France in Focus

I have just sown some chilli seeds, I am using a heating mat to get them to germinate. I am using the same variety as last year, Piment Magnum which I bought from Bricomarche, they are a Habarnero and so quite hot. Lets hope we all have a productive year in the garden.

Nice one! What part of France are you in? Think we may have to wait a little longer here, as although we have an heating mat and polytunnel, being down by the river - we're always a couple of weeks behind with all things flora.

We are in the Allier. So we will keep them in the house until it warms up and then will grow them in our greenhouse, it worked quite well last year. Fingers crossed.

We didn't have much success last year, perhaps because they didn't get a good start, or were planted too late. Will give the OH a nudge ....

For best results, chillies, peppers, Aubergines and even tomatoes need to be started about now. Our compost was sterilised yesterday and should get sown into tomorrow or Wednesday.

exile wrote: ↑Mon Feb 07, 2022 8:21 pmOur compost was sterilised yesterday . . .

How do you do this - and does it damage the nutrients or structure?

I wet the compost with Bordeaux mixture - about the only chemical treatment permitted by the soil association but still used with caution. This kills various fungi like that that causes damping off and does not damage the structure or change the nutrients.

exile wrote: ↑Mon Feb 07, 2022 8:21 pm For best results, chillies, peppers, Aubergines and even tomatoes need to be started about now. Our compost was sterilised yesterday and should get sown into tomorrow or Wednesday.

If you have a greenhouse or polytunnel and a heated propagator you can sow anything now, your only limitation is the height of the plants in say two months, and the height of your heated propagator, if your tunnel or greenhouse is heated then you should not have any problems, its the size of the plants as they grow and your ability to keep them frost free and warm that is the limiting factor, I personally have sown three sets of flower seeds in January and they are all up, Buddleia, Scabious and Cineraria, later this week veg seeds. I Have a large propagator with three heat mats and thermostat, its in the tunnel which is also heated to just frost free, so a coolhouse, min temp +7.

Perhaps you can sow anything now @Spectrum but not here.

Even with greenhouse heaters our night time temperatures have dropped to around freezing in the last week. The 60 x 120 propagation tray will help but seeds needing relatively high germination temperatures need to have a better start than that. Once they have germinated then they will go out into the greenhouse but night time temperatures should be higher by then.

I think I'll leave mine for a week or so - 'tis still too cold and the lights not good, I don't want leggy plants.