The advantages of early planting.
People often ask me is February to early to start planting seeds? I always say no defiantly not as planting early in the season offers several advantages for vegetable gardeners. It can help to maximise yields and extend the growing season. One of the primary benefits is that it allows crops to mature earlier, providing fresh produce in late spring and early summer rather than waiting until mid-season. This is particularly important for cool-weather crops like lettuce, spinach, and peas, which thrive in the cooler temperatures of early spring and can struggle in the heat of summer. By starting early, gardeners can also avoid some common pests and diseases that become more problematic later in the season.
Another advantage of early planting is that it makes the most of our relatively short growing season. By sowing seeds indoors or using protective methods such as cloches, cold frames, or fleece, gardeners can give plants a head start before the last frost has passed. This is especially beneficial for crops with long growing periods, such as tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins, which need as much time as possible to develop fully before the autumn frost arrives. These are the seeds that I will be putting in this week, but you can start as early as January. I often just use egg boxes, loo roll inners and plastic trays that I collected as these sit on the window ledge perfectly.
 I usually wait until February, I like to plan my allotment each year. I have a journal and I keep my plan for each year in it and the seeds and verity's I'm using. I find this helpful if a particular verity does well or not so well. I never stick to the plan completely as I usually end up popping extra plants in here and there and use my space to the max. I find it useful to start with a plan and although with no-dig it its not essential, you can rotate your crops year by year and refer to the journal as to what went where previous years.
 Early planting also helps stagger harvests, allowing for a more continuous supply of fresh vegetables rather than a single, overwhelming glut later in the season. If you don't use onion sets then this is also the time to plant onion seeds. You can also start Broad beans and leeks.
Early planting encourages better soil utilisation and management. By getting crops established early, gardeners can follow up with second or even third plantings later in the year, making efficient use of space. For example, after an early spring harvest of radishes or salad greens, the same bed can be used for summer crops like beans or courgettes. This approach not only boosts productivity but also helps improve soil health through crop rotation and nutrient management. Overall, early planting is a strategic way to optimise the gardening calendar, ensuring a steady supply of home grown vegetables while making the best use of available resources. So clear the windowsills and get planting, it surprising what you can get started just on a windowsill at home.
