Image: Climbing French Bean ‘Cobra’ seeds from Suttons
If you’re starting a new vegetable patch or allotment, the cheapest and most satisfying way to grow your own vegetables is from seed. You don’t need a greenhouse or lots of fancy equipment. In fact, clean yogurt pots can be used to start seeds off on a bright windowsill. Some seeds can even be direct-sown into the soil outdoors. Check the back of your seed packets for the best time to sow each variety.
For the chance to win eight packets of Suttons Vegetable Seeds along with 10 windowsill starter trays with lids, enter the competition now. But be quick, it closes at noon on 12 January 2022.
Easy veg to sow from seed
Some vegetable seeds are easier to germinate than others. If you don’t have a huge garden, many of these can be grown in pots or containers on a sunny balcony. Here are some of the best vegetable seeds for beginners:
Tomato – F1 Sweet Million
Pea – Hurst Greenshaft
Beetroot – Rainbow mixed
Bean (Climbing French) – Cobra
Cucumber – F1 Burpless Tasty Green
Lettuce – Little Gem
Courgette – F1 Defender
Radish – French Breakfast 3
Quick tips for growing your own veg from seed
Add holes to clean margarine containers for cheap, reusable seed trays.
Good quality seed compost gives the best results.
To speed up germination, soak your beans overnight and lay them on some damp cotton wool to shoot.
Seed swap with friends and family. If you each grow a different variety you can exchange the seedlings.
Always label your seed trays. Wooden ice lolly sticks work well.
Store spare seeds in a sealed container with a few grains of rice to keep them dry.
Sow salad leaves and radish seeds every two weeks for a constant supply through the summer.
Some vegetables stop producing crops if you don’t pick them regularly. Keep harvesting runner beans, French beans and courgettes to get more veg.
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