If you're new to growing veg from scratch, follow Nick Hamilton's step-by-step guide to sowing seeds
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| Sow peas in gutter pipes
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'Sow peas into gutter pipes and keep in the greenhouse or in a cold frame.'
From mid-to-late January, try sowing the following vegetable varieties (see January jobs for more on veg growing):
Aubergine 'Black Beauty' and 'Calliope'.
Broad bean 'Crimson Flowered' in 8cm (3in) pots.
Cauliflower 'Mayflower'.
Garlic 'Solent White' in small pots.
Lettuce.
Pepper/Chilli 'De Cayenne', 'Gypsy', 'Jalapeno', 'Joe's Long', 'Jumbo', 'Mohave', 'Sweet Chocolate'.
Peas – sow them into gutter pipes and keep in the greenhouse or in a cold frame.
Tomato 'Ailsa Craig', 'Alicante', 'Fantasio', 'Moneymaker', Shirley'.
To sow seed
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| Step 2
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| Sowing seeds Step 1
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1 Fluff up the compost
2 Overfill your tray and strike off the excess with the side of the tamper.
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| Step 4
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| Step 3
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3 Press down gently with the tamper.
4 Tip the seed into one hand and tap with the other hand so the seed falls into the tray and is sown.
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| Step 6
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| Step 5
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5 Sprinkle vermiculite over the surface. This mineral absorbs moisture yet lets in light, so it is ideal for seed sowing.
6 Label the seed tray with the variety and date sown.
Look further
Nick and Sue Hamilton run
Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, Leicestershire, formerly owned by the late Geoff Hamilton.
* Photography: Redshift Photography
* For more on growing your own veg, and winter tasks, see Related Articles at the bottom of this page.
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