Sowing seeds, Germination of seeds and transplanting seedlings
How To Sow Seeds
Sowing seeds isn't as complicated or as waste of time as some gardeners seem to make it. By following some simple but important seed sowing guidelines you will experience that special pleasure that can only be got by sowing seeds and then watching them germinate and grow into healthily plants.
You will experience that same pleasure, and pride, when you reap the harvest, be it flowers to decorate your home or fruit and vegetables for your table. Sowing seeds and growing your own produce is also cheaper than buying seedlings or mature plants, so saves a lot of money and that's important if you are caught up in our "double dip"
Equipment you will need for sowing seeds.
Seeds can be sown in seeds trays, pots, plug pots or directly into the ground... read the label.
You will need to decide if you want to sow your seeds in trays, pots or plug pots and then calculate how many trays, inserts or pots you will need to sow the number of seeds you are going to sow.
You can sow the following seeds up to the amounts shown here.
50 small seeds or 10 medium seeds or 3 large seeds in a 75mm (3 inch) pot.
100 small seeds or 30 medium seeds in a half size seed tray.
200 small seeds or 50 medium seeds in a full size seed tray.
If you use plug pots or tray inserts you can sow one medium seed or one large seed in each insert or plug pot. Some gardeners sow a spare in each insert or pot incase a seed doesn't germinate.
Plant Labels and a indelible pencil or pen are not essential, but I would recommend using them, they can save a lot of time later when the seeds you have sown, have grown, especially if you are not using all of seeds in the seed packet.
A thermostat controlled propagator would be ideal, but it is not essential. You can make do without one.
A unheated seed propagator will be ok if you are able to maintain a fairly constant temperature.
Clear seed tray cover, cling film, glass or rigid plastic can be used to cover seed trays or pots if you are not using a propagator. Again, germination of the seeds can be quite successful providing you can keep a fairly constant temperature
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Tools you will need to sow seeds.
A Sieve to break the compost into fine even bits, you could use the old kitchen sieve.
Tamper for firming down and flattening the compost, these are round for pots and square to get into the corner of trays and are simple to make or cost a couple of pounds.
Mist Sprayer to keep the seeds and seedlings moist.
A Potting bench any level surface will do, providing its high enough so you're not bending, especially if you have a bad back
Compost for sowing seeds.
Any good multi-purpose compost, or seed and cutting compost is fine but if you have a compost heap and can make your own its better and cheaper.
Sieve enough compost to fill all your trays or pots in one go, keep the lumps and bits to use in the bottom of larger pots.
Fill the plug pots, inserts, seed trays or pots with compost to about just below the rim, now gently tap them on the bench a couple of times. This settles the compost to about the correct level of about 1/2 inch from the top. Next gently level the surface with the tamper, don't compact it. You want to end up with a flat but soft surface to sow the seed on, getting this bit right will increase your propagation rate.
Sowing seeds.
Always read the label when selecting seeds for home sowing, some will need heat some wont, some will require special compost most wont. Some of the best seeds for sowing at home are the ones grown and saved by neighbours !!
Count out the seeds as calculated earlier and place or sprinkle them evenly across the surface of the containers chosen for sowing your seeds. The larger seeds are easy to handle and spread evenly, but tiny fine seeds are not so easy and once fine seeds are sown are impossible to recover. The best way is to sow small fine seeds is to take a pinch between your thumb and forefinger and gently and lightly sprinkle the seeds over the surface of the compost, trying to get the seeds spread evenly over out the compost and not in patches. This will come with practise so don't worry to much the first time you are sowing fine seeds.
Now lightly spread just enough finely sieved compost over the seed trays or pots to cover the seeds and no more. Covering not smothering is the aim to get a good propagation rate.
Now you have sown your seeds, label them with plant name and date of sowing.
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Watering the newly sown seeds
Set your sprayer to fine spray and lightly spray the surface of the seed container to settle the compost without disturbing the seeds. Now stand the tray or pot in a container of water, the water should be about 1/2inch deep, until you see the surface just becoming moist. Don't saturate the seed compost this will rot the seeds. Remove the containers as soon as the surface of the seed compost becomes moist.
Germination of your seeds.
Cover your trays or pots with the glass or clear plastic or place in a covered propagator if you have one. Place the container you have used to sow seeds in a light area and maintain the temperature range given on your seed packet. The time taken for your seeds to germinate will also be on the seed packet.
After the seeds have germinated and when the seedlings are large enough to handle it's time to transplant them. You need to transplant your seedlings to give them room to spread their roots and grow their stems and leaves and for air to circulate between them to prevent problems like damping off disease.
Transplanting seedlings.
Seedlings from seeds sown in small or medium size seed pots, half size seed trays or full size seed trays you will need transplanting into half size seed trays or full size seed trays.
Seedlings from seeds sown in medium or large size or individually in inserts or plug pots will need transplanting into individual 3 inch pots.
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Being patient and careful at the transplanting stage pays of in the long run. Try not to damage the stems by only handling them by the seed leaves and using a dibber to dig out and separate the seedlings. Its not worth trying to keep any seedlings you damage, best to accept that you are going to loose a few, especially the smaller varieties.
Planting seedlings
Plant them in your seed trays 2in apart in a sieved potting compost.
Seedlings of seeds sown in inserts are easy to transplant, carefully push the bottom of the insert and the whole root ball will fall out into your hand. You can then pot the seedling on into a 3 inch or larger pot. Do the same with individual sown seedlings in plastic pots. Seedlings sown in plug pots are even easier as the roots grow on through the sides and bottom of the plug pot, Just plant the whole plug into a larger container or straight into the ground where you want it to grow on.
Now label them with plant name and transplanting date.
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Watering and caring for the transplanted seedlings
Stand the tray or pots of transplanted seedlings in a container with about a 1/2 inch of water and leave it until you see the surface of the compost just becoming moist, being careful not to let the compost become saturated.
Place the transplanted seedlings in a light position a about couple of degrees below the germinating temperature until they are large enough to be hardened off.
Sowing seeds, propagation and transplanting really is that easy, a few degrees of heat either way isn't a problem it will just speed up or delay propagation by a few days.
Best tip is to read the packet if the seeds need a lot of heat wait until spring or use a heated greenhouse.
my growing your own page lists a few easy to sow and grow plants.
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I have also listed the suppliers I use to source gardeners equipment, garden sheds and buildings for my landscape gardening clients,
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