Luxor4u

I have been given, carrot, beetroot, turnip and pea seeds, has anyone any idea when I should plant them. On the packet it says March to July for all of them but is it too hot here now?

I would think so, but MD is your man ... er woman, for that answer

I found December was pretty suitable - good luck.

PS I planted Comet broccoli in December, it crowned in May and stood until November without going to seed! I couldn't believe it, it was planted on the sides of a small irrigation channel. We picked and ate 74 out of 80 plants.

PPs That was in my garden right by the river, so cooler than inland.

Only guessing, but would growing them under a netting type shade upon poles or canes help reduce the direct heat on the plants and keep the soil more moist?

It's worth a try. I have the advantage of buoyant moist air always with a light breeze on the river bank which is hard to reproduce. I found radishes go straight to seed, carrots are best grown in beds rather than lines and sunflowers get mildew and I have little success.

Any beans at ground level - fine. Climbing beans no. On the other hand in spite of the advice of seedsmen in Cairo all kinds of tomatoes including the really tiny ones cropped well, without support or protection.

I have always been an organic gardener, though I found bicarbonate of soda is wonderful on grapes as a mildew deterrent, I don't think its organic, but it is safe to eat.

Thanks for the help, I have decided to wait till December before sowing, I have also been given parsley and am going to try to grow that indoors in a sunny spot. One can but try.

If you can, don't transplant parsley.