth.
  • soil temperature takes a long time to heat up & waiting for the optimum soil temperature will prolong harvest dates, if indeed, there will be enough days left for a full growing season.

Vegetable gardeners will find that some types of veg, and also different varieties of particular veg, do better in their particular locality.  Some varieties will germinate at lower temperatures than other varieties of the same type of vegetable.

Click this link to view a chart showing the optimum germination temperature for vegetable seeds.

March 27, 2010

Germination Temperatures for Vegetable Seeds

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — TopVeg @ 10:18 am

Germination temperatures for vegetables seeds often differ from the ideal temperature for plant growth.  Some vegetable seeds will only germinate when warmer than the best soil growing temperature, so they have to be germinated in a propagator, on the windowsill or under a cloche .

Here is a chart of some ideal temperatures:




Germination temperature
Growing temperature





Asparagus 77
60-70
Beans – french 75-85
60-65
Beans – runner 75-85
65-75
Broccoli 80
60 – 65
Brussels Sprouts 75 – 80
60 – 65
Cabbage 75 – 85
60 – 65
Carrots 75
60 – 70 Sow Directly into soil




Does not transplant well.
Cauliflower 80
60 – 70
Celery 70
60 – 70
Leeks 75
75
Lettuce 40 – 60
40 – 60
Onions 65 – 85
65 – 85
Parsnips 65 – 75
65 – 75
Peas 40 – 75
40 – 75 Sow Directly into soil




or sow in gutter
Potatoes 45


Spinach 50 – 75
60 – 65
Swiss Chard 50 – 85
60 – 65
Turnip 50 – 95
50 – 95







Germination temperature
Growing temperature





Asparagus 77
60-70
Beans – french 75-85
60-65
Beans – runner 75-85
65-75
Broccoli 80
60 – 65
Brussels Sprouts 75 – 80
60 – 65
Cabbage 75 – 85
60 – 65
Carrots 75
60 – 70 Sow Directly into soil




Does not transplant well.
Cauliflower 80
60 – 70
Celery 70
60 – 70
Leeks 75
75
Lettuce 40 – 60
40 – 60
Onions 65 – 85
65 – 85
Parsnips 65 – 75
65 – 75
Peas 40 – 75
40 – 75 Sow Directly into soil




or sow in gutter
Potatoes 45


Spinach 50 – 75
60 – 65
Swiss Chard 50 – 85
60 – 65
Turnip 50 – 95
50 – 95

March 10, 2010

How to Grow Carrots

Filed under: root veg — Tags: , , — TopVeg @ 11:17 pm

How to grow carrots in the vegetable garden:

fresh-carrots

fresh-carrots

  • carrots like a sunny spot
  • dig soil in autumn & break soil down to fine, crumbly seedbed before sowing
carrot-bed

carrot-bed

  • sow outdoors from March to August – if in  March cover with cloche
  • sow every 3 weeks for a continuous suppy 
  • sow thinly – mix seed with sand to make it easier
  • sow in rows 1.5cm deep with 30cm  between rows
thinning-carrot-row

thinning-carrot-row

  • thin seedlings, when large enough to handle, so 6 cm apart
pulling-carrot-seedlings-out

pulling-carrot-seedlings-out

  • keep well watered
  • pull weeds as they appear
  • pull carrots when they are large enough, as required
nandor-carrot

nandor-carrot

March 7, 2010

Check planted shallots

Filed under: root veg — Tags: , — TopVeg @ 10:57 am

Checking the planted shallots revealed that some had jumped out of their bed.

shallots-feb2010

shallots-feb2010

This often happens, particularly just after planting the shallots, before they have had time to push out some roots which will anchor them down.

shallot-out-of-bed

shallot-out-of-bed

Shallots tend to jump out of bed because either:

  • worms in the soil push them out from below
  • or, birds pull them out.

We always blamed the sparrows who investigate anything new in the vegetable garden.  But these shallots have been covered with a cloche to protect them from the frost, so birds would not get to the shallots easily.  So fingers seem to be pointing at the worms for displacing the shallots.

pushing-shallot-in-ground

pushing-shallot-in-ground

We just push the shallots back into the bed, and will continue checking them until they are rooted firmly into the ground.

January 9, 2010

Vegetables for the Patio, Balcony or Window Box

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — TopVeg @ 11:20 pm

So many vegetables can be grown on the patio, balcony or window box.

  • Very little space is needed to produce a regular supply of fresh, healthy salad leaves, and one courgette plant will produce plenty of fruit, without causing a glut.
  • We have a friend who lives in a fourth floor flat, with a small west facing balcony, who grows tomatoes, salad leaves, courgettes and french beans.
  • A great variety of vegetables can be grown in containers, but it is important to select a small or mini-variety.
radish-growing-in-pot

radish-growing-in-pot

Examples of vegetables which can be grown on a patio or window box are:

Thompson & Morgan have a great offer for a patio vegetable collection for £9.99 comprising:

2 x Tomato Vilma plants
1 x Pepper Mohawk plant
1 x Courgette Black Forest plant
1 x Cucumber Fanfare plant

Plus FREE seed worth £5.28! Runner Bean Summer Medley (16 seeds) & Niche Salad Leaves Blend (400 seeds).

patio veg collection

patio veg collection

Click this link to buy this patio vegetable collection for £9.99 which is also suitable for a balcony or window box.
Click this link to buy this book about growing vegetables in containers:

March 22, 2009

April Vegetable Soup

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — TopVeg @ 6:27 am

This is a recipe for vegetable soup using vegetables available in April.

Ingredients:

Extra-virgin olive oil
Good stock
1 large chopped onion
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
A dash of cinnamon
A dash of nutmeg
A dash of cayenne
1 large carrot, sliced
1 handful of fresh, chopped parsley
1 15 oz can of whole tomatoes and their juice
4 large handfuls spinach
2 tbsps of brown sugar
2 tbsps of apple cider vinegar

Method:

Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add onion, garlic, herbs and spices,
and salt to taste and stir over medium heat for about 5-10 minutes,
until onions are clear.

Add carrot, parsley and tomatoes and enough cold stock to cover them by
2 inches. Bring soup to a simmer, but do not boil. Skim any froth from
the top. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour.

About 10 minutes before serving, add in spinach, sugar and vinegar.
Cover and simmer for another 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

January 13, 2009

How to protect vegetables from the cold

Filed under: vegetable gardening — Tags: , — TopVeg @ 12:00 pm

It is important to protect vegetables from the cold which is predicted for the next few nights. Frost is forecast, and it looks as though we will have some seriously cold temperatures over the next few nights.

Young seedlings are tender, and vulnerable to the frost. At worst, they will be killed. Otherwise the frost will damage their cells, slow down their growth, and reduce their potential. Frosted vegetable plants will not yield so much.
Return on effort is one of TopVeg’s guiding principles – so do not allow the frost to affect potential yield, & reduce the return on all the effort put in so far.

 

Protect the plants from the cold temperatures by covering them over. (more…)

May 21, 2008

Vegetable Soup with Courgette Flowers

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — TopVeg @ 9:06 pm

 

Courgette flowers are so beautiful, we often forget to eat them.

courgette-flowers

courgette-flowers

This Vegetable Soup is quick and easy to make. Use the Courgette Flowers
as soon as they are picked.

*Serves 4-6
*30-40 courgette flowers
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp oil
2 large tomatoes (about 300g), peeled and chopped
salt and pepper
1.5 – 2 litres chicken stock
sour cream to serve

*Method
*Put 6 flowers aside for garnish
Split the courgette flowers lengthways in half and pick out the stamens.
Remove the spiky bits from around the outside of the flower base and
separate the flowers from the stalks
Chop the flowers roughly

Strip the stalks as if peeling celery and chop roughly
Soften the stalks with the onion in the oil then add the tomatoes and
cook, stirring, till thick
Add the chopped flowers, and salt and pepper to taste
Pour in the stock and simmer for about 15 minutes

Blend the soup till smooth

Serve with a dot of sour cream & a courgette flower on top

3courgetteflowers

3courgetteflowers

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