From late February onwards it is seed sowing time. Sometimes, we sow seeds in the greenhouse or veg plot, and nothing happens, disappointing. We blame it on the weather, mice, but it maybe the seed's fault. Some seeds are easier to germinate than other and this is recognised and reflected in the EU regulations governing seeds which sets minimum standards of germination for commercially sold seeds.

So for Carrot seed, which are one of the most capricious when it comes to germination, the EU regs specify a minimum germination of 65%, and the same for Leeks, but for cucumber and runner beans it is 80%. Maybe I am slow, but I had assumed that all seeds were near to 100% good to germinate, as sold, clearly not.

"Which " that great champion of consumers surveyed this  problem and found, back on 2007, some bad offenders amongst our well known seed retailer, with some as little as 2% viable seed which went on to germinate. "Which" revisited the issue 2 years later still many seed companies were still not reaching minimum standards. Hopefully seed retailers have improved further since that bad publicity.

Rather surprisingly there are no minimum standards for flower seeds at all.

Steps you can take include storing seeds and packets in an air tight container, with the actual seeds in foil will help and keep out of sunlight. I do use seeds well after the use by date on the packet but not carrot seed which I buy fresh each year.  I sow early in the season with the older seed and if it doesn't germinate, there is plenty of time to buy new seed and use the same compost. Seeds which are already packed in foil inside the paper packet would seem a better idea.

And if  the seeds do not  germinate, complain, it may well not be your fault at all.

It is just  February, and I so want to start sowing and see a bean emerging, but it is too early, at least for my garden. It is not so much the cold, because at this time of year unless your garden is well sheltered sowings would be under glass and I use a heated mat to kick start germination, it's the lack of light.

Lack of light can make seedlings leggy, and inhibit good strong growth. 

Outside and in a greenhouse light comes from 360 degrees over the course of a day; on a window sill or conservatory it is 180 at best and low light. Given the biblical rain in many place its been very overcast, with low light which is not ideal for seedlings.

Best wait till the weather bucks up a bit and the days longer so I am trying to hold back till late Feb/early March. It is a balance especially with vegetable seeds. In more exposed gardens, or where the growing season is not so good (and who knows what summer will be like this year,) plants need to get growing as soon as possible but too soon and your seedlings will not be the best. For ideas on what you could seed now, particularly in the southern part of the country, check out the February Gardening Calendar;   for advise on how to germinate seeds and remedies for leggy seedlings.

If your vegetable plot is very exposed it maybe worth considering small plants rather than growing from seed, especially if space is at a premium for growing the plants on . My garden is very exposed and so  for some vegetables, to get results,  it is easier to buy a small plant such as for chillies. Plus one plant will produce enough chillies for the whole year so hardly seems worth it to buy and grow from seed for the one plant. Also unless the summer is really good, which is rare, getting large tomatoes to fully ripen can be uphill struggle; again I opt to buy established, usually F1 grafted plants. I really want to enjoy tomatoes in the summer, not just in Autumn and you have to work with the garden conditions you have. Many vegetables I can grow from seeds or sets, all the legumes, salads and all the onion family, root vegetables, courgettes and cucumbers are fine but some others, the big beefsteak tomatoes, sweetcorn, peppers, can be reluctant.  

Much of my plot is damp, if not wet, and exposed so some veg need a helping hand. The good news now is there is so much choice on line and in the garden centres that small plants are a good option when seed is not viable. 

On the plus side, given the conditions,  I will maybe try some lily of the valley this year. 

The image left may look unremarkable, in many ways it is just a piece of lawn. What is unusual is that we are in mid- December and this is a piece of lawn which has just been mowed, because it was growing and too long.

This weather this winter, so far, has been strange. In the wetlands of the North the garden is turning green, but it moss keen to grow in the warm damp. In some ways the garden looks a little like early spring, there are buds on the Magnolia, leaves on the Honeysuckle and the daffs are up; but everywhere bears the tell tale browness of winter. 

As the monsoon has abated I managed to get into the garden to cut back some old growth on perennials which would normally have been done weeks ago. The Achillea was confused; it had old, tired growth, new growth at the base and a single flower in bloom so all seasons in one. There is a lot of new growth in the garden. The Sedums look very similar to  how they look in early spring with lots of growth at the base. Usually one of the advantageous if you do want to cut back Sedums in the winter, as opposed to the spring, is there is less risk of cutting into the new growth, but not this year.

Some of the Geraniums have produced a lot of new growth. In the image is Geranium pyrenaicum, common name the hedgerow Geranium. All spring and summer long it has very pretty dainty purple flowers with a long flowering time. In the image the summer's old growth can be seen on the left of the image and centre and to the right all the green  is new growth.

This year is very mixed up and who knows what Spring will bring. Having spent several hours trying to clear up in the garden, cutting back lots of perennials,  I was rewarded by being able to see that the weeds have been loving the mild weather as well. Next job.