Overview
Growing from seed is a simple and economical way of raising new plants for your garden. First master the techniques by sowing annuals in spring that will reward you with flowers in summer, then use these basic skills to grow perennials, trees and shrubs. If you're new to gardening, limit yourself to growing one or two types of annuals. Sow about 20 seeds to see how you get on. You can always sow more a week or two later.
Do it:
January - April
Takes just:
30 minutes to sow and 30 minutes to pot on
How to do it
-
Fill small pots or seed trays with seed compost. Use a watering can fitted with a fine rose to moisten compost. Leave pots to drain. -
Sprinkle seeds evenly and thinly over the surface of the compost, leaving approx 2cm - 3cm between each one. Cover seeds with a thin layer of compost. -
Cover pot with a sheet of glass or an inverted polythene bag. Place on a well-lit windowsill or in a heated propagator. Keep compost moist. -
Remove cover as soon as seedlings emerge and grow on in a warm place indoors. They are ready to be 'pricked' out when the first 'true' leaves emerge. -
Only handle seedlings by their first seed leaves. Fill a seed tray with seed compost and plant seedling about 5cm apart, burying the root up to the base of the first leaves. -
After six weeks, the young plants will be large enough to pot individually into 7.5cm pots. After three weeks, transfer on to larger pots.
"Don't sow seeds too close together as they can be more prone to dying or 'damping off'."
Comments and rating
Overall rating (from 5 ratings):
I have a heated propagator but now my seeds have germinated I would like to know when to remove them from the propagator?
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Hi Anneho When my seeds have germinated in the propagator, I then remove the covering from the seed tray for about a week, then remove them to the greenhouse bench (after turning up the heat in the greenhouse to approx 50F). Suppose a windowsill indoors will do the same job. This seems to have worked a treat in previous years.
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5 out of 5
I have an unheated propagator which I keep in the Greenhouse, when seeds have germinated I just put them on the staging until they are big enough to either pot on or put out. This is my first time growing from seed, but this method seems to work for me.
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5 out of 5
Thanks for the info, it is a great help. What of the beans in the loo rolls, you never went any further. Why loo rolls? Do they get planted out in the loo rolls or must the young plant be removed from the loo rolls first>?
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4 out of 5
Plant the beans in the loo rolls, the roots will find their way out of the bottom, so you don't need to disturb the roots at all. Also, I find that by putting a bit of self-adhesive copper tape around the top of the loo roll, you will keep the slugs and snails at bay during the time that the plants are so vulnerable to attack, that is, when they're young and tender. And eventually the loo roll wil rot down and disappear. It's win-win!
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4 out of 5
Good tip about the copper tape! How do you stop the compost from escaping from the bottom of the loo rolls when watering?
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I grew my sweet peas in empty toilet roll tubes for the first time this year & I wondered the same myself, but once stood on it's end watering is easy and no compost escapes from the bottom. I presume that when ready for planting there will be enough roots to hold the compost together and avoid the whole thing dropping out of the end. I am going to do sow my beans the same way this weekend.
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Germinating seeds tends to be the easy part, its the aftercare that gets tricky. Keep them warm and in light at 7-10C and pot'em up in 3"pots when seed leaves are big enough to handle. Greenhouse with heat is too useful here. I would not bother with planting in a seed tray as above. Minimal root disturbance is useful. Good luck, enjoy and never quit if it doesn't go to plan first time.
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4 out of 5
Lots of helpful advice above, I will take it onboard and see how it goes ...... quite new to this gardening malarky but love learning & seeing new growth :)
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herbie commented on this article
14 February 2009
I found this piece on sowing seeds interesting,as i am new to gardening.My husband has just bought me a heated propagator, im not sure how to use this,i guess its going to be trial and error. I bought some seeds today,im going to try and see what happens. Lesley
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