Southampton, Hampshire, is one of the must-visit cities in the United Kingdom. When do you start planting seeds in a polytunnel in Southhampton, Hampshire? Is it an exciting topic to talk about? Laden with more than 270,000 people, this metropolitan area is the perfect place for gardeners and polytunnel owners.
In this post, you will learn about when you start planting seeds in a polytunnel, when you can plant in particular seasons, and the best plants to cultivate.
This southern city destination is where you can find attractions such as the Medieval City Walls, Tudor House and Garden, Beaulieu and National Motor Museum, SeaCity Museum, Titanic Trial, and more.
When Should I Plant Seeds In My Polytunnel?
The exceptional capability of the polytunnel, also commonly known as a polytunnel, is to let the farmer control the crops’ humidity and temperature necessary for propagating the seeds and the younger seedlings. Due to these controlled surroundings, gardeners may begin to start with the seeds anytime. This is the exciting benefit that polytunnels can give. Be sure to check the hyperlinks in these blogs to learn the technicalities.
However, if you are starting to plant, where you manage to transplant gardens outdoors in the spring, then you can begin with the polytunnel seeds about eight weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.
In open flat seed trays, these seeds started in the polytunnel. They are prepared based on their needs, for instance, soaked during the entire night, stratified and scarified, then planted in polytunnel trays.
With these trays, you can plant the seedlings in evenly spaced rows for easy watering, fertilising, and treating seedling diseases, for instance, damping off. Then, when the seedlings produce the first set of leaves, these are transplanted into your cells.
What Can I Plant In April In Hampshire?
April in Hampshire is not like any other area in the United Kingdom. It is the best month to take a trip and see Easter Egg Hunt, Winchester Castle, New Forest National Park, Portsmouth, and Fordingbridge. If you are flying in the area at this time, you may take seven nights in your calendar.
Springtime is the perfect location for your outdoor adventure. The county can find national parks, all beautiful and outdoor resorts to challenging your sports skills. These parks offer the best of photography and sightseeing opportunities. Weather in April is mild, with temperatures ranging in the high-teens during the month.
How about gardening in Hampshire this month? The best plants in the polytunnel during this month are peas, radishes, and lettuce. If you have seeds for pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, and cantaloupes, you may wait until late spring to early in the summer to have these. You may also have vegetables in the cold season.
Pea
To grow peas in the polytunnels, there are techniques. You can utilise the polytunnel in two different ways. The first one is by sowing the seeds in the late winter and early spring, including the April month. You may have them in troughs within the polytunnel, ready to get cultivated when the frost risks have gone by.
There are varieties you can sow in the autumn and then during the winter season.
Radish
When harvested, the radish is a great crop that can be good ingredients for various dishes. The radish can provide countless health benefits for the body. These include being a good food source for improving cardiovascular health, managing blood pressure, improving immunity, fortifying blood vessels, and best for hydration.
Lettuce Seeds
Meanwhile, lettuce seeds are what you need when you want to make fresh salads. These may be sown in half-barrel or tray in the polytunnel for household use. Then, you can mix the seeds into smaller amounts of sand to prevent sowing them very thickly. The seedlings may also grow ideally when they are at a ½-inch spacing. It may take a maximum of 45 days before your lettuce seeds can mature.
What Vegetables Can I Plant Now In Hampshire?
Right now, it is the spring season in Hampshire. Among the vegetables that can grow ideally in your polytunnel are:
- Beans
- Cowpeas
- Corns
- Squashes
- Pumpkins
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon
- Gourds, and
- Sunflowers
When Should I Plant My Garden In Hampshire?
When do you start planting seeds in a polytunnel in Southampton, Hampshire has a lot to consider. Temperature is; first, the weather is the second thing. You can look at this guide to help you find out the best months for suitable crops.
- Between March 5th to May 1st, here are the recommended plants to grow: Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Asparagus, Onion, Rhubarb, Broccoli, Peas, Spinach, Cabbage, Radish, and Turnip.
- From March 30th to May 1st, you may plant Beet, Lettuce, Potato, Carrot, Parsley, Salsify, Cauliflower, Parsnip, Swiss chard Endive.
- From May 5th to June 1st, start planting tender plants, including Celery, Spinach, Cucumber, Summer squash, Dry beans, Sweet corn, and Snap beans.
- Until June 10th, you may have Cantaloupe, Pumpkin, Eggplant, Tomato, Lima beans, Watermelon, Pepper, and Winter squash.
Not only in polytunnel planting but in various aspects of gardening, timing is critical. Some seeds are out of the season and will not grow well when you plant them in the wrong month. Despite the advantage that polytunnel offers, wherein you can ideally have these plants anytime, proper planning on when these seeds should be planted one must consider still.