Generally speaking, it’s far too wintery outside to be sowing seeds – but the polytunnel is a place that doesn’t abide too rigidly to the vagaries of the Irish climate. In fact, polytunnel owners can extend their season at both ends – starting a little earlier and keeping going a little later than you would if growing outside. This is, in fact, one of the big benefits of owning a tunnel.

It will be March before there is any sowing direct in the veg patch outside, and even then it will be only potatoes. But if you are really itching to get started with some sowing this month and you have a polytunnel or greenhouse, you don’t need to wait. A very cold snap could still cause havoc to February-sown seeds but it’s worth the risk in my view.

Aubergines, tomatoes and peppers can be started off this month from seed, if you can provide them with temperatures of 20° C or more. For me that means a heated mat in the potting shed, but a warm room in the house will work too. An early start with aubergines is often the difference between success and failure with this tricky-to-grow crop. Check out our veg directory ongiy.ie for information on how to sow them.

In other years, I’ve also had success with direct sowings of carrots and potatoes in the polytunnel in February. With the carrot sowing, I had tender young carrots ready to eat in early May. That is a useful thing indeed, particularly since I don’t sow my main crop of carrots until May and they’re not ready until September.

Spuds

Spuds will most likely need a fleece cover to protect emerging plants from frost, even in the polytunnel. If it works though and temperatures don’t dip consistently, you could be rewarded with a crop of new potatoes in early May, which is much earlier than the outside crop. Don’t plant too many though – they might take up space needed in May for other more valuable crops like tomatoes (which will be ready to be planted out around then if sown this month).

Our polytunnel still has loads of oriental greens in the ground from an early autumn sowing last year but I am still inclined to try a small sowing of lettuce and oriental greens for the polytunnel now.

These will be ready to eat (hopefully) around early to late March when it’s possible that the existing crops will be past their best. As always with salads, consistent sowing is key. You could also try a sowing of peas direct in the soil (possibly with a fleece cover just until the little seedlings get established) – again, don’t go too mad as you don’t want them taking up valuable space in the tunnel when we get to the business end of proceedings in May-June.

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