What to Sow in February for Self-Sufficiency
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- A bit late getting this video edited but here is a collection of what I think are the key crops to sow in February for zone 7/8 primarily if you are looking to become as self-sufficient as possible from your garden. In this series, I am only sharing the crops that I feel make the biggest difference in not only yield, but also taste. What else are you sowing this month?
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summary: field beans, tomatoes (green zebra, tigerella, yellow tumbling tom), onion (alicia craig variety from seed), peas (oregon sugar snap), jerusalem artichoke, summer cabbage, cauliflower (candid charm, all year round), aubergines, radish
Thanks for the helpful summary. Just for clarity, in case it causes confusion for anyone when they search for it, the onion variety is 'Ailsa Craig' rather than Alicia. It's named after a Scottish island, not a person. There's a rather good variety of tomato with the same name too.
Tumbling Tom Tomato is a great one to grow in hanging baskets in the greenhouse. Not only is is beautiful and productive, but it provides great snacks while working in the greenhouse.
Well this is highly needed. I'm chomping at the bit to get started with some major sowing!!
I still need to be patient! But these few crops can at least scratch that itch ;)
Champing*
@@leohamilton1884 hopefully you'll be chomping all those things you sow soon enough !
96 days until my last frost date; super pumped for this year! 2023 garden plan was complete in November. Of course, it was then tweaked almost every time I watched a "prepare your plan" video, but I think it's locked in now. Lol, and by "locked in", I mean it probably won't change until next week.
That reminds me to tweak my plan 😂😂😂😂
@A R Lol, I determined this winter that I could fit 20 more fruit trees in my garden if I espalier them. I'll see your one more plant and raise you 19!
I'm a firm believer in buying Eggplant starts. For many years I have always tried to start from seed but they never really produced well. Last spring I stopped by a local market and bought two organically raised Japanese eggplant starts that were about 8 inches high for $5 USD. Those two plants produced nearly 5 bushels of fruit over the season and didn't die until after our first frost. Best five bucks I've ever spent.
I grew a ton of container patio eggplant from seed with no problem last year
@@ninjaribanban3335 So I am confused. Are you simply misunderstanding my comment or deliberately trying to be insulting? What do weights and measures have to do with an anecdotal instance of exemplary results from a pre-purchased start? What does it have to do with whether or not I use the metric or imperial systems?
Thank you for sharing I think I might try that this year as haven't done too well growing them from seed. I've managed to get a plant growing but then no actual aubergine!
@@TheGreenPond-nature that is peculiar. I've been growing eggplants from seed for years in Zone 6b and I've never had an issue...simple as tomatoes, peppers and anything else. Last year was the worst year for eggplants I've ever experienced. The summer was so hot, dry and we had such erratic rain. I usually have more eggplant than I can process, last year was awful, and those fruit I did get were bitter...just a bad year last year for vegetables I never have issues with. Give it another go...really.
@@nininoona What is a bushel?
im in london and 17 this is super helpful, i needed to know what to grow and when. my vegtables other plants all survive well at least last year but i struggle with starting seeds alot.
I have never been successful with cauliflower, have almost given up. If you have time and think more growers like me have trouble growing this veg I'd really appreciate a video on how to grow them. all other types of kale seems easier in comparison, at least for me. And thank you for the new series you're making now, always a pleasure to watch and learn from you.
Just leave it be and interplant with cornflowers (seems to help keep the flies which damage the cabbage family at bay)
Same, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Cabbages etc all seem to get eaten within days of planting them.
First question and most importantly: where are you growing? I'm in East central indiana USA. Completely different growing cauliflower and broc here from Michigan, or Florida, or Oregon. Or most of England.
@@cristiewentz8586 West Wales.
@@cymruambyth322 I envy you your weather! Cauliflower is such a pain. And only 1 harvest per plant! But what little I can share, I will. First make sure you've got the best variety for your area. I use 'snow ball x' planted in late summer here. You might also companion plant with dill or radishes. Both have blooms that draw beneficial insects, and the smell will stop the cole from being seen by pests . Last bit is minimize stress. Here, I mulch heavily to keep moisture in the soil. You probably won't have that problem, but wood chips seem good in your climate to keep soil cool and even moisture in. I use a summer weight oil spray on my cole crops. Non toxic to bees and smothers every pest and egg. Hope any of that helps.
I just got your book yesterday! I love your videos, I live in Devon, and I finally got some garden space to start my first official veggie garden!.
Huw - I did some fairly extensive work a few years back on trying sowing tomato seeds anytime from late January through to late April and to be honest with you, unless you are looking for a very early crop (like in June for an early bush cherry), you don't get that much benefit from sowing main crop tomato seeds in February vs late March/early April. Tomatoes grow so fast in mid spring that you can sow, prick out to an 8cm pot 1 week later, pot up to a 15cm pot another three to four weeks later and 10 days after that you can be planting out in 30cm pots or in your greenhouse/polytunnel. I worked back from a final potting/planting out date of 15-21st May to get to these sowing dates. Obviously, if your greenhouse/polytunnel can promote tomato growth in April, sow earlier, but unlike celeriac and celery which do need plenty of time to grow early in the year, young tomato plants seem to grow like the wind for me.
I forgot to add that with a late March sowing date, I have regularly harvested Tigerella, Super Marmande,, Maskotka tomatos from around 21st July from pots outdoors - to be honest, you could show them at the Royal Welsh with that sowing date.
@@rhysjaggar4677 unless your farming commercially, no need to start tomatoes in feb like you said, i started a late crop of tomatoes in may last year, they take roughly 4 months had an amazing crop by september october which imo is better, can store them over winter.
I agree, my later sown toms always catch up with the early ones.
On the subject of tomatoes, I grew some in a new raised bed last year filled hugelkulture style ,, but topped with shop bought compost, about 4-6". The tomatoes grew really well, but they were not very sweet, they had more of an acid taste. Any ideas why anyone?
@@carolinefarquhar8029 low brix rating simple as that.some are good for sauces some good for salads some extremely sweet mostly cherries as they have the highest brix rating (sugar )
Honestly your videos are by far the best out there and replaced my Gardeners world addiction! Great work this series is EXACTLY what I was looking for.
Charles Dowding too!
almost finished my allotment build after 8months. many a raised bed in. greenhouse fixed and staging built. bit warmer here in kent so will start sowing in greenhouse soon and plan what is going where
I'm in the central US and I'm growing in 2 hoop houses at our school. Love your videos and all the tips! Thanks so much!
I agree that sugar snaps are a great thing to grow. Use something to warm up the soil first (perspex, glass or bubble-wrap) and then you can sow direct earlier. With regards to tomatoes (and aubergines) led grow lights are very cheap , so can be worth it. An early start to tomatoes will often mean that you can then subsequently plant the side shoots as a new plant -which will start cropping from lower down.
Hi Huw, could you also advise us on the companion plants and flowers we should be thinking of sowing as last year either there weren't enough bee's or the cabbage white moths had a field day and it would be good to know which ones should be started out when - appreciated.
Those cabbage white moths were very active last year! Not sure if it was the weather. I will be covering as much as I can this year, because they were everywhere.
@@christinamoxon same here- northern germany
If you can grow borage there I would say do it. The bees love it here. I'm in the US. ❤️
We are just starting on our journey of self sufficiency in veg/fruit/eggs. Your channel is a fantastic resource. I understand you started youtube at 12! Awesome. Ive been following a channel "freddies allotment" young kid and he is great. So good to see young people interested.
It is snowy here too and much longer, maybe until the middle of april.
Ooh really interesting, I hold off on tomatoes yet but my peppers have made a start with heat mat and grow light, they're doing great 😊
Thanks for creating this new series. This will really help me in my gardening endeavours. I am looking forward to hearing more.
You're very welcome. Glad to help :)
I love this idea. Maybe also do what to harvest on each month.
And how to cook it and eat it lol
100 % On board with this series Huw !
Thank You !
I'm confused about this hardship of 'podding peas' and 'just topping and tailing them. How do your pods reach the kitchen without being instantly devoured?
I learned about mashed cauliflower and butter as a substitute for potatoes when I was on a low carb diet.
Yes! Efficiency and self-sufficiency in the garden are my jam =) Very excited for this series to continue through the year.
Here's my addition for anyone whose garden is on the smaller side: consider an extremely fast-growing variety of peas like Sugar Ann. Because they mature in ~50 days with a more concentrated fruiting timeline, you may find you can fit a full planting into your shoulder seasons (like late winter/early spring) and get them out of the ground before you'd ever want to transplant in summer plants like tomatoes. Works lovely for us =)
Love this series idea and really appreciate the helpful reminder for seed starting. At the end of last year I got my first cold frame only to realize it was too late to start seeds and get them in ground before the soil froze. Spring and fall gardens are so easy to forget with the abundance of summer plants.
Try to make cauliflower "rice". Its just amazing with seafood :)
Moldovan green (beefstake) and Green Doctors (cherry) are fantastic tomatoes. I grew them outside in Northern Ireland and they performed well. Definitely recommended.
I live in Moldova. I need to ask about these.
@@davidgross9859 Definitely recommend green beefsteak Moldovan, not sure if Green Doctors is available there. I received both by mistake when ordered seeds from Ukraine in 2021. Both are indeterminate, Moldovan has potato leaves. Taste is on tropical side, cherry is very juicy. Unfortunately, both are prone to splitting, but still worth it in my opinion. These are hard to find in UK and especially in Northern Ireland.
Been growing my tomatoes since November and one
Of my plants now has
Flowers. Also started peppers as
Easier to over winter when they are seedlings
May I correct you, please? Ailsa is pronounced 'Ale sa' as in Ale as in the brewed stuff ) not Alissia) My daughter was born in 1979 & I've lost count over the years she ( & I !! ) have had to spell it or pronounce it for people. Thank you so much for sharing your hints, tips & varieties, even for a silver surfer of more than 3 score years & 10! And is still working a small allotment & have been gifted a second hand greenhouse, so hoping to get more tasty produce out of it this year. Hope this year will be a good one for gardeners! xXx😀
A great idea to focus on practical, high yield crops for us amateurs.
Hi from Finland 🙏❤️ Thank you Huw!
You are very welcome :)
I really like this series of what to plant each month! I do think you should mention your growing zone though so people in other zones can check to see if they should be planting at the same time you are. I'm in USDA Zone 7b, and my last frost date isn't till April 15th. So I will be following your videos a month behind to align.
in Europe we don't have that zoning unfortunately :( it makes international comparison much more complicated
April? APRIL? Our last frost date is set to JULY haha! Usually things are fine after mid May.. I don't even know what to do!
@@SiljeMeum Move? :)
@@AthelstanEngland It's not completely frozen, so I think that the last frost date is based on the last couple of "freak frosts". I easily grow brassicas, carrots, potatoes, strawberries, salads, pumpkin, cucumber etc, but that damn late crazy frost.
@@SiljeMeum :) jolly good I was only being facetious! Norway (assuming that is where you're from) looks to be a beautiful country so be a terrible shame to have to move!
Thank you Huw :) I have your books too, they are great!
Awh I am very pleased you like them - thank you!
Thank you huw. Love that you share your knowledge
Raw cauliflower florettes dipped in hummus is amazing ! 😋
I love Tigerella as well! No tomato plant produced as much as those did, kept growing so much through the whole summer.
Thank you! 💕🌷 I'm looking forward to this monthly series! 🌱 God Bless 🙏🏻
Brilliant idea mate, fellow Welshman down in Margam going self sufficient. Subscribed to this series!
Awesome video! 🌱 Shameless plug of the trays 😂
@EmilyGreenDiary, you have a great channel; I subscribed!
BTW I also have a small gardening channel 🌽🥒🍅🌶
Ahh thank you so much!! ❤
Just ordered some of your seedtrays, such a good price for the quality! And I am very happy that they are available in the netherlands! Green zebra is my favorite tomato!
Thank you for doing this 💜🌱🌱 times are changing and gardening is key 💫👌🌱💖
Cheers ...heres me thinking I dropped a bollock 🥴🤣 glad I havnt..many thanks 👍
I’m trying tigerella and tumbling Tom yellow for the first time this year so good to hear positive feedback. I’m hanging baskets in my greenhouse with them to add to the pole tomatoes. The onions you mentioned I learnt from a Scottish gardener are a Scottish variety named after an island of the same name Ailsa craig (pronounced Ale-Sa)
Tumbling toms are both great (red and yellow) - very low maintenance
@@homegrownharvest211 thanks I’ll look at adding the red next year. I’ve got some maskotka and garden pearl that I’m trying for red but wanted a yellow too. First time with determinates so I’m really excited to see the results
I am doing Tigerella and Blue Bayou aren't Ailsa Craig tomatoes as well? is that the island they filed the Wicker Man on?
@@christiegrows2022 Maskotka grew really well for me last year in pots outside - first ones ready to harvest from and small plants but loaded with fruit! Also grew the fastest from seed in comparison with my other varieties
@@katrin462 ooo great feedback thanks. Did you just put up one plant? I saw you could get 3 bush in one hanging basket so was going to try one of those and then some in ground and see what the comparison is 😊
We cook radish pods with potato (alu mongray) but never thought the flowers could be eaten too. Thanks!
Hi huw thanks for showing me your video of how you do your vegetables 🥕 my garden 🪴 is only a small garden but i do manage to grow some vegetables 🥦 in it like 👍 tomatoes 🍅 i try and do small tomatoes 🍅 in a big pot and a few others in like lettuce 🥬 now that the weather is getting warmer David🪴🥦🍅🇬🇧❤️👍🥬
Look forward to the field beans video, when I search for seed I can only find the ones recommended for green manure and not sure if those varieties taste good? Also I grow broad beans to make tofu so will be interested to see if the field beans perform well, wonder if your chef friend Sam has tried them out for that? Anyway, excited to see the video! 😊
Huw it would be good to put in your video title the month and season for when you are sowing. This would be helpful for Southern Hemisphere gardeners to know eg early spring, mid spring etc sowing which is opposite to your months. Love you videos and your presentations. Thank you for your efforts. 👌👌
I've got my planting plan, I've got seeds, I am ordering my potting trays and im building raised beds ✌️🙈 im all in...
Very useful information, thank you! Intrigued by Tumbling Tom, will definitely try it this year! 🍅
Great idea! Thank you for this series!
Same here, getting an early start as need fresh food asap. Onions doing well from last month
LOVE this idea!!! I'll be chomping at the bit every month for your wisdom. Thank you!!!
Love the idea of the video.
Thanks mate
Great timing - we sat down with our seed store the other day and planned out this years planting but definitely going to be cross checking my list with these videos as they come out.
Totally agree with the cherry toms productivity - i grew a small bushing variety last year for the first time and it has provided us with food throughout last summer and 3 huge ziplock bags of frozen cherry toms that we are still working through and are so convenient as i just grab them straight out of the freezer and straight into the pan. Im actually forgoing my Zebras this year as they didnt do well for me the last couple of years (first year good crop but got blight early and last year not much production and they got wierd brown spots (looked different to blight) all over the skins before they were fully ripened - ate ok but i had to blanch and deskin the whole lot and make them into tomato sauce to be frozen which was a shame and a lot of work to save the crop
Huw this is excellent, thank you so much. What a great little resource this will build into. I've just bought the latest updated Edition of your 'Veg in One Bed', as an alternative way of doing things. We normally grow the same staples and dabble here and there with other bits as we focus on animals throughout our year. This year we're trying to focus more of fruit and veg, with any excess going to be going into work for free to help out others who are struggling but can't or currently don't grow their own food. We're planning on using your veg in one bed as a basis for our planting plan, but upping the scale a bit to be 'veg in a few beds!' to take put some of the thinking and get to more of the doing! Thank you so much for keeping going, keeping positive and helping endlessly for others to do the same. Love it! Kindest of regards from the wild and windy Highlands of Scotland.😁👍
thank you
I think I’m going to love this series!
Bought your book ready fir the house move. Great stuff mate well done and thanks for sharing
Fantastic video.. 🌹🌹🌷🌷
Thank you! :)
This has been really helpful Hugh. Thank you 😊
For novice gardener, this would be invaluable Huw!! Please do and thank you so much 🥕🥦🌽🥬🥒
i am going to try Kalibos purple cabbage. Tried the round variety but had to no luck last year. I love making purple veg salad, sometimes with tuna fish, sometimes with chickpeas, carrots and kidney beans. just mad about raw purple cabbage
Great info, thank you 😊
Absolutely brilliant Huw, just what we need. Thank-you x
You're so welcome! :)
I would like to suggest growing baby plum tomato's. More specifically, the type Morrison's sell. They taste like desert & they're so enjoyable just eating on their own as a quick snack. I thought, is this a special breed or will they retain the taste if I grow some of the seeds & wow, they're amazing. I highly recommend growing some. I would though point something out, the plants start to grow wildly out of control if left unattended. So you need to cut away a few stems. I like to grow them along wires like you do with grape vines. Maximum harvest method & they freeze well as well, though I would cook from frozen if being used in food.
I've planted seeds from the supermarket tomatoes that I was eating they have done quite well at times
I would like to know, do you grow aubergines in raised beds or in a greenhouse?
I have had mixed experiences in the greenhouse. Some years, there’s a lot of fruit, and others, we hardly get a flower on the plants.
Is there any advice, you can give, on this matter?
Thank you for sharing 🍅
Thanks🙏🙏👍👍
Huw. I need your help . I don’t know how to use this cold frame!
Really looking forward to this series. Can I just ask, are shallots as hardy as onions and if so can you recommend a variety please.
Super nice spot there!
Could you include the sientific names of the plants? If I search for field beans or broad beans, both get translated to the same in german...
Love this. So helpful!thank you.
Thank you thank you thank you 🙏
Beautiful! Love it❤
Huw is the new age Charles Dowding.
Huw, do you get any problems with Foxes where you are? I have them in the garden everyday and they cause havoc on the plot. Any tips to deter?
Tried to buy online. Your website has a mind of its own. 8 items added to basket and won’t let me scroll down to make payment.
Here's what I'll be sowing this month: onions, leeks, apple, various herbs, tobacco (Golden Virginia and Burley), tomatoes, to name a few.
Superb. So informative. Looking forward to more!
Glad you liked it! :)
tried green zebra and tigeralla last year, not a fan of either taste myself, green grinch however was an amazing green tomato for us. yellow roma tomatoes were amazing and standard san amrzanos, but ill tell you what, i managed to get my hand on some heirloom isis candy cherry tomatoes and they have a brix of 9.8 and are probably the best tasting open pollenated tomato ive ever tasted, saved tonnes of seeds :D
Thanks Huw! 🌻💚
You are so welcome
It would be super helpful if you stated your growing zone before talking about when to plant. It changes everything.
Thank you I've been wondering about this
you didn't mention the LEAVES of the radish plants. which are also edible. I use them in soup al the time. (I haven't experimented with them in anyother way, yet!)
This is just what I’m looking for!!!
Glad to help! :)
I have never seen onion sets for sale here but wonder what the cost difference would be between growing onions by seed vs sets. Shallot seeds cost about $4 for 250 seeds, at least $4 for a punnet of 6 and a bag of about 8 starts could be $8-10.
Fabulous as always thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you for separating field beans and broad beans!
Hi Amanda-Jayne,
Do you have experience at growing field beans. Could you recommend a variety please. My broad beans were a bit of a failure last year. I would love to give these a go instead.
Many thanks Karen.
@@karenliddiard3177 Sorry Karen, I wish I could, but I haven't grown them either. They sound great though don't they.
Summary:
Direct Sow / Container:
- Jerusalem Artichoke
Module Trays:
- Field / Broad Beans (deep tray)
- Tomatoes
- Onion (seed or set)
- Peas
- Summer Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Aubergine / Eggplant
- Radish
Thanks Huw 🙂
My pleasure!
Isn't it a wee early for tomatoes? I read it's ok now if they're going to be greenhouse tomatoes but start ones intended to live outside next month. Trying to be good and organised this year, don't want to go too crazy too soon!
Thanks for the useful video as always. You mentioned using the green tops of onions. A silly question, don't you sacrifice the bulb by eating the tops? Or do you grow some specifically for eating the tops? Thanks.
great idea I can't wait to grow along with you . can you tell me the variety of the purple sprouting broccoli at the start of the video you were picking
Thank you SOO MUCH!! ^_^
Do you have any recommendations for tomatoes that get grown outdoors - I don't have a polytunnel or greenhouse as they are not allowed on my allotment
Hi, I grow Gardeners delight for my outdoor tomatoes they always do really well. The only problem i would say with Tomatoes outside is the inability to control watering which can cause splitting after a downpour but i resolve this by covering the soil in the pots/ raised beds they are in and watering manually.
I love beans and the idea of field beans on my plot. What variety would you recommend as I know some can be quite tough and take a lot of cooking. Thank you
I'm a teacher looking to get a little gardening club together. If I planted tomatoes inside with the kiddos in February, would they be ready to harvest by June? I'm really struggling to find good plants that the students will be able to enjoy harvests from before summer starts and they all leave!
Baby bok choy and french dressing radish, greens for a salad, colorful beets
Lettuce and spinach, if they like those. Peas.
Tumbling Tom tomatoes if sown early indoors is a fast grower and should be able to fruit by June. Early peas like Meteor and Oskar, radishes, lettuces and spinach.
I wouldn't recommend tomatoes but instead would suggest an early variety of Pea. If you search up any variety of early pea they will do well on a sunny windowsill and the kids get an added bonus of being able to eat the pea shoots too! :)
@@HuwRichards Thank you!
I buyed, so useful
Great video just wandering is cauliflower puree like piccalilli or completely different?
Hello, any information on shipping from your webshop to Belgium one day ?
i would like to try those module trays
great video