There is no doubt spring is on its way with evenings getting lighter and the first signs of new growth starting to appear in the garden. Spring for me is the best season as it's a time when you can grow something new, see your favourite plants appear from dormancy and witness beautiful early blooms.
Seed sowing is an easy and rewarding task which can be undertaken whether you are new to gardening or an expert. You can grow hundreds of different plants from seed including flowers, grasses, fruit, vegetables and even bulbs!
Prepare for the year ahead
Many seeds can be sown in early spring just before our final frosts, allowing you to plan what you want to add to your garden, borders or pots this year. You can collect seed from your own plants the previous year and store it to sow early the following year, or you can purchase seed. Some seeds may require preparation before sowing, such as soaking, stratification (a warm/cold period) or scarification (sanding down the hard outer coating) therefore it is important to check the packet or research the seed you are sowing just in case.
How to sow
Start by preparing a seed tray, plug tray or pot for your seeds. If you have a lot of seed, you may only want to sow only a pinch and store them for later. On the other hand, if you would like to sow a lot of seed, then make sure to separate it out into several pots so that you don’t overcrowd the pot which can affect the germination rate of the seedlings. Fill your tray or pot with your seed compost and then firm down with another tray or piece of wood to create a flat surface to sow onto. Make sure to leave an inch or so gap so that you can cover the sown seeds.
Evenly sprinkle the seeds over the surface of the soil. You can either use your fingers to pinch and distribute the seed or gently tip the packet of seed whilst shaking it in a back and forward motion. If you are planting a larger seed such as Lathyrus odoratus (sweetpea), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Iris domestica or Morina longifolia, you may wish to individually plant each seed in a plug tray or in individual pots.
Next, cover the seed. For this you can use more compost, fine grit/gravel or vermiculite ensuring there is no seed visibly showing. Finally, water your seed by using a watering can with a rose to avoid dislodging your seeds.
Place your seed in a warm bright spot for them to germinate. Depending on the time of year and what seed you are growing, you may wish to start them indoors, in a greenhouse or straight out but make sure to check the seed requirements first. Furthermore, the seed needs to be kept consistently moist for successful germination, so make sure to monitor watering. Covering the seeds with a plastic or glass cover can also aid in the retention of water.
Depending on your seed and conditions, you should start to see germination within a few weeks often presented by two little leaves, known as cotyledons, before the true plant leaves begin to appear. Once the plants get a few leaves, they can be pricked out into large individual pots.
Read on: Seed collecting with propagation expert Emily
Written by production assistant Megan
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