Gosh way to early to be starting your seeds Jvt and, to be honest, growing your rhubarb from seed is going to take years much better to buy a crown.

The only seeds I have sown are onions and leeks the rest I will be doing from the middle of March onwards. I sometimes think that the seed packets are a little misleading with the instructions especially when they state that you can sow under glass such things as toms and cucumbers in January February the problem you’re going to have is keeping the plants alive without greenhouse heating and to heat a greenhouse can be very expensive so I would wait. The quickest and cheapest way to get rhubarb is to ask around the allotment and see if anybody is dividing a large crown and see if they will give you a piece I did this and I got a huge crown that you could probably not buy so big.

Yup agree Steve

I sowed broad beans outside just after Christmas and they are beautiful plants, in spite of all that the weather has thrown at them! They are in a net tunnel to keep the birds off.

Good advice all thank you.

Just to say Steve that I just love the idea of growing rhubarb, indeed all sorts from seed. I was given a couple of crowns last winter so I shouldn't be short of it this summer

Cheers, John

An Italian neighbour on the allotments years ago always sowed his Tomato seed on Christmas Day. He grew the plants at home, then brought them down the field, and put into a cold greenhouse inside 3 covering plastic boxes he had found from somewhere, each one larger than the one underneath. There was an air space between them.
In April he had Tomato plants 2 ft. high and was roaring with laughter at his friend whose plants were only 1 ft. high.
He told me that where he came from in Italy, you could drop a Tomato plant into a dry crack in the ground, and it would grow.

After posting this comment, I looked through my seed box, items all bought at my weekly visits to the GC -where they do a very nice English breakfast - since the new stocks came in, in November. Glad they are paid for.
Half of the instructions include February as sowing time.
I found a packet of Garlic Chives that can be sown any time of the year, so will sow them.

I had bought a tray of germinated Leek seeds before Christmas, they are growing on nicely in the cold greenhouse.

Just have to set my seed potatoes up in the box to chit.

Maincrop Onion sets can be planted outside in March. The rest of the seeds in trays, indoors, kept warm until April.

Thanks for taking the time to answer Diane, it's reassuring to know I'm not completely waiting my time. X