Seed Guide 2007 pgs 01/41 - McKenzie Seeds

Sow the seed individually in 3in (7.5cm)
pots indoors or in a propagator in early
spring or outdoors 12in (3.5cm) deep,
after the last frost, where the crop is to
mature. Indoor the seeds prefer a soil
temperature of 70-75F (21-24C) for best
germination.
Plant out in early summer in blocks 1-2ft
(30-60cm) each way, depending on the
variety. This is an aid to pollination and
the other is to tap the top of the stem to
transfer pollen from the male flowers to
the female ones below.
Most plants will produce two cobs, the
first being larger than the later second. To
test the cob for ripeness, press a grain
with a finger nail and if the juice is milky,
it is just right.
Swiss chard
This is also known as seakale beet, silver
chard and ruby chard. It is a dual-purpose
vegetable: the leafy part being used as an
excellent alternative to spinach while the
thick, fleshy mid- ribs are cooked and
used like asparagus.
Sow as for spinach and harvest from late
summer to late autumn. The foliage dies
off during the winter but there is rapid
regrowth in early spring.
Strawberry
Surface sow strawberries such as
Temptation on a moist seed compost and
lightly cover from fine perlite. Cover with
glass or polythene. Germination takes 3-4
weeks at 60-65F (15-18C). Widely
fluctuating temperatures will result in
poor germination.
Place in subdued light and move to full
light once the seedlings are up. Take
precautions to avoid damping off. When
large enough to handle, transplant into
small pots or trays at 55-60F (13-15C) and
give an occasional liquid feed. Pot up into
3in (7.5cm) pots and when well rooted,
into their final containers.
G R O W I N G I N F O R M A T I O N
Temptation is ideal for hanging baskets,
grow bags and containers. Sown in
October it should be in fruit by late May
and in January by mid-July.
Outdoor and greenhouse
tomatoes
Raising your own tomato plants has
several benefits. For one thing, you can
grow just the variety or varieties you
prefer: You can save money and time and,
perhaps best of all, you can pick your
tomatoes at the peak of their freshness
and full of goodness and flavour. What's
more, tomatoes are one of the easiest
crops to raise from seed with a high
germination factor.
We offer a wide range of varieties to suit
all tastes and purposes including several
types that will do equally well whether
grown in a cool greenhouse or outside.
Tomato seed germinates readily at a
temperature of 60-65F ( 15-18C) so
requires just a warm place indoors for
success. Sow the seed shallowly in a tray
of peat-based compost. Sow early in the
year for greenhouse crops, and early
spring for the outdoor ones.
When the seedlings have made two pairs
of true leaves transplant into 3in (7.5cm)
pots (see page 13) and place them in a
light, warm place indoors or in the
greenhouse. The object is to produce
short-stemmed sturdy plants. Transplant
when the first flowers are showing. The
greenhouse plants can be set into wellprepared
border soil or into large pots.
Outdoors a warm, sunny site is needed to
ensure a good crop. Set plants 2ft (60cm)
apart in rows 3ft (90cm) apart, while bush
plants need 3ft (90cm) each way. These
outdoor plants should be hardened off
before planting out after the last spring
frost. Bush tomatoes will also well in large
pots on a sunny patio or against a southfacing
wall or fence. Bush varieties need
no attention other than a mulch to
protect the fruit from being splashed and,
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