Sowing seeds for pots

Sowing Seeds for Pots

It's the beginning of March and I'm still in the process of seed sowing. While many of our seeds, such as sweet peas, were sown in February, there are still plenty to sow now.

I'll be using a seed tray to sow some of the seeds in. Seed trays are generally quite large but when you are growing for pots, you don't need to grow a huge number of plants. To avoid waste, it's best to divide your seed tray up and plant several types of seed in one tray. As long as you properly label them, then this will be a real space saver.

To divide up seed trays you can use a stick or a bamboo cane. Only cover your seeds up when you have finished sowing, this way, if you are distracted, you will know where you have sown and won't end up double sowing.

In This Seed Tray, I Will Be Sowing:

• Cerinthe
• Calendula
• Euphorbia

How to Store Your Seed

If you still have lots of seeds left over in your packet, then ideally you want to store them in a Tupperware box in the fridge with a sachet of silica, which will absorb any moisture.

You are aiming for a cool, dark and dry environment and this should help your seed to remain viable for up to 10 years.

Labelling Your Seeds

It's really important to label your seeds so that you can remember what you've sown and where. When writing out your seed labels, always start writing from the blunt end of the stick, that way you'll be able to see what it says.

Using a soft pencil to write your labels is the best thing, as pens tend to wash off quite easily when you water.

Things to Add to Your Label:

• Name
• Species name
• Date

By including the date you will be able to keep track of any seeds that haven't germinated within a month so that you can quickly sow some more.

Compost

In my experience, it doesn't really matter what type of seed compost you use, as long as it is peat-free. Peatlands are rich and biodiverse ecosystems and also natural carbon sinks. When peat is harvested, this carbon dioxide is released, which increases global greenhouse gas emissions. Peatlands are also incredibly slow growing, with just 1 mm of new peat formed every year. Although peat has been extracted for gardening and peat fires for thousands of years, it is now considered highly unsustainable.

Annuals especially, will germinate in just about anything, so don't think you need to buy any expensive mixes. A good mid-range mix will generally serve you well, as long as it is peat-free. I would however steer clear of grow bags as they tend to be poor quality.

Our Compost Is Made from a Mixture of:

• Leaf mould
• Molehills
• Green waste
• Our compost

We don't use any vermiculite or grit in our mixes as we've found we don't need them.

Where to Put Your Seed Tray and How to Water

We are lucky enough to have propagation benches here at Perch Hill with a horticultural electric blanket. These provide basal heat (heat that comes from below) to the seedlings and aid germination. If you do not have a propagating bench or greenhouse, then place your seedlings in a warm, draught-free spot in your home with good airflow.

To water your seedlings, use a watering can with a fine rose and water them from above. A fine rose will ensure that your seedlings aren't displaced.

Sowing Nicotianas

Nicotiana seeds are tiny and dust-like so they can't be sown individually.

The best way to sow tiny seeds such as nicotianas and foxgloves is to sow them from a height and as fast as possible.

How to Sow Tiny Seeds

1. Pour the seed into the palm of your hand then transfer to the other hand.
2. Take one pinch of the seed and scatter over half the seed tray.
3. Take a second pinch and scatter these seeds over the other half.
4. Press your seeds into the compost using another seed tray.
5. Label and water your seeds.

Direct Sowing Seeds

I'm direct sowing my linaria seeds, which means I'll be sowing them straight into the pot in which they will grow and flower.

The reason for this is that linaria seedlings are quite leggy and fragile and can break quite easily. It's therefore better to sow them in situ, otherwise, you risk breaking them when they are transferred.

Sowing Linaria Seed in a Pot

1. To ensure that you do not waste your seeds, open your seed packet down its length, that way you can see exactly how many seeds you have.
2. Take a pinch of your seeds between your fingers and from a height scatter the seeds across the top of the pot. Aim for around 10 seeds per pot.
3. Cover your seedlings with a light dusting of compost and then label and water.
4. Store your remaining seeds in the fridge with a packet of silica if possible.

Once Your Seedlings Have Germinated

Linaria seedlings are quite thin and delicate so it is a good idea to support your seedlings with twigs by creating a loose nest shape around the edges of your pot.