Sow spring vegetables (directly into the ground, in the open air)

When nocturnal frosts are no longer likely to happen, you can sow a large quantity of vegetables in situ, in the ground and without the need for protection. Here find a list of the vegetables which can be sown first.

What to sow for spring harvests?

Outdoor, the first sowings are for early vegetables that we eat as ‘spring vegetables’, before summer harvests: cold resistant salads, peas, short-rooted varieties carrots (golf ball round or finger long carrots), broad beans. Certain aromatic plants like chives can be also sown early in the open air.

The method

1 Dig the soil and weed if the site is not ready for sowing. Break up soil clumps and rake or use a garden hoe to level up the soil. On smaller areas, a hand rake is usually enough.

2 Dig a small furrow, 5 cm wide and 2 cm deep, with a stick or the metal tip of a tool for example. If you wish to sow a second row next to the first one, dig a second furrow 20 cm away from the first one.

3 Drop the seeds, respecting the spacing indicated on the packet, usually between 2 and 5 cm, depending on the vegetables.

4Cover up with 5 mm layer of compost or finely crumbled soil. Do not forget to place a label to remind you of what you have sown and when.
Pack down lightly with the back of a rake or a flat object.

5 Water lightly, in fine showers, to allow the soil to stick to the seeds. Seedlings come up in a fortnight to three weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

After Care

While waiting for the seedlings to come up, make sure that the ground surface is not drying out, as it is very exposed to bad weather conditions.
The compost used to cover up the seeds heats up the soil slightly and helps gaining a few degrees, but it also dries out quickly in good weather.
When the seedlings have come up, do check that slugs are not attacking them. Sometimes it is also necessary to protect the young seedlings from birds.

Seeds

Herb Seeds

Garden Vegetable Seeds