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Preparing to sow in the spring

Although the signs of the cold are still all around us and the snow may not seem too far away, some people are already getting to work in the garden. This is the ideal time to begin sowing your first seeds.

Where and when to sow and how to succeed?

Every plant has different heat requirements so you may need to plant seeds indoors (in trays, 
plugs or pots), under shelter (cold frame or tunnel) or outdoors. Whether you are planting 
indoors or outdoors however, you need to know what equipment to choose for different plant 
types. Follow our advice from the seasoned gardener. 

Sowing seeds in the warmth

Although it is still freezing outside, it is a good idea to sow your first seeds at the end of the 
winter to bring forward harvest times, making sure that all seeds are getting enough light. 
Plants originating from tropical climates can be particularly in need of this kind of attention. It 
is also better to start sowing tomatoes, aubergines and begonias at the end of winter rather 
than waiting for the good weather to come along to warm up the air. 
Sow your seeds in the warmth, and in a more or less heated shelter. 


- Plugs: use for vegetables you can pick (cabbages and leeks) or grow in situ (black radish), 
planting seeds in a few centimetres of compost. Aubergines and tomatoes can also be 
planted in this way and will benefit from the generous spacing (photo Kit Planting). 
If you do not have a greenhouse or heated veranda, it is possible to use a propagator 
(Heating Grow) to obtain the right temperature. 


- Individual pots: the Growing Pots and Plast Pot are ideal for plants that need to be 
kept indoors as late as possible before being transferred outside with their earth and root 
balls. Sow as many pots as plants you require. 

What should you sow? Species with large seeds that grow quickly, do not tolerate planting 
on well, and that you only require in small numbers, such as: aubergines, cucumbers, 
gherkins, courgettes, melons, watermelons, tomatoes (GROWING POT). 

Top tip: sow three or four large seeds, or 5 to 7 smaller seeds, in pots and only keep the 
best plant. GROWING POTs are biodegradable (wood fibres) and can be transferred directly 
into the ground. 

Geological point: in the Southwest of France and the Mediterranean, these species can 
be sown directly into the ground as long as you wait until the soil has sufficiently warmed up.

  • Preparing to sow in the spring

    Sowing the seeds in a sheltered place outdoors

    It is possible to sow some crops early (beetroot, carrots, celery, cabbages, lettuces, turnips, 
    nuts, peas, radishes, tomatoes, etc), as long as you choose varieties suitable for early 
    cultivation and protect them in a cold frame or polytunnel. During the day, the plastic or glass 
    covering concentrates the sun's rays, significantly increasing the internal temperature. This 
    facilitates the plants’ growth and will gain you approximately 2 weeks with the hardiest 
    vegetables. 


    - A cold frame is the traditional system. It comprises a box (wood, metal or brick) covered 
    with a transparent lid (plastic or glass) that can be easily lifted (to aerate and water the 
    plants). The frame does not have a base and is placed directly on the ground; sow your 
    seeds directly onto a thick layer of compost, or in trays that are then placed inside the frame. 

    What can you sow? Lettuces, radishes, leeks, cauliflowers and more hardy vegetables will 
    thrive here. Flowers and tomatoes can also be placed inside a cold frame but only during the 
    day and in good weather. 

    Top tip: if there is a risk of frost at night, protect your seedlings by covering the frame with a 
    roll of rice straw. 


    - Cloche tunnels give an excellent quality of light and protect seeds and young plants from 
    the cold. They are not an absolute guarantee against the cold but offer good protection 
    against draughts and the damp. 

    They are easy to use as they can quickly be placed over seeds in the ground if it turns cold 
    during the day or the night. Remember that in such climatic conditions, vegetable plants can 
    be stressed and may struggle to germinate or propagate. Cloche tunnels are very practical to 
    set up and easy to take down and it is easy to aerate your plants by lifting the plastic film on 
    one side, discouraging rot and possible "heatstroke" on sunny days in February. 

    - With taller plants, such as maize, use perforated plastic film as protection (Climair Film 
    laid flat). This acts like a propagator during the early weeks of sprouting and plants are 
    protected from frost, will grow on early, and come through the plastic film to grow upwards. 

    Top tip: this technique is widespread in market gardening because it protects seeds, speeds 
    up growth and means you can harvest vegetables earlier. It involves spreading a sheet of 
    nonwoven fleece on the ground over the seeds to encourage germination and growth. The 
    cover also acts as protection against insects and heavy rain. 

    All you need to do now is start sowing and then wait patiently a while to enjoy your kitchen 
    garden in the sun.