When to start the first seedlings in the vegetable garden?

After the winter months when activity in the garden was much reduced, the desire to start new seedlings is great. Are you looking forward to being able to enjoy delicious vegetables in a few weeks? It's decided, you grab your seeds, your soil and some tools. But not too fast! When is the right time to start sowing? Find out how to welcome your new residents to the vegetable garden as soon as the sunny days arrive.

Why sow seeds?

First of all, by sowing in anticipation, you get a head start on spring. You acclimatize your seedlings in an environment adapted to their needs, protected from pests and frost. You will therefore control their growth and manage everything from A to Z. No chemical treatment or external contamination. In addition, you build future plants at a lower cost and you select varieties that are not found in the form of plants commercially. Only advantages!

First wave of sowing: February/March

Winter temperatures make the soil still very cold and sowing directly in the garden is premature. It is therefore necessary to start with indoor cultivation from February/March. Only gardeners enjoying a Mediterranean climate will be able to start in January. You will find since the periods depend above all on your region.

Here are some sowing ideas: salads, kohlrabi, cardoons, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini, peppers, chili peppers, melons and eggplants.

As for the following vegetables, they tolerate cold well and can be placed directly in the vegetable garden: early carrots, spinach, beans, lentils, turnips, onions, parsnips, peas and radishes.

Second wave of sowing: April/May

The frosts have passed and the earth has warmed up (more than 12-13 degrees) so certain vegetables can be sown immediately in the ground without going through the greenhouse or indoors. Depending on the region, you have to wait until April or even May. In addition to the vegetables already sown in February/March, you can add beets, cucumbers, beans, summer lettuce and corn.

If everything went well and you managed to avoid , it is time to migrate them to the vegetable garden. Be sure to water them well and pamper the roots. Also monitor the leaves and the arrival of possible parasites.

The right equipment

You need to determine the place to house your future plants. You have the choice between:

• an exterior frame if you have a terrace or garden
• a greenhouse (or mini-greenhouse if you have little space)
• a not too heated room in your house

As for equipment, well-cleaned recycling pots (yogurt pots or egg boxes with a small hole) can do the trick. Transparent food containers have the advantage of allowing light to pass through. You can also buy biodegradable pots that you will integrate directly into the soil.

For my part, no more labels that fall or deteriorate in the buckets. I opted for a numbering system: 1 for tomatoes, 2 for peppers and so on. The number is written on each pot and I note in a notebook the number associated with the variety sown.

You now have all the information to get started. Get your pots ready, sow!