When growing vegetables from seed, many seed packets and plant instructions inform the gardener to plant their vegetable seeds in a greenhouse, or under a propagator. While this is a natural luxury afforded to those with a large greenhouse or lots of money to spend on expensive propagation kits, what is the 'normal', everyday and amateur gardener to use?
Well, look around you: if you live in a house, or flat – indeed, any building with a glass window – you're in luck!
In the five years I've been writing the London Vegetable Garden blog, I've always championed the fact that people can look around themselves and make use of any space that they have and for a 'greenhouse', it's no different!
This year, I am starting off my vegetable seeds in the attic space: the skylight offers a natural space to lay my seed trays and plant pots, since it is directly under an angled window, which, being in the roof, catches a great deal of sunlight!
Well, look around you: if you live in a house, or flat – indeed, any building with a glass window – you're in luck!
In the five years I've been writing the London Vegetable Garden blog, I've always championed the fact that people can look around themselves and make use of any space that they have and for a 'greenhouse', it's no different!
This year, I am starting off my vegetable seeds in the attic space: the skylight offers a natural space to lay my seed trays and plant pots, since it is directly under an angled window, which, being in the roof, catches a great deal of sunlight!
However, if you do not have an attic or skylight, a normal windowsill is
just as good. Pick a windowsill that receives plenty of sunlight and
gets warm. If your existing windowsill is not wide enough to
accommodate plant pots or trays, a makeshift table next to the
windowsill really is just as good!
Finally, you can give pots and trays of vegetable seeds a helping hand by creating your own 'propagator'-style covering, using pieces of glass, clear plastic or even cling-film: when I started the London Vegetable Garden on my Hackney balcony in 2009, I used the balcony door-ledge as a shelf and used cling-film to help keep warmth and moisture in the plant pots:
Finally, you can give pots and trays of vegetable seeds a helping hand by creating your own 'propagator'-style covering, using pieces of glass, clear plastic or even cling-film: when I started the London Vegetable Garden on my Hackney balcony in 2009, I used the balcony door-ledge as a shelf and used cling-film to help keep warmth and moisture in the plant pots:
So, if you're starting to plant your vegetable seeds this year and don't have access to a greenhouse, remember that for starting seeds off in a cold spring, windowsills, skylights and glass doorways offer a perfect alternative, helping to germinate your seeds and keep young plants warm before they are ready to be planted outdoors in a few weeks' time.
Have you had success with DIY propagation? Where do you leave you vegetable seeds to germinate? Come and join in the discussion on the official London Vegetable Garden Facebook page!
Canvas Tarpaulins are made up of natural fabrics and are breathable. These covers are manufactured from cotton fabric and come with metal eyelets, having a metre interval space on all four sides. These sheets work as a barrier, although they are difficult to repair.
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