This is going to be a bit long winded, but i need help

I just want to know (although most of it is too late now as I have done the deed already, anyway.....

On my allotment my very good neighbour has very large polly tunnel and he gives me the use of it (lucky me) but I water his stuff for him while I'm there and do some bits and bobs for him when I have the time, so today i did a lot of seeding, is this the right time for it?

I got all the seed from Ebay, all at 99p each from a guy (premier_seeds_direct) and free post, so I have seeded, sorry I copy and paste as there's so much!!!

ITALIAN COURGETTE - BIANCA DI TRIESTE - 25 FINEST SEEDS
AUBERGINE - EGG PLANT - BLACK BEAUTY 250 ITALIAN SEEDS
ONION - RED CREOLE - 1000 SEEDS
PEA - KELVEDON WONDER - 300 SEEDS (EARLY AND MAIN CROP)
LETTUCE - TOM THUMB - 1200 FINEST SEEDS
CLIMBING FRENCH BEAN - BLUE LAKE - 150 SEEDS
LEEK - BULGARIAN GIANT - 600 FINEST SEEDS
CABBAGE SAVOY - DI VERONA - 800 FINEST ITALIAN SEEDS
ONION - DI SAVONA - 1000 FINEST ITALIAN SEEDS
CAULIFLOWER - SELF BLANCHE - 600 SEEDS
ONION BUNCHING (SPRING) - WHITE LISBON - 1600+ SEEDS
LETTUCE - ROMAINE - PARIS ISLAND COS - 2000 SEEDS
CELERY - DEL VALDARNO - 3000 FINEST ITALIAN SEEDS

That is what I have put into seed trays already, can I also do these or do I have to wait for a few more weeks or months for this lot? (obviously all the about I didn't plant ALL the seeds, just a few so I can stagger the crop, so plant again in a few weeks or months time so I get a steady crop

When do I seed these in the polly tunnel?

CARROT - SCARLET NANTES - 3000+ FINEST SEEDS I think these go in to the ground directly and not in the polly tunnel?

ONION SETS - RED KARMEN - 250GM (APPROX 50-55 QUALITY SETS)

When to I put these in the ground???

Flowers and herbs

LAVENDER - COMMON ENGLISH - 600 SEEDS
CORN - FIELD POPPY MIXED - 2GM ~ 14,000 FINEST SEEDS
SUNFLOWER - VELVET QUEEN - 40 FINEST SEEDS
SWEET PEA - ROYAL FAMILY MIX - 60 FLOWER SEEDS
DIGITALIS - FOXGLOVE - SILVER FOX - 3000 FINEST SEEDS
STRAWBERRY - FOUR SEASONS - 200 FINEST SEEDS

I'm putting these in a raised bed
OREGANO ITALIAN - ORIGANUM VULGARE - 2500 SEEDS
HERBS - MARJORAM SWEET - 3000 SEEDS

Im sorry for my ignorance and lack of knowledge, but I'm a total numpty, any help at all will be very much appreciated, thanks

 

It is quite early to sow aubergine, courgette, french bean and sunflowers but you might get away with it in a polytunnel. If not, you've very wisely saved some seed so you can have another crack in early April.

 

Hi
one of the mistakes made by most "shall we say keener rather than more experienced gardeners"
Is the need to rush, to be first to get the growing started, And it's these gardeners that pay the price,
March is known for the cold winds, the drop in night temps, and for catching people out who feel because we've had a few weeks of warmer weather we're on our way to an early start And then its strikes, all the outside plants that have not been mulched or covering in fleece etc get the frost treatment and suffer.

Whats that saying dont cast a clout until March is out???? And its very true.

But the odd thing is by waiting a few more weeks you'll catch up the growing time anyway.
Ref seed packet info, It's only a guide and as ive said before these seeds pkts go all over the country north & south, ask yourself this question, our the people in the north going to have the same weather at the same time as those in the south???

"Only a guide"

 

Don't despair, your seeds are under cover which means you can sow earlier and many of the ones you mention are fairly hardy anyway.
If it was possible you could take the most tender (aubergine, courgette, french bean and sunflowers ) into the house and keep them on a bright window sill for a while, avoiding cold nights. Otherwise follow plan B.

 

For weeks it's been mild up here in Cumbria, everything except the date was telling us it's spring. Last night and tonight, we had frost...

Polytunnels are good they heat up quick in the daytime, but cool/chill at night..your problem Dopey, is one of protection.

Some people here (on GC) have heated propogators, and heated greenhouses to get plants growing, or conservatories. Some use Kitchen windowsills, airing cupboards and even spare rooms in the house..some fitted with growing lights too. It's all about giving seedlings heat and light to make the plants grow at a time of year when natural conditions cannot do it.

Your Onion, Spring onion and Leek seed can be sown in trays (I use mushroom containers from the supermarket for these) now as can a few Lettuce and a few peas for early crops. If you can sow seeds and keep them warm ie a windowsill or a heated propogator then sowing Aubergines now would be advantageous, Onion sets can be planted outside now (should be planted so you can just see the top of the bulb).

Sweet peas can be sown into empty toilet roll inners full of compost. Fill three quarters full with compost, water well and fill up with dry compost from the bag, place one seed in each and push down into the compost with your finger to the first knuckle (about half inch), cover with newspaper and leave until the first seed germinates, then remove paper, do not water again until the first seed germinates.

Foxgloves can be sown now but will not flower until next year, I normally cheat with these and sow them in Autumn, and they always flower the next year (be careful, very tiny seed and it's easy to sow too many!)

Cabbage and Cauliflower I sow towards the end of this month.

That should keep you busy for a while, and if it does not have a good read around on this forum, for example search for "Cabbage" and see how other people sow and grow theirs.

Steve...

 

Thanks so much to everyone, its good to know its not a compete disaster I think I was a little eager to sow as much as I could all in a day, like I say I still have plenty of seed and I have only sowed 10% of what I have, so I will do more early next month, so if some of this fails I can give it another go
I have fleece covering all the seed in the poly and its sitting on a bed (in trays) of sharp sand and grit, which all helps drainage and to keep the heat in as well,
I have read all the above and will take note and learn, but its not an easy thing to do, as I'm not and never been a gardener, and I think I will have to slow down and swat up on what I'm doing
The calendar is very helpful, and I will follow that as close as I can (and i take not on where you are in the UK and different temperatures in the north and south) the packets I got didn't have sowing dates on them, so there was nothing to even give me a hint on when to seed them

Thanks everyone for your very good advice tips and help