Starting now! Sowing my bell peppers, broad beans and more

[@user-xb7sj2uk4u]

Put two sweet potato tubers into a flat tray yesterday. That was me starting of the season. Going to do my Sutton Dwarf man toilet roll tubes I think ( saved up loads of them last year). Basil I don't particularly like on its own, or pesto either, but for some reason I got few packets of Sweet Genovese ( oldest one sow by 2011, so that's going to be the guinea pig). Got one of those seed sowing gizmos as well. Only used it a couple of times last year and still find it a bit fiddly trying to shake the seeds out. Also have the husband the whole seed collection yesterday to have a look through because he complained that I don't let him get a look in. I don't think he did have a look, at least he didn't say anything about it in the evening. We'll see in the morning.

[@lorainemcguire5795]

Hi Eli & kate I've started my peppers same as you I never thought to do lettuce yet but I'm going too you though , i have to say your one of the most organised gardener's there is ❤ it 👍🫑🥬

[@SkintLivingUK]

Great start to the year Eli!!!

[@GardenerScott]

Craziness. I'm still weeks away from this and am a bit jealous. Great video nonetheless. 🙂

[@eliandkate]

You are probably just being more sensible than me 🤣

[@christinebrooks6364]

Grear video. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@Dave-hr7yl]

You can also freeze the compost to kill all the seeds / bugs

[@simplifygardening]

vermiculite is great for covering lettuce and it still allows the light through. Great video again Eli

[@potagermalo]

Superbe vidéo bravo À bientôt

[@annethomas4112]

Good job Eli ..great video . I take cutting from basil and leave to root in water , but this yr going to do seeds fingers crossed my naughty dogs don’t get to them ❤

[@cpoco]

My seed sowing has been very poor recently (for at least the last couple of months). I think I'm bouncing between cooking the seeds and drowning them. I've improved a little recently... but I think I might have been forgetting to tamp down the mix (or perhaps not tamping it enough at least). But we've just had a good dose of rain today so I might go and do some direct sowing... middle of summer but at the very least it will help to use up the remaining seed packets ;) Lovely informative video as always :D Strangely enough I feel like going out and sowing seeds now... so I shall (I might even go a bit wild and try and really run my packets down to as few as possible... the process continues).

[@eliandkate]

Oh yeah… go wild!!!

[@Garden-of-weeden]

Cracking video Eli… thanks for the motivational boost x

[@eliandkate]

All you needed was a wee bit of marmalade and you are ready to go 😁

[@Garden-of-weeden]

@ it would have been miles better with the bread I know you can make 😝

[@jennyjohnson9012]

Hi Eli...thanks for a great video again. Getting started tomorrow as soon as my compost arrives!

[@PaulC_9721]

Just love your advice so easy to understand as a novice thank you👍👍

[@dorindamiddleton5418]

My son is building me a lean to greenhouse next weekend for my birthday/Christmas present. I’m so excited! I’ve been binging your greenhouse videos. So much information! We’ve moved to a new climate, from desert to rainy/temperate. Everything is new here. I do appreciate all the information you share! Thank you!

[@eliandkate]

Sounds like you’re embarking on an exciting new adventure

[@ninemoonplanet]

Ah now I think I will start the basil. Got them started late and had small plants which were actually pathetic.

[@Brettski777]

I'm waiting until later before putting seeds in this year. I found last year it didn't get warm soon enough in the greenhouse to plant out. My indoor cucumbers failed when planted out, and the tomato's took forever to get going . Never had an issue in 20 years using the same methods. 2024 was a bad year. Happy new year and all the best for 2025.

[@michellecolledge2355]

I love, love, love your videos.

[@nothagensodlingar4965]

Hi Eli and Kate. After watching your latest video where you talked about the King of the North pepper, I was so inspired that I ordered seeds for this one too. I live in Sweden so it will be exciting to see how it goes. I have to add that I love your tea mug.

[@eliandkate]

Oh exciting…. Be interesting to see how they do 😁

[@colinmarsh3457]

Hi I use small plastic medi cups on top of my seed module trays to keep the moisture in works a treat so I don’t have to water my seeds so often when they pop up I take them off

[@jayowen5139]

I've got that root trainer. They're great 👍

[@m0ther0ne]

You are the first person I have ever heard explain the difference between potting and seed compost. Thank you. Please tell us the name of that seed dispenser or a link to where you got it. It’s a great tool for those of us with bad fingers that wont let you disperse seeds anymore 😂

[@eliandkate]

Surely not! If you pop into the video description (or links in the about tab), you’ll see a link to our amazing shop. All my gadgets are listen in there

[@chicosgarden]

TWO videos in one week?! You're spoiling us! Keep it up ;) lol

[@eliandkate]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Remember I said I wasn’t doing a schedule anymore? It might be a million weeks to the next one so enjoy 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chicosgarden]

@@eliandkate lol I know, I was just teasing haha

[@eliandkate]

@chicosgarden 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@annethomas4112]

Also I’m going to put lettuce in my green stock … good idea my German shepherd dug all up last summer x

[@eliandkate]

Oh no!!! 🐶

[@BecomingaGreenstalker]

Nice! I’ve been starting little by little. Keeping myself busy in the cold freezing weather!

[@carolinebown8686]

Fabulous video ... I could watch you sow seeds all day .... I need to get going too ....😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@bonitahunter8905]

😂. I was thinking of one other time when you didn't label and put a couple different seeds in the same row just as you pulled out your labels . 🤣 Its too early to start here in Ontario ,Canada other than onions but i have no luck growing any of them.. ❤ 🇨🇦

[@trisha2584]

Thanks for the reminder; I will start my spring onions and King of the North peppers tomorrow xx

[@ChiChi75169]

Love this time of year when I start my first round of indoor seeds with you from Seattle 😊 hot cup a by my side!!

[@huertoconsentido679]

😂😂 es ver el video y me pican las manos para sembrar albaca y lechugas ya tengo chiles, pimientos y berenjenas en estanterias 😊

[@ChaosOrZen]

I've given up on bell peppers and switched to long horn style sweet peppers. Great flavor, tons of produce. First Taste from Burpee has been my favorite so far, especially at the orange stage. For red sweet peppers, we are fans of Jimmy Nardello. Lots get eaten in the garden, but they dehydrate and freeze well.

[@user-Penelope27]

I live in Australia, I wonder if you could mention when we would plant these seeds, I find it confusing to sort that out. Love your videos they are fun and informative. Xxx

[@eliandkate]

I’m sorry Penelope but I don’t have any knowledge of gardening in Australia. Maybe try a search on youtube.com/@gardeningaustralia?si=8UYDIsmKA4dI8ueb

[@dawnringland4772]

Loved watching you. Could watch you all day. What is the thing you grow lettuce in? A wonderful treat to watch you. Feel like I have had a nice bit of meditation 😊thank you

[@eliandkate]

The lettuce 🥬 s in my greenstalk

[@TheLiznz]

Oh thank you, I didn’t realise it was time to plant these, I will get a wriggle on. With the spring onions we eat a lot of them, should I sow more every 3 or 4 weeks? This is exciting.

[@eliandkate]

Only time to sow if you want to. I don’t do those sow these now videos. It’s just time that “I’m” sowing. You can sow again in a few weeks if you want to succession sow

[@TheLiznz]

@ there are heaps of seeds in a packet so I’m going to do it as an experiment. I’m chomping at the but to plant something 😁

[@karenclarke366]

Great video 😊

[@Sylvie_M]

I find toilet paper rolls in a deep container make a great cheap substitute for a root trainer and the roll can just be planted also. I sow California Wonder peppers in my short season Zone 3 garden in pots with good success but am eager to try King of the North. I use my little hand seeder for broadcasting too. Good luck with your germination!

[@kirstypollock6811]

I used toilet roll tubes successfully for a couple of years, but last year, it worked fine for broad beans, but for runners, I think the cardboard attracted slugs. :-(. But there were so so so so so many last year and it was so wet and not warm that maybe that would have happened anyway. I hope we have a dry summer this year (as is more normal).

[@CSaville]

Ahh Seed labels... Last year I was incredibly good. Everthing was labelled with an indelible pen as I'd come unstuck previously trying to commit some things to memory. Only problem was the pens I used although 'indelible' were not resistant to UV light and basically it was like using invisible ink! This year I have some proper pens for labels 😁

[@johnwood738]

Interesting I think you have a milder climate than we do because I won’t start peppers until roughly the end of February beginning of March.

[@eliandkate]

Och no… I can start peppers in the greenhouse in March but I choose to start them early. It’s about the length of season. I get a much better result this way

[@sheilaclerkin2238]

Superb hoodie 😂 and great video as always 💚

[@eliandkate]

Ah a fan 😁

[@deborahwickham3058]

Thank you, this is great xx❤

[@kansastraveler1476]

I may have missed in your video about tools and such you use, but do you happen to know the brand or remember where you bought your scoop? It's SO Cool!

[@eliandkate]

There’s a link in the description of the video to our amazing page. The scoop is in the greenhouse list

[@liz3putt]

A splinter? Or a wee skelf ? 🤣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@eliandkate]

It was a big Skelf!

[@Jimsraisedbedgarden]

Gonna leave mine a couple of weeks as no greenhouse Eli xx

[@eliandkate]

Your beans?

[@bonnieskitchengarden]

Some peppers take longer than others have you ever tried over wintering last years plants. I have not but I've seen others do it I might give it a go this winter

[@bonnieskitchengarden]

Love you Eli and Kate

[@eliandkate]

I have indeed, there’s a playlist of videos on my pepper experiment including that 😁

[@Jimsraisedbedgarden]

​@@eliandkatemy peppers lol sorry ,I'm growing slenderette french beans to grow should I start them at the same time Eli xx

[@saintz177]

My broad beans are bout 4 inches tall grown indoors

[@anirishmammy5658]

Another great video, thank you. I'm planting peppers this week hopefully. How many plants are you hoping to plant on out of the seeds you have just sown. Thanks.

[@eliandkate]

I usually have between 4 and 8 in the greenhouse

[@anirishmammy5658]

@@eliandkate thank you for the reply. You planted 40 seeds do you only expect a 10 or 20% germination rate. I planted peppers for the 1st time last year but was late to the party we did get some. Tbh they are for my grandson. My seeds are all purchased, I was only going to plant 3 seeds of each variety, I'm thinking is that not enough, or is germination more difficult with the home saved seeds?

[@eliandkate]

@ I expect about 70% germination but out of those seedlings there are so many problems that could happen so I may loose some. I always sow enough to make sure I’ll definitely have the amount of plants I want

[@lilycardoso4679]

Good morning!

[@jennymortimer4622]

another great one. what does green stock mean

[@eliandkate]

The greenstalks are my vertical planters kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3PIioV8Z5aWntUsi=B75Be1YKsc_wSgdr

[@MarianWalsh-vz9fy]

I find spring onions difficult too, they germinate and then do nothing ☹️

[@eliandkate]

Yay… it’s not just me 🤣🤣🤣

[@GardenofEmma]

I have decided to grow King of the North for the first time ever. I wonder what Kate makes of the microwave use lol for the soil

[@eliandkate]

🤣🤣🤣 as long as it’s properly sealed… or she’d kill me

[@Maazzzo]

I have failed with basil for a few years, don't know why. Would you recommend sowing them now even for an indoor garden? Love your videos, thanks! You've inspired me to do more outside. Looking for a garden trough to brighten up the space i have outside.

[@eliandkate]

If you are only growing indoors, as long as you have heat and grow lights you can sow and grow any time.

[@Maazzzo]

@ I will wait a bit as I can see my breathe in my flat even with the heat on. Maybe end of Jan ish. Hopefully I can figure or how I keep failing. Thanks!

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

I don’t think the large nodule trays are in the gardening section linked in video description. You can get them at every garden centre but they tend to be smaller and/or very flimsy. I’m looking for really sturdy large nodule trays available in uk as I hate throw away plastic. Any ideas anyone? Thanks 😊

[@eliandkate]

They are in the seeds and sowing list But if you go to containerwise’s website they sell a lot more kinds

[@uptheplots]

Getting my greenhouse ready for the year, needs to be more organised, inspired by some of your tips. What are in the king trays on your right?

[@eliandkate]

King trays?

[@uptheplots]

@@eliandkate long trays 🤣 predictive text strikes again

[@michaelharrison8295]

Where did you get your cup please

[@eliandkate]

Our Amazon shop link is in the description of the video, made it into various list to help you find things

[@Gardenclogs2]

Have you ever tried Lemon Basil for pesto? It’s amazing 😊

[@eliandkate]

I haven’t… will need to try it 😁

[@hevijo1]

hi Eli and Kate, the broccoli that you sowed in your growtower got good results last year ?

[@eliandkate]

Yes it worked out really well. You’ll see me harvesting it in a few of last years videos

[@susiethomas6032]

Good morning Eli and Kate, I’ve been watching for a while and I subscribed via the telly but I’ve just looked on my iPad and it didn’t show as I was subscribed, so I’ve rectified that and now get 2 updates. I live south of Newcastle in a town called Thornaby, situated between Stockton on tees and Middlesbrough. I don’t have a greenhouse/cold frame so what I would like to know is, can I still grow peppers (big boy) outside? And what would you say would be the best place, knowing our crazy weather. I love your channel and I enjoyed your grow lights video from the other day. Happy growing (so corny 😄) Love Sue 😊

[@eliandkate]

Well, theoretically you could Susie. I don’t know your conditions but if you have somewhere super sunny and sheltered you could give it a try. You won’t get as big a crop as in a greenhouse but it’s defo worth a try

[@susiethomas6032]

@ thanks Eli, I’ll give it ago and if I remember (menopause brain 🤯) I’ll let you know how the peppers do. I’ve tried to do the whole zone thing but honestly I’m guessing, so I think I’m a zone 8 ish 🤷‍♀️ I also meant to say that I really liked how you organised your seeds and which seeds you start in January etc, that’s the first time seeing an organised seeds starting idea, thanks for sharing x

[@eliandkate]

Oh tell me about it. We’ve got memo boards everywhere otherwise we forget why we walked into a room. I wouldn’t get caught up in the zone thing, it’s designed for the American weather systems (and size), it’s not quite nuanced enough for Uk. Best thing to do is just learn about your temps in the garden… then when you want to know about a particular plant, you can find out what it needs and match it (or not) to your garden.

[@carolynkooser2939]

Didn’t see you cover the onions. Do they not need covered?

[@eliandkate]

I did cover them but very finely

[@trold1969]

Informative and inspiring as always. ☺ Are your lettuce seeds also on the heat mat? I blamed the heat for no germination first time I sowed lettuce. In hindsight it could've been a number of reasons. Trude

[@eliandkate]

They are but they are actually on another mat at a lower temp. Peppers at at 23c and lettuce at 16c

[@CC-mn6qk]

Why do you not use your vitopod in the greenhouse to sow the seeds?

[@eliandkate]

I have done but it means running heat and light in the greenhouse, including a heater to heat the greenhouse once the plants are too big for the vitopod (until about end of April/early May). Doing it in the house means no extra heat needed once the seeds germinate.

[@carolynkooser2939]

How long will your peppers be growing before you plant them outdoors or your greenhouse?

[@eliandkate]

It’ll be too cold for them to go out there until the end of April at least.

[@MrCiaranMc]

Could I theoretically plant pepper/ basil seeds in the greenhouse now and have them in a Vitopod with lights without causing them any trouble? Bringing them into the house means they are in danger from the dreaded children!

[@eliandkate]

It kinda depends on your conditions. If you can keep the vitopod (the whole thing) hot enough for peppers and the peppers won’t grow too large for it before your greenhouse is warm enough, then you could. I’ve done this but ended up having to heat the greenhouse through April because the plants got too big and it was still cold.

[@lilacmile]

Just fyi, audio’s coming in one sided in earphones.

[@Ms.blu3]

@@lilacmile thanks for the great heads up, thought my headphones were wonky 🥴

[@leahwithheld783]

What’s a broad bean? Like fava beans, I’m assuming, since all the other beans I know of are hot weather types?

[@eliandkate]

I think they get called favs beans elsewhere, would need to have a wee google to know for sure.

[@Cavalier7dar]

Hi I'm new to your channel . Your mug is cool. I got a early grow propagator for Xmas present All new to me what is a green stock ? Im from belfast . Can I plant flower seeds soon in my propagator? I'd love to grow geum seeds a go are they hard to grow ?

[@eliandkate]

A greenstalk is a vertical planter kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5TdYoNsqb5_frssi=M8MrjUZQokml9hou The propagator is about holding humidity, it won’t let you sow seeds any earlier than normal I’m afraid. Would be worth finding some local gardening groups and chatting with locals who know your growing situation

[@lydisgarten]

Kate won't like it if you accuse her of stealing pencils😂😂😂 I think she will have something to say to you tonight! Thanks for the fun and all your information. Greetings from Cologne Germany Lydia

[@eliandkate]

Ah she doesn’t watch the videos… I’m safe 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@GeorgeGauge-r2h]

Where did you get your mug from gal.i want one.

[@eliandkate]

🤣🤣🤣 I added a link in the greenhouse section of the amazing store

[@GeorgeGauge-r2h]

@eliandkate aint all that clued up on links an stuff gal wouldn't know where to start .🤔

[@eliandkate]

We’ll just hit Amazon and search for flower pot mug 😁

[@GeorgeGauge-r2h]

@eliandkate ahhh thats a better option gal, when your 78 these things of links and such get confusing, brilliant videos you have up.i have an alottment and i normally sow my onions mid january .im trailing reel seeds this year as i want to save seed myself , getting very disapointed about all the F1 rubbish about , had a lot of failures with seed last year mainly beetroot , and parsnips , so hopefully these seeds from the real seed company will address this issue , great channel keep it up gal.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

🫡👌👌👌👌

[@CocinaEnVena]

Don't you also start now the eggplants 🍆? Greetings from Aledo, a beautiful little town in Spain southeastern

[@eliandkate]

I would because our season is so short, they need a bit longer to grow than we would have normally.

[@CocinaEnVena]

@@eliandkate Oh, I thought it might be possible to grow a variety of medium or small fruits there. What a pity, they are so tasty! I pruned mine Tsakoniki 2 weeks ago (I want to see if they overwinter and resprout, as a lady's experiment 🤣🤣🤣)

[@adamscross04]

Love your videos, but this one only comes through on one side of my headphones, irrespective of refreshing the page. Just something to check before next video :)

[@leahwithheld783]

Younkies and younkies? LOL! I assume you mean eons and eons or some such.😊