What can be planted early spring????

[MEL78]

I'm new to growing could anyone tell my what I should be planting first - ie is there anything I can start away in an allottment in the next few months

Thanks
Mel

[Green Aura]

There's not much you can plant direct at this time of year, Mel. The ground is usually too cold, hard and wet for much to germinate or survive.

Now's the time for digging it over and mixing in any soil improvers (seaweed/compost/manure) or your choice and let the weather do it's stuff in breaking it down so the worms can mix it all up.

What you can do now is spend a pleasant hour or so, perusing the seed catalogues and choosing what you want to grow - bearing in mind what I said about growing times. Get your seeds and read the packets. Some of them you'll be able to germinate indoors in preparation for putting out later - like tomatoes and peppers (if you live in an area where you can grow these outside - up here they won't survive outside the polytunnel).

Get to know your allotment neighbours - they'll know the soil, what it needs, what grows particularly well and they may even bung you a few spare seedlings.

In a couple of months you can put some cloches out to warm the soil and then plant some quick crops like radishes, loose lettuce and peas.

[MEL78]

Thanks for the advice yet again - I am waiting for a couple of weeks until my other half has a week off work and then sending him to do the hard work - well that"s the plan anyway h's sure to come up with an excuse.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Broad beans are good. I over winter a row or two then plant some more in February as and when the ground is soft enough. They germinate at rediculously low temperatures.

[MEL78]

Thanks will look into getting some once I have sorted and dug the plot