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| How to Sow Seeds |
Guide to Seed Sowing (In Greenhouses):
Seed sowing is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the gardening year and one that many amateur gardeners look forward to in the gardening calendar. It is extremely rewarding to get such extensive amounts of crops from a small initial outlay of seeds and compost. Seed packets of various annual varieties of flowering plants can be purchased for only a few pence and compost, on the whole, is also cheap to buy. Many gardeners also prefer to grow seedlings from previously collected seeds in order to foster their own specific varieties and grades of flowering specimens year upon year.
Good quality seed sowing compost can be purchased especially for this task from manufacturers such as John Innes and will be marketed especially for the seed growing activities of the amateur gardener. At the same time, however, many gardeners choose to make their own seed sowing medium by mixing general finely sieved multi-purpose compost with a handful of sharp garden sand. This enables easier root penetration for young seedlings and less compaction of the soil in damp conditions. Soil should be thoroughly mixed and not overly fertilized as this will encourage mould and moss growth in many greenhouse environments. Vermiculite is often used as a top covering on seed trays to prevent the growth of mould and act as a productive growing medium for developing seedlings.
The seed tray should be almost completely filled, before being compacted with a wooden float to a semi-hard state. Then the seedlings should be sprinkled thinly over the surface evenly spaced. Larger seedlings can be placed randomly across the surface, however, many gardeners, myself included, prefer to sow small seeds in fine rows approximately 1 and a half centimeters apart as this assists the transplantation later in the growing season. Seeds sown too closely together will not generate the best results as seedlings will become leggy in the search for light in the tray. Although you may end up with fewer seedlings, they will be of far superior quality than if you had crammed the seeds in tightly. The seeds should then be covered gently with a fine layer of finely sieved compost, covering the seeds completely (Unless specifically instructed on the seed packet to allow the seeds to remain on the surface of the compost (such as impatiens and alyssum). This top layer should be gently firmed down in turn and then generously watered to assist with germination.
Seedlings should start to appear in the allocated sprouting time after germination and should never be transplanted until large enough to be handled without damaging the stems which will be delicate and suffer extreme trauma if squeezed. Large seeds, such as Morning Glory and Sweet Peas, may benefit immensely by soaking in water prior to sowing. I also rub them gently for a few seconds inside sandpaper to lightly graze the shells in order to allow the water to permeate the seeds. Many forms of seedlings treated in this way will have a vastly improved germination rate as their softer outer shells will allow swifter germination and root development. Happy seed sowing – it is a truly enjoyable aspect of the gardening year. |
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| Organic Vegetable Gardening Feature Article |
| Jobs to do in May (Growing Techniques and Planting) Part 2 |
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